Damage control from pests and disease is unfortunately a big part of caring for your houseplants.
While the Jade Plant, also known as Crassula ovata, is quite resilient to most problems that plague houseplants, it’s not wholly invincible, and occasionally, you will run into some issues.
But if you catch them early, these problems will soon be a thing of the past, and your plant will recover much faster than you might expect.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Finding Aphids On Jade Plants
Aphids are not the most common pest to plague Jade Plants. They are more likely to invade your plant if you have it in a greenhouse rather than indoors, as aphids can call greenhouses home.
These tiny green insects feed on the juices within your plant, causing devastation and eventually, plant death. They also leave behind honeydew, which ants and other pests love.
Spider Mites On Jade Plants
Spider mites usually infest a plant when humidity levels are too low, but this mainly applies to leafy tropical plants that like higher humidity, not succulent plants such as this one that doesn’t.
More often than not, an already-infected plant will spread spider mites to your Jade Plant.
You’ll soon notice if your plant has spider mites, though it’s harder to spot the mites themselves.
A fine webbing will appear where the leaves join the stems, as well as the surface and undersides of the leaves.
Jade Plants And Mealybugs
Mealybugs look like white and fluffy bits on the leaf stems.
These horrible things feed on the soft tissue of your plant and leave what’s known as honeydew on the plant, a sticky substance that attracts other pests, as well as diseases to your plant.
Crassula Ovata And Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is not the most common disease. You’re more likely to find your plant suffering from root rot (caused by overwatering) rather than mildew, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Powdery mildew spreads like wildfire between plants that don’t have enough air circulation between them, and in damp and warm conditions without a lot of light.
This is why it is less likely – as these plants thrive in bright light and drier air, but it’s not impossible!
Powdery mildew looks like white dust settling on your plant. It’s not easy for your plant to recover from this, so best to remove affected parts and discard them.
Jade Plant And Scale
Scale pests are difficult to identify at first, as they look like discolored spots on the leaves rather than pests.
Like most pests, scale feed on the sap in the leaves, and also introduces nasties such as bacteria as another element to attack your plant.
How To Help Your Jade Plant Recover From Pests Or Disease
Your plants are not defenseless when it comes to pests or diseases, including your Jade Plant, as they have you to deal with them!
Here’s how to attack the problem and help your plant recover.
Jade Plants are sensitive to the usual remedies for pests and diseases, such as horticultural soaps and oils, which can kill off more of your plant!
Rubbing Alcohol
For most pest problems and even diseases, the best course of action is to use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. This ensures you’re treating the problem directly, not affecting any healthy tissue around the plant.
Apply the swab directly to any beasties, discoloration, or signs of disease on your plant. You may need to do this several times a week for a while until your plant looks all-clear.
It’s also a good idea to prune any diseased parts of your plant to stop any infections from spreading.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is handy for cleaning the outside of the pot your plant is in. While that sounds strange, a plant pot with dirty sides and pests on it will infect the plant itself!
Wash it down with some dish soap, which will only take a second or two, making sure you get nothing on the soil or the plant where possible.
Final Thoughts
Jade Plants are not the most susceptible to pests and disease, but you still need to be vigilant, as an infected plant in your collection can soon mean many plants are infected!
Make a habit of checking your plants every week or so, taking a look at the sides of the pot, the stems, and the leaves, especially the underside of the leaves.
The quicker you catch and treat problems, the quicker your plants will recover.
Always quarantine new plants for a couple of weeks to watch for signs of pests and disease, which is the most important part of adding new plants to your collection, vastly reducing the chances of your plants becoming infected.
