Can I bring a jade tree back to life that was outside during a frost?
Kateena asked:
I have a very old jade tree that was my fathers and so it is very dear to me. I went away on vacation 2 weeks ago and while we were gone it frosted 2 nights in a row. I brought it in as soon as we got home, but most limbs feel limp and the majority of the leaves are brown and wilted. However, there are still some leaves that look healthy. Can it be saved? What do I need to do to revive it?
I have a very old jade tree that was my fathers and so it is very dear to me. I went away on vacation 2 weeks ago and while we were gone it frosted 2 nights in a row. I brought it in as soon as we got home, but most limbs feel limp and the majority of the leaves are brown and wilted. However, there are still some leaves that look healthy. Can it be saved? What do I need to do to revive it?
Wow. First of all, my sympathies. You must feel that loss keenly.
I’m only guessing because nothing like that has happened to me…but in my experience, sometimes top growth is killed but roots remain alive. I’d suggest cutting the plant back hard, maybe even to ground level if top growth seems dead. Keep the soil barely moist and hope that new growth emerges from the root system. Best of luck!
Only time will tell. Cut off the limp branches and don’t over water (hardly water) the plant or feed it at this point. It likes bright light. Apparently, is goes semi-dormant in the winter, so be patient. Do a google search on “jade plant care”. Good luck.
Sorry hun, there’s not much hope! Plz don’t give it a lot of water. Jade is a succulant. It will drown! Repot it. Mix in the soil Ozmacote fertalizer (use it sparlingly). Read the directions on the container. It will fertalize the plant just what it needs for 9 months. Before putting it in the new soil, take off all the dead parts.If there leaves that are alive, you can take them off & gently put them down in the new soil 1/8 of an inch. Water it well. The leaves should root. Water it 1 cup per month.
If you can cut off all the brown and wilted material and there is still a viable plant, I bet it can survive. I would try it, because it is old and probably valuable. It is a succulent so probably the water in the limbs froze in the freezing temperatures.
I’d cut off what is not spongy and put that to root. Good news is that jade roots from leaves and stem cuttings, so use the ones that are still good to root.
try laying some of the leaves on some moist soil..just slightly tuck in the broken end…they should root.
water the rest of the plant –after trimming off the dead stuff–very sparingly…very little water
My sympathies as well.
As others have recommended, cut away anything that is dead, or mostly dead. Don’t repot it now… it’s in enough shock right now. Water it as normal, I would also give it a dose of fertilization. Follow the directions on your products package.
Jade does root easily, if small branches or leaves drop, you can root them. Obviously it will take a long time for bits that small to get as large as this heirloom plant, but at least you’d have something.
I wouldn’t hold out a whole lot of hope. But if the frosts were light and circumstances are right… you might just luck-out.
I hope that this helps
Good luck-