We have had this succulent on our kitchen counter for almost 14 years, but it was in a very small cup and needed a better pot with more space to grow its roots (some of the leaves shrivelled and fell off), so we re-potted it a few months ago in ProMix Cactus soil. The top had grown and curled over and then back around to be pointing up to the sun and was supported by a twist tie on a wooden stick at the top of the bend, but a while after re-potting it, the top part of the bend started to turn soft and less green, and eventually it broke off. We took the piece that broke off which still had big green leaves on it, cut the end, and planted it near the main plant in the pot - there's no indication right now if it is growing and rooted-in or not, but the leaves are still green. However, the other side of where it broke off at the top of the main plant has just now gone from being green and hard like the rest of the plant to being less green and soft and it looks like it is traveling down the stem towards the main part of the plant which is quite concerning. What do I do to stop it from getting soft and to save the plant? Should I cut that one section? Or could it then just keep traveling down and toward where other leaves are growing out of it? I wouldn't be able to cut that section completely down to where the plant is healthy, because there is a stem with leaves growing out of it at the base of the part that is starting to rot that I don't think would be good to cut off. We were thinking of maybe re-potting it into better draining succulent soil today since the cactus soil it is in right now is actually quite dense and not very well draining, but I don't know if that is the problem or how to help it otherwise with the part that has turned soft. I also don't know why the top section between the main base of the plant and the other leafy chunk turned soft and broke off in the first place after putting it in its new pot. I would appreciate any advice since we have had this plant for so long. Thank you for your help.

@Baja_Costero may be able to give a good advice.

I don't recognize the plant so I can't offer any specific advice there. Just a couple of ideas in general. One is that light is going to be an issue that far north, especially during the darker months (late fall, early winter). There's not much you can really do about that except give the plant the absolute maximum exposure possible. Ideally a spot right in front of your sunniest southerly window. The more sun, the better.

The ProMix you used is probably fine, the pot size looks adequate. I think you will be more likely to make things worse than better by repotting now and stressing out the plant that way.

14 years is a long time so I don't think low light explains everything that is going on here. I'm just proposing a possible improvement which you might consider implementing in the coming months, to the extent it is possible.

Repotting is generally the last thing you want to do for most succulents in crisis, unless you have a specific goal related to pests in the root zone. It's also the wrong time of year to make that move, so I would recommend strongly against it.

If there is clearly a disease progressing down or along the stem (and I'm not really seeing that in the photo) than definitely put an end to its travel by snipping the stem in question where it is still healthy. Again, not seeing that, but maybe you are better able to assess these things first hand.

Agree with Baja re more light and all other advice.

I'm wondering, could that possibly be an incredibly intrepid Jade plant (Crassula ovata) that is severely starved for light and nutrients? I have known them to survive unbelievably harsh conditions, so 14 years in a little pot on the kitchen counter isn't out of the question. I'm sure it wasn't always so puny. @purpleinopp what do you think?

If so, water it thoroughly when you water, then let it get nearly completely dry before watering again. Personally, I think that pot looks big for that tiny ailing plant this time of year, but I agree that it probably shouldn't be disturbed again right now. Your description of how it reacted to repotting suggests that its roots got damaged when it was moved and then couldn't adequately support the the top growth, so the goal now is to allow the roots to mend. Even though you should water well when you water, be very careful not to let the soil get soggy or allow water to remain in the saucer (the pot has drainage, right?). Try to keep it in warmth and light. No fertilizer until you see new growth in spring, and then be sure to dilute it well. Best luck to that little guy!

Ok - thank you very much to everyone for helping. I will include a photo below of closer to the top of the main part of the plant where it is getting soft just to make sure there isn't a disease. I have a grow light - could that be helpful for the roots to get better? Yes, it has drainage, but the water pools a bit on the top of the soil before going in, which is weird because it is cactus soil. I don't know how I could fix the drainage at this point without stressing the plant more. Also, how will I know if that other little piece that broke off that I cut and planted is rooting in and growing? Do you think it has rooted in by now and I should just leave it, or pull it out and plant it in a seperate pot so it is not too close to the main part?

Are you talking about that little leafless nubbin? I don't think it's diseased, just dead and rotten and the rot can travel. Clip it off as close the leaf node as possible. If that little cutting isn't shriveling up then it's probably fine. Leave it for now and watch for new growth. The soil sounds like it contains peat and is hydrophobic. The only solution for that is to water in installments until it's saturated and absorbs water easily. Should improve it going forward. I don't use lights, maybe someone else can advise about that.

It might possibly be a jade plant having a near-death experience. It took 14 years to get there, so this is one tough little plant. Sad to behold now, but it's still showing some signs of life. Here's what I'd do:
Do NOT repot now, and don't pull any parts out to look at the roots.
The cutting will show new top growth when it roots, I wouldn't move it now.
Do not fertilize now.
If the soil is now repelling water, it has become way too dry. The best way to overcome this is to give the whole pot a long soak in a bowl of water. At least an hour, until the soil is re-hydrated. Then drain the pot well, tilt to get as much water out as possible. Don't water again until the soil is almost dry, maybe several weeks. This is assuming the pot has drainage holes.
I don't see any parts I would trim off now. The little stub that is dark on the tip should just naturally dry up, no need to create a wound.
Yes, by all means use the grow light, and your best windowsill. I don't know what kind of grow light you have, but this plant needs a lot more light. Start slowly, a couple of hours a day, and gradually increase. In our Arizona winter, my succulents get all day in a bright south facing window, AND 16 hours of daily grow light. (Sorry, Canada!)
See how it looks in Spring, decide then whether to repot. If you do, I'd use a much smaller pot, with lots and lots of drainage holes. The grower's plastic pots work really well for me. The ugly pot can be placed inside a prettier cache pot, just never leave it sitting in water.
I'd try a different brand of cactus/succulent mix, without peat moss if possible. Add some additional grit, chipped granite poultry grit is my current favorite, but you can also use small gravel, pumice, or large, screened & washed perlite. I make it about 30% extra grit for succulents, more for cactus.
Remember that repotting will stress the plant and set it back a bit, don't be in a hurry, and disturb the roots as little as possible. For right now, I'd leave it alone except for more light and getting the soil hydrated, see how it does.
Also, how are your temperatures? These plants like it bright and warm. I've been having some success with a heat mat and thermostat set at 80F. (26C.)
Improve its conditions, give it time, and see how it does. Please let us know!

The joints are wrong for C. ovata (Jade). I suspect it might be elephant bush:
Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)

I'm sure the advice already given is good.

Or could be dwarf jade that got leggy being 14 years old:


Just as a side note, if there are leaves that broke off, don't toss. These type of succulents can easily be propagated by leaves.

Hello Tiffany,
I certainly agree that it could be something other than Crassula ovata, but I'm curious what you mean by "joints". I'm seeing opposite leaves, which Jade plants have, and nodes along the stem where leaves have fallen off, but I'm not sure what I'd call a joint on this plant. Just asking!
Thanks...

Sorry, the joints = the nodes. I can't come up with anything specific to say except they just look different. That's weak, all I got @ the moment.

Thank you to everyone for all your advice. I have an update with great news! The top part shrivelled and looks like it is about to fall off, but the softness didn't continue down the stem. We have been putting it more in the sun every day, and there is even new growth. The extra part that fell off and that we planted seems to have begun growing, as it is pointed up towards the sun and looks like it might have new growth. We haven't watered it in a while now, so I will water it lots with the methods you suggested above and then leave it to dry before I water it again (in a few weeks?). Thanks again. I have attached a photo.

LeoG said:

Looking good!

A fun update! Go, little plant, go!

Thanks for the update!
Last June I potted up some Jade top cuttings, and had this little stub left over, almost threw it out. I put two nodes down in the pot, two up, and ignored it in the corner for the summer. It didn't do anything until September--I almost threw it out again--the single leaf slowly withered. Right before it was time for everything to come in for Winter, these two little sprouts started.
I'm convinced these are strong plants!