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Jade Plant Growing Vertically

lolallolal Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi everyone I am in dire need of some diagnostics for my jade plant. I have had this plant for about 3 years and it will only grow vertically. Lately the plant has been getting extremely tall and wobbly, causing it to fall over itself. My plant will not develop the hard woody spine that I see on most other jade plants. 

Any help woukd be appreciated! Thank you in advance imageimage

*sorry I am posting this via mobile and have no idea how to rotate the picture

Last edited: 10 April 2017 02:25:20

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,870

    Hi lolal. First I must ask what you have got your Jade plant growing in? It looks like a glass bowl. This is not really a suitable container if I am correct in assuming it has no drainage holes. The plant would be happier in a proper plant pot with good drainage. Most roots like being in the dark. I think your plant is still a bit too young to show a woody stem.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • lolallolal Posts: 3

    Ladybird4: Hi there, yes you are correct I had the plant in a glass bowl. I will be sure to switch it out in a proper container soon. Aside from that, my plant has gone very limp, is this normal? And from what you can see in the picture do you think everything is looking correct? I wonder if there is a way to incourage the plant to grow a stronger spine other than time itself. I am very inexperienced with plants amd this is my first one I'm still shocked that I managed to keep it alive after all this time image. Thank you for your reponse 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,157

    I think it also needs to be in a brighter situation - low light levels will make plants grow long and lanky and floppy rather than strong and able to support themselves. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,870

    lolal, as your plant has been in a bowl with no drainage it could very well be overwatered. A lot of 'beginning' gardeners often do not realise that the symptoms of lack of water - drooping leaves for example - are exactly the same symptoms of too much water. Once you get your plant out of the glass bowl just feel the compost gently. If it feels quite wet, then do not water it once you have it in some new compost until that looks very dry on the top surface. Your jade plant is a succulent and would prefer to be kept rather dry than too wet. They is no quick way of getting it to grow a stronger trunk other than not being too kind to it with too much water. Hold back on the watering and as a response it will grow a stronger trunk.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    cut it back by half, you can plant the cut off bits and they'll grow, get it in a proper pot and let the soil dry out before watering again

  • lolallolal Posts: 3

    Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond. I will definitely keep all your tips in mind!

    Last edited: 12 April 2017 03:36:00

  • laceyloulaceylou Posts: 4

    I trimmed off half the limbs two months ago, I have new growth but I am afraid the limbs are getting too long, two have fallen off in the last month...  imageimage

  • laceyloulaceylou Posts: 4

    I did just trim off one large and one smaller limb as you can see I poked them into the soil at the base of the mama plant. image

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