Portulacaria Afra / Dwarf Jade is dropping lower leaves but growing upper leaves
- makemythumbsgreen
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Portulacaria Afra / Dwarf Jade is dropping lower leaves but growing upper leaves was created by makemythumbsgreen
Posted 3 years 7 months ago #68719
Hello every. I'm new to this forum.
I am looking for help with my Portulacaria Afra. It has been dropping lower leaves really quickly for the past 2 months. I was told to give it better lighting (even though I felt it was getting good light). So 6 weeks ago I ordered a set up a gooseneck LED light setup with 4 heads all pointing around this bonsai. It's on a timer to be on for 12 hours each day, so light can't be the issue anymore.
I've had this bonsai for about 14 months in the same spot. It has been growing a lot and I've been pruning it. It seemed to have been liking the location and the watering schedule. The soil is a mix of 100% double-sifted Akadama, Red Lava Rock and Pumice made by Tiny Roots brand. It's in a rectangular clay glazed pot with 2 large holes on the bottom.
For a while it seemed like it wasn't taking water in fast enough when top watering, so I'd soak the bonsai in a plastic container covering the roots for about an hour or so. Sometimes I also put fertilizer in that water.
At this point, the top leaves are growing A LOT!! and getting nice a dense, but it's still dropping the lower leaves, and overall the leaves do not feel plump and full of water like they used to after a good watering.
I'm so sad to see this plant struggle and I have no idea what's going on.
Please tell me what I can do to save this guy! I will be forever grateful!
I am looking for help with my Portulacaria Afra. It has been dropping lower leaves really quickly for the past 2 months. I was told to give it better lighting (even though I felt it was getting good light). So 6 weeks ago I ordered a set up a gooseneck LED light setup with 4 heads all pointing around this bonsai. It's on a timer to be on for 12 hours each day, so light can't be the issue anymore.
I've had this bonsai for about 14 months in the same spot. It has been growing a lot and I've been pruning it. It seemed to have been liking the location and the watering schedule. The soil is a mix of 100% double-sifted Akadama, Red Lava Rock and Pumice made by Tiny Roots brand. It's in a rectangular clay glazed pot with 2 large holes on the bottom.
For a while it seemed like it wasn't taking water in fast enough when top watering, so I'd soak the bonsai in a plastic container covering the roots for about an hour or so. Sometimes I also put fertilizer in that water.
At this point, the top leaves are growing A LOT!! and getting nice a dense, but it's still dropping the lower leaves, and overall the leaves do not feel plump and full of water like they used to after a good watering.
I'm so sad to see this plant struggle and I have no idea what's going on.
Please tell me what I can do to save this guy! I will be forever grateful!
by makemythumbsgreen
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- Tropfrog
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Replied by Tropfrog on topic Portulacaria Afra / Dwarf Jade is dropping lower leaves but growing upper leaves
Posted 3 years 7 months ago #68723
Soaking a jade plant an hour from the bottom is for sure overwatering. The roots rot very easily. When they rot, it looks excactly as when underwatered because the leafs dont get any water. I would leave the tree without water for a month and see what happens. If you are in the northern hemisphere, you should not need grow lights this time of the year. Just move the tree outside protected from rain. Sunshine is a really good cure.
by Tropfrog
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