Do you want to know whether or not jade plants like to be root bound? If yes, then this article will help you. Read it entirely, and you will get answers to all your questions regarding this topic.
The Jade plant does not like to be root bound because such a condition prevents the plant from absorbing the necessary nutrients from the soil, which causes stunt growth and yellow leaves. So, if your jade plant is getting root bound, you should immediately act.
The best thing you can do in this case is to remove the plant from the current pot and repot it into a bigger one.
In the following paragraphs, we’ll give you all the signs indicating if your jade plant is root bound and what you should do to solve this issue.
Let’s get started!
Do Jade Plants like to Be Root Bound?
As mentioned above, the jade plant does not like being root-bound. In fact, when this plant is root bound, the roots will grow outside the pot and have no access to the water, oxygen, and nutrients contained in the soil. As a result, the plant will suffer from serious growth problems.
The most common consequences of root bond for the Jade plant are leaf discoloration, stunted growth, rotting, and wilting.
Root bound can also make jade plants vulnerable to pests. Generally, when the roots start growing outside the pot, the plant gets very little food and becomes stressed. This prevents the plant from producing the energy and food it needs to defend itself against harmful insects.
Another consequence of root bound on the Jade plant is soil depletion. In fact, root boundness means that plant has outgrown the pot and pulled as many nutrients as possible from the soil. In this case, the soil becomes poor in nutrients and no longer appropriate for growing a Jade plant.
Finally, root bound can cause damage to the pot. In fact, when this plant is root bound, the roots wrap around the pot. This causes the plant to pull at the pot, and eventually, it will break.
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How Do I Know That My Jade Plant Is Root Bound?
To know whether your jade plant is root bound, look at the soil’s top. If you see that the roots start showing up at the top, you can conclude that your plant is root bound.
Other indicators can help you know if your jade plant is root bound. Let’s go over each one of them separately.
The roots show up at the top of the soil: in this case, the root system extends out into the surrounding soil and grows more roots above the soil. This may result in the roots pulling the plant from the potting soil, rootball damage, and overall plant stress.
Yellow Leaves: Root-bound plants cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients through their roots. This makes the photosynthesis process incomplete or inefficient. As a result, the plant loses its green color, and the leaves turn yellow.
Wilting: when the jade plant is left root bound for a long time, the nutrient deficiency can cause it to wilt and die.
Rotting: Rootbound causes rotting because it inhibits proper root growth, air circulation, and absorption of nutrients. When a plant is bound, the roots become prevented from accessing all the nutrients and oxygen they need.
Diseases: When Plants become root bound, they develop very shallow roots. As a result, they become more vulnerable to infections.
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What Should I Do If My Jade Plant Is Root Bound?
If your jade plant is root bound, repot it immediately to help it grow comfortably. But, if you are happy with the size of your plant and want to keep it in the current pot, you can only prune the roots if they are not highly bound.
Additionally, you can divide your root-bound jade plant and get two small plants.
Generally, repotting your jade plant into a larger pot every two years can help you prevent root bound. Additionally, repotting will help this plant get a high dose of nutrients from the fresh soil, which will help it grow fast and healthy.
Before repotting the jade plant, make sure that you choose a suitable container and potting mix for this plant. Generally, jade plants are succulents that grow well in environments that provide good drainage. Therefore, you should use a pot made of porous materials such as clay or ceramic and a soil mix made of materials that promote drainage, such as perlite and peat moss.
Now, let’s see how you can repot your root-bound jade plant.
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How to Repot a Root-bound Jade Plant?
If you want to repot a root-bound jade plant, you should follow the subsequent steps:
1. Unpot the Plant: To remove a root-bound jade plant from the pot, loosen the soil using a fork. Then you can lift the pot slightly and place it on a flat surface. Lastly, take your hand and gently pull the plant out.
2. Clean the Root Ball: Before you begin repotting, clean the roots well. You may injure the plant or introduce a disease if you don’t. Wearing gloves, gently wash the roots with distilled or filtered water. After that, rinse the roots well, then let them air dry.
3. Prune the Roots: It is essential to cut off the plant from the ground as soon as you remove it from the pot. This will allow the roots to grow, and it will enable the plant to heal itself. Prune off the roots’ dead, decaying, or dying parts to allow the remaining parts to grow. Cut out any woody growth, especially around the bottom of the plant. Then, trim the roots, so they are just below the soil line.
4. Prepare the New Pot: Choosing a suitable pot for your jade plant is essential. If the pot is too small, the plant cannot accommodate the roots. In this case, the plant will eventually succumb to root rot. If the pot is too large, the plant will not be able to take in water effectively, and the roots will rot.
5. Prepare a Fresh Potting Mix Suitable for the Jade Plant: mix two parts of a regular potting mix with one part of perlite to get a well-draining soil.
6. Fill the New Pot with Potting Mix: Fill the pot with potting soil until the soil comes at least halfway up the sides of the pot. Make sure to add a few extra inches of soil to the pot if necessary.
7. Add the Plant to the pot: put the plant into the pot and carefully press the soil down. Press down hard on the soil until it’s flush with the top of the pot. This is important because if you don’t do this, the pot will fill with air pockets that could cause root rot.
8. Water Thoroughly: After filling the new pot, water it thoroughly. This will ensure the soil is well-hydrated. Watering is essential to good plant health, and your plant needs it more when it gets introduced to a new environment.
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