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Why Does My Jade Plant Have White Spots

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If you notice white spots over the leaves or the stem of your jade plant, it can be of a lot of concern to you. Imagine the plant on which you spent so much time and effort dying due to some disease.

If you’re wondering, “Why does my jade plant have white spots?” The answer to your question is in this article. Unfortunately, the plant is otherwise a beautiful healthy plant and the disease is alarming, to say the least.

So let’s get right to it!

Why Does My Jade Plant Have White Spots
White spots on jade plant? – via Reddit

Why Does My Jade Plant Have White Spots

There can be multiple causes that your jade plant is experiencing white spots. Each of these alternatives have different solutions for them. The identifying part requires being familiar with the plant, which everyone isn’t. To make things easy, we have listed them here.

For the answer to the question of why does my jade plant have white spots, keep on reading the article for tips and tricks to remove these.

Powdery Mildew

Just as it affects other plants, this fungal infection also affects jade plants. This fungus generates little white circular spots on the plant’s broadest portions as it initially begins to grow.

These specks first develop on the jade plant’s leaf foliage. Powdery mildew is detected in its later stages by fluffy fungal filaments that spread to other sections of the plant.

Contemplate your plant’s environment if you aren’t sure that this infection is the cause of your jade plant having white spots.

The growth of this fungus is the highest in places where there is low sunlight, high humidity, cool temperatures and low air circulation. So if you notice these conditions around your plant, the likely cause of the spots is this fungus.

Remedy For This

If the powdery mildew is caught early enough, treatment should be simple, and your plant should be unharmed. One tablespoon baking soda, one teaspoon non-detergent soap, and one gallon of water are a common home cure for spraying on the leaves of your jade plant.

If the white spots keep reappearing, you can apply this on a daily basis. Powdery mildew creates spores that are invisible to the naked eye, and this spray keeps them at bay.

There are several other excellent natural remedies that you can try applying if you want to get rid of the fungus.

Excess Salts Can Also Cause White Spots

Succulents like jade plants store much of their water in their thick leaves. The moisture in the leaves will become unbalanced if they are watered with a high-salt source. White spots on jade plants can occur as a result of this.

When the jade plant attempts to balance the salt concentration in its leaves again, it seeps and excretes salt through the leaf pores. The saltwater will eventually evaporate, leaving a salt residue on the leaf.

Unfortunately, this white patch looks a lot like powdery mildew in its early stages. Also, overhead watering can generate spots on your jade plant’s leaves, as the extra water evaporates and leaves salt deposits on the leaves.

Wipe the leaves clean with a moist towel and wait a week to identify the difference between a fungal infestation and excess salts. Powdery mildew is most likely to blame if the patches recur frequently and begin to resemble fluffy fungus. After that, it takes longer for salt deposits to reappear.

Why Does My Jade Plant Have White Spots 2
What are these white spots on my jade plant? – via Reddit

An Insect Infestation Which has Caused The White Spots On The Plant

Chlorosis in your jade plant could be caused by stress from an insect infestation. Chlorosis occurs when a plant’s chlorophyll production is disrupted, causing the leaves to become yellow and drop.

Mealybugs and spider mites have been observed to infest jade plants. Therefore, when looking for solutions, it’s crucial to consider the contrasts between these two.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are little red spiders that dig into the earth. White dots on your leaves are the first sign that they are there. Spider webbing might be found on the leaves and stem of your jade plant in later stages. Spider mites can damage the plant if not treated.

Shake your plant to see if any small red spiders fall out to see whether spider mites are the source of your problem. If you have spider mites, spraying your jade plant every three days with an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and water for a month will destroy the mites and their eggs.

Mealy Bugs

One of the most prevalent insect infestations observed in jade plants is mealy bugs. Mealybugs are little, flat, white bugs that can be identified by their appearance. They’ll be attempting to burrow into the jade plant’s branch and stem.

After you’ve identified the bugs, you can try to get rid of them. Using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to clean the individual bugs and eggs off the jade plant is a popular cure. Spraying the entire jade plant with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water every few days for a month is a preventative approach.

Much Rarer Insects

Aphids and thrips are two less common insects that generate white patches on jade plants owing to leaf damage. Spraying the entire plant with an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and water in an open atmosphere is a quick way to get rid of these bugs.

Traditional insecticides should not be used on jade plants since they can cause more damage. If you use a severe insecticide, the jade plant’s fleshy leaves will suffer.


Conclusion

If you’re asking yourself the question of why does my jade plant have white spots, it could be one of the three reasons discussed in this article.

All these factors have equal gravity and should be taken seriously. If a fungal infection is left untreated, the plant will slowly start dying. Other issues like a pest infestation can also eat a plant from the inside out

If you need any additional assistance or any gardening advice, you can always reach out at the email below and we’ll be happy to help you.

Best of luck!