Viewing post #3027076 by tapla

You are viewing a single post made by tapla in the thread called Jade plant pruning.
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Nov 13, 2023 4:11 PM CST
Name: Al F.
5b-6a mid-MI
Knowledge counters trepidation.
Japanese Maples Deer Tropicals Seed Starter Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: Michigan
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Reading leaves
When leaf tips or margins abnormally curl/cup upward, it's usually an indication the plant is trying to retain moisture – most common causes are dry soils or high temps; or, if you are using supplemental lighting, the lights might be too close.

When leaf margins curl down, especially if leaves droop abnormally from the base of the leaf to the leaf tip, there is probably an issue affecting root function or health. The main causal suspects would be over-watering or soil compaction causing an inadequate supply of oxygen to roots, a root infection, or a TDS (fertility) level too high, which can limit water uptake.

That the leaves aren't thicker and more fleshy is a light issue. They want more. I typically run 42w LEDS with a color temperature of 6000K for foliage plants, with the lights within an inch or two from the top of the plant; 16 on - 8 off.

Does the pot have a drain hole?

If, out of love and respect for your parents, you're not comfortable doing some pruning, I get and respect that, but the reality of that is you're pretty much destined to be content with the plant deciding what it wants to look like. If you decide you want to prune, all those U-shaped branches that turned upright when you increased the light load should be pruned back to the bottom of the "U" so in the early stages of development the branches are largely flat or drooping slightly downward with a slight upturn at the tip of the branch only.

And for informational purposes only, I'm not trying to talk you into pruning, the longer you wait the more difficult it will become to correct the eye-jarring branches; not difficult in the sense that it's all that much harder to do the actual pruning, rather, the longer the plant(s) is/are left to their own devices, more severe the setback to the plant will be if you decide to correct.

Al
* Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. ~ Socrates
* Change might not always bring growth, but there is no growth without change.
* Mother Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

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