If your Jade plant starts to turn purple, then it’s telling you that it is under stress. This can be due to a single reason, or even multiple issues can occur at the same time.
If a Jade plant is left for too long in this state, there can be dire consequences.
Do you want to know why is your jade plant turning purple?
Well, some of the most common reasons that cause a Jade plant to turn purple are too much sun, poor light, lack of fertilizer, the wrong type of soil, or even temperature stress, to name a few.
There are multiple more factors which we’ll get to shortly.
Some of these problems are easier to fix than others. For example, moving a plant into either an area with light or shade can solve certain issues.
Furthermore, simply replanting with better quality, well-draining soil can fix a few problems that stem from poor soil.
In this article, we’ll go deep into all the possible problems and how to correct them to enable your Jade plant to thrive without any further hindrance.
Table of Contents
Jade plant turning purple: 12 Reasons With Solutions
Jade plants are generally pretty easy to grow, especially indoors. The fact that they’re succulents means that they require a little less watering, but that’s not to say that they don’t require overall care.
If a Jade plant isn’t established correctly by following a few simple principles, there is a big chance that it will start to turn purple as a result.
Let’s have a look at all the possible reasons for jade plant turning purple, as well as some quick fixes to help correct the problems when/if they arise.
Too Much Sunlight
Jade plants have a tendency to turn purple in the early spring and early summer when the intensity of the sun UV rays starts to come out in force for the year.
The reason that the purple color starts to take over the plant is that the Jade plant releases a pigment called anthocyanin.
This pigment acts as a bit of a defense mechanism to help reflect the UV rays, which also reduces the risk of the leaves becoming burnt.
Anthocyanin doesn’t always show up as purple, but in the case of the Jade plant, purple is the color provided.
Generally, the plant changes color as a phase, but sometimes, if left in the sunlight for too long, it can become a problem. The leaves will turn completely purple, and the edges can be deeper in color.
Quick Fix
The easiest way to correct this issue is by moving the plant out of direct sunlight. The best place for an indoor growing Jade plant is on an east or west-facing window sill.
Alternatively, a south-facing window that doesn’t receive as much direct sunlight is a great option also.
Temperature Stress
Extreme fluctuations in the temperature can again cause a release of anthocyanin, which will make the plant turn purple. Freezing temperatures are a real danger for Jade plants. Anything lower than 50ºF (10ºC) can start to cause problems.
As they are succulents, their plump leaves are full of moisture. When the leaves get too cold and possibly freeze, the cell walls can burst and make them rot.
They should be well protected from drafts and even be relocated when temperatures get too low.
On the other hand, extreme heat will also release the pigment as a way of defending the plant. A Jade plant should not be subject to temperature stress for too long as it can cause permanent damage.
Quick Fix
Similar to sunlight, the simplest way to fix this issue is by moving the plant out of the heat or cold. If that isn’t possible, installing some shade, another type of overhead covering, or a windbreak can also help.
Try to only have the plant exposed to temperatures that are around 65°-80°F (18°-26°C) where possible.
Inadequate Light
If a Jade plant is growing somewhere that doesn’t allow it to receive enough light; it will turn purple as a result. Not only that but the leaves and stems can also become more elongated and fragile.
They start to succumb to a condition called elutriation.
This is where the plant will stop producing leaves and supplying them with nutrients. Instead, they will put focus on growing the stems to help the plant reach whatever light source they can find.
This is what causes the lengthening of the plant.
Quick Fix
A Jade plant needs 3-4 hours of direct sunlight per day and enjoys indirect sunlight for the rest of the day. Just moving the plant to a lighter location can improve the plant’s health dramatically. It may take a bit of trial and error to get the right placement.
Under Watering
Like most succulents, Jade plants have the uncanny ability to go for long periods of time without water. The difference with these plants is when they do require water, they need a lot more at once to help top up their moisture stores.
Adequate water is what keeps the leaves plump, so when the moisture content is reduced, the leaves start to look limper and turn purple.
Quick Fix
Frequent watering is essential for a Jade plant. You don’t have to soak the plants but make sure that the soil is moist at all times. It’s best to water every 1-2 weeks during the warmer months (spring/summer).
During autumn/winter, watering every 2-3 weeks is more reasonable as they require less moisture.
The best way to know exactly when to water is by checking the moisture content. Simply stick your finger into the soil a few inches down. If your finger is completely dry, then the plant could use a drink.
Overwatering/Poor Drainage System
Overwatering is something that can cause huge problems for any plant, not just Jade plants.
When a Jade plant receives too much water, it causes the roots to rot, which can then invite insects and bugs to feast on the disease.
This is an unnecessary headache caused by a domino effect that starts with a simple lack of care. Furthermore, overwatering can be amplified when the soil used is poorly draining.
When the soil retains water, it acts like a sponge. When a Jade plant suffers via this fate, it turns purple by again releasing anthocyanin as it struggles to deal with the damage.
Quick Fix
Depending on how much damage has been caused, simply slowing down the frequency and volume of water can help. Usually, though, the soil can become almost soggy in texture and requires a complete report to ensure the plant’s roots don’t rot out.
Remove the Jade plant and clean the root system up with gentle watering. Fill the pot with new, better-draining soil and replant it again.
Lack of Fertilizer/Nutrients
Succulents don’t require much in the way of fertilization, but they should not be neglected if signs of nutrient deficiency are showing. Generally, Jade plants that grow in their natural environment get all they need within the soils they are growing in.
Our job as gardeners is to provide them with the same nutritional requirements to assist them in an environment that may be foreign to them. A lack of nutrients can cause the leaves of a Jade plant to turn a greenish-purple color.
Quick Fix
Applying a well-balanced NPK (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus) fertilizer twice a year is adequate for a Jade plant. It’s best to administer the plant food once in the spring, so they are full of energy in the summertime.
Additionally, once in early autumn to help the growth will be carried through the colder winter months into the next growing cycle.
Jade plants go dormant during the winter but providing them with food before this time will allow them to be fully stocked and not use their own stores to survive.
Wrong Soil Type
Soil type is extremely important for any plant. Jade plants require good drainage. Poor drainage is another one of the many factors that will make the plant release its purple-colored pigment.
This is released as a defense mechanism as the plant begins to stress. It’s actually a very smart plant.
Quick Fix
The best way to tackle this issue is by removing the plant from its pot and checking out the root system. Gently wash away all of the soil and debris to reveal the condition of the roots. If they are showing any signs of rot, prune away the affected areas.
If satisfied, add better-quality soil to the pot before replanting. Try to mix in materials such as sand, pebbles, or perlite, which are great for not only drainage but also aeration. Also, check to make sure that the pot you are growing in allows the water to drain out effectively.
Health Issues
Health issues can come in a couple of different forms. They are either a byproduct of disease, including rot and fungal infections, or pest infestations.
We’ll go into those 2 next, but just suffering through those stressors will make a Jade plant change color as a symptom. They can also cause spotting in various colors as well as wilting.
Quick Fix
Finding out what or who the culprit is can make the job a lot easier to control.
(I’m not actually sure if this subheading and content are necessary, to be honest) I had to remove 3 others also, as they didn’t make sense. You may need to write 12 reasons instead of 15 reasons as the Main heading.
Root Rots Or Fungal Infections
The most common forms of the disease are bacterial soft rot and powdery mildew. They both have their own separate characteristics causing the release of anthocyanin due to stress.
Root rot often derives from overwatering, which can also be amplified by poor drainage.
Powdery Mildew is generally an issue caused by excess humidity, low light, cooler temperatures, and/or improper air circulation.
Quick Fix
Root rot can be mitigated by making sure that the soil provided is well draining with ingredients such as coarse sand, perlite, or chicken grit. Additionally, the amount of water given should be closely monitored to prevent the soil from becoming soaked.
If the damage has taken hold of the plant, the best option is to first isolate it to prevent spreading and then discard it carefully.
Powdery Mildew can be controlled by either allowing adequate growing room surrounding the plant or simply moving it somewhere that allows it better light and/or sources of natural heat.
More extensive damage should be treated with a decent-quality fungicide such as Chlorothalonil.
Past Issues
Mealybugs and spider mites can cause some real damage to a Jade plant if not discovered soon enough. Similar to all stressors, the plant will release its pigment, which causes the purple color to become present. These types of pests often land on plants due to their attraction to decay or rot.
So the bigger issue is this whole domino effect that we talked about earlier. Poor drainage causes overwatering, leading to root rot, causing pest infestation.
They are all connected. Sometimes it’s hard to spot it happening in the beginning, and then all of a sudden, you’re dealing with a heap of issues at once.
Quick Fix
Neem oil is your weapon of choice against both of these pest types. You can make a decent quality home mix, add it to your favorite sprayer bottle, and coat the plant from root to tip.
Rubbing alcohol can also be used by dabbing the affected areas with a cotton bud. If the insects have caused too much damage, it can often be better to carefully discard the plant.
High Humidity
High levels of humidity are not good for Jade plants. They prefer around 30 to 50% humidity to really thrive. Any more, and they can begin to sweat and stress. This leads to the release of anthocyanin and forms purple patches all over the plant.
Quick Fix
The simplest way to correct this issue is by relocating your plant to somewhere that doesn’t have that humidity. It could be inside your home. It’s hotly debated as to whether or not a Jade plant should be misted.
Although it is possible, it should be avoided as the leaves are more fragile than other plants that may be more suited to misting.
Age Factor
The age of your Jade plant may make it easier to succumb to all of the above-mentioned stressors a lot faster than a much younger, healthier plant.
Again, releasing their defense pigment. The plant may simply not be strong enough to fend off and regulate itself against things such as extreme temperature fluctuations, pests, diseases, overwatering/underwatering, etc.
Quick Fix
Simply take all the measures provided above to cradle your plant. Ensure that they aren’t put into an environment where they can suffer from these types of stressors.
Try not to take any risks with an aged plant. They cannot recover as well as they used to.
When To Worry Due to Jade Plant Turning Purple?
In general, a Jade plant will present itself with prominent visual signs to show that it is subject to some kind of stress. In most cases, the color will be purple, and the reason is that it releases a pigment to protect itself.
In saying that, mitigating and reducing these stressors should be of top priority. Both as a preventative measure as well as a solution to help correct the issue(s) once discovered.
If a Jade plant begins to turn purple, it doesn’t always have to be cause for concern, though. If the problem revolves around poor light, too much sunlight, high humidity, extreme temperatures, underwatering or nutrient deficiency, they can often be corrected by simply moving the plant or adding shade/coverings/windbreaks.
Nutrient deficiency is a little different, but it is also a lot easier to correct than some of the other issues that can occur.
If the Jade plant is turning purple from issues surrounding poor soil choice/drainage, overwatering, disease, and/or pests, then you may need to take a lot more care to help curb the plant back to a thriving point.
Usually, problems such as these have been brewing for a lot longer and can affect the plant a lot more. Poor drainage and overwatering can cause the plant to spawn disease, which invites pests to snack on them.
It’s a domino effect that can be fixed from the very setup of your plant. Routine checks should be regularly performed, so these large issues don’t destroy your plants to the point of no return. You need to write when to worry and also add why to worry in this section.
A Few Quick Maintenance Tips to Take Good Care of Your Jade Plant
The best way to ensure that problems don’t begin in the first place is by setting up a good foundation for your Jade plant so that they don’t succumb to them in the first place. This can include:
- Choosing the right soil – The key factor for ensuring that a range of other issues won’t occur is by making sure the soil is well draining. Jade plants prefer a base created by using organic matter ingredients like worm castings, peat moss, or guano. These can be mixed into a standard potting mix. Then some additional ingredients such as sand, pebbles, or perlite should be blended in to improve the overall drainage and aeration.
- Water Schedule – Jade plants don’t require any specific watering schedule. They should just never be soaked. Ideally, keeping the soil slightly moist will keep them happy. You can test the soil moisture content by sticking your finger in. If it comes up dry to moist, then it is safe to give it a little drink. Alternatively, water when the top 1-2 inches start to dry out.
- Pruning – It’s a good idea to trim away any dried-out or decaying leaves to promote new growth. This will also stop the plant from focusing its energy on trying to revive the parts that are already beyond repair.
Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)
Should I cut off purple jade leaves?
If the plant looks healthy despite the purple leaves, you shouldn’t cut them away. Quite often, simply relocating it will be all it needs for the purple pigment to disappear and the lush greens to reappear.
How often should jade be watered?
There is no universal rule for watering a Jade plant. The best way to know when to water is by simply sticking your finger into the soil close to the stem. If the top 1-2 inches is dry, then the plant will need a drink. Jade plants like the soil to be dry to slightly moist but should never be soaked in water.
Conclusion
Jade plants are really easy to plant to grow and maintain. They don’t require too much fuss but giving them a good growing foundation is essential to their long-term survival.
As long as you give them a well-draining soil base and grow them with adequate light away from extreme temperatures, they can be pretty self-sufficient.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative, and we look forward to creating more of the same as this is what we do and love.
