My jade plant specifically keeps getting mold/fungus on the top soil. Its right by a sunny window, it’s in a 6’ pot, i haven’t watered it in like 2 weeks since I got it and repotted it from its 4’ nursery pot. I tried cinnamon- do I need to repot again with a chunkier/better draining soil mix, a fan for airflow, or just treat the mold? Thanks!!
Depends what u want to do or feel is the best option. I just use terracotta for most, if not all succulents.
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Personally, I’d do a repot because if you treat the mold without fixing the underlying issue, it will just come back again. It’s also a sign that the soil is too moist for that plant which will eventually lead to rot. I’d repot it with a super chunky, well-draining mix. For plants like a Jade Plant, I do a mix of equal parts cactus soil and perlite. Normal potting mix, even cactus potting mix, will be too moisture-retentive without adding in that extra drainage. Was it super root bound before repotting it? If not, it might also be in slightly too large of a pot. Jade plants actually do well with being slightly root bound, so I tend to err on the smaller size for them, like only 1” bigger in diameter than the root ball when repotting. I agree that using a terracotta planter can also help a great deal since they dry out the soil faster, but you’ll still want to make sure to address the pot size, soil type, and watering routine correctly. After repotting it, you can add a fan for airflow as well if you want to! I do that for mine especially in the summer months when it gets so humid. Just make sure you only water it when the soil is 100% bone dry, not just when Planta tells you to. Planta’s algorithm isn’t perfect and I’ve noticed that it wants me to water my succulents/cacti/Jade plants way too often, which will also cause mold. I treat the Planta notification as a reminder to check that the soil is dry first; it the soil has any moisture in it whatsoever, I hit “snooze” and wait.
4 likes The way I check that the soil is ready for water is by sticking a wooden skewer all the way into the pot until it touches the bottom. Then I wait for a minute and take it out. When I take the skewer out, if I can see any moisture absorbed or if I see any soil clinging to it, I know it’s not ready to be watered yet. If it comes out clean and dry, it’s ready to be watered!
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Completely agree with Madison’s advice. I swear by Espoma’s Organic Cactus and Succulent Mix if you’d like a soil recommendation for jades. I’ve had quite a few jades and they’ve all loved it. Only thing I wanted to add to Madison’s comment was what brand soil you may be currently using. If it’s a Miracle Grow soil base (even if it’s their cactus mix), their soil is very peat-heavy and prone to mold, attracting pests, and leading to overwatering and root rot, especially if you have a more humid climate in the warmer months. I’ve frequently come across folks that recently repotted their plants in Miracle Grow soils and the plants suddenly start to die from rot/overwatering, they’ve suddenly got a serious fungus gnat infestation, or the soil takes an eon to dry out. If the soil it’s currently in is Miracle Grow brand, it’s very likely the culprit over any other practices of yours with this jade. Jades thrive with lots of light, a well-draining cactus mix, and by completely drying out between waterings. My jades tend to enjoy waiting at least 18-25 days before watering, with it closer to 20 days minimum for my larger jades. Hope this helps. 😊
2 likesI agree, wholeheartedly! Planta’s algorithm tells me to water my succulents way too often
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