What are these bumps on my Jade plant leaves? Pest infestation? Diseases infection? Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant (I have a PhD in Plant protection science), according to my tests and experiences the most common reason for protuberance on succulents’ leaves is Edema. I also understood that sometimes people describe the scales as brown bumps on leaves.
In addition, other agents can also cause tumours on jade plant leaves like the damage of some pests, although their possibility is low. Keep reading to show you how to detect your jade plant problem and fix it.
Edema can cause Bumps on Jade Plant Leaves
Do you know what is Edema in plants? let me give you a simple definition: when the plant roots take up excessive water greater than its needs, the plant cannot use or transpire it through the stomates. So, the plant cells will swell and burst.
In this situation, as you can see in the picture, you will spot the raised, blister-like bumps or lesions on the leaves of your Jade plant. These blisters on the leaves may turn into corky brown spots too.
What causes Edema on My Jade plant?
I understood four things involved with Edema in succulents like Jade plants:
- Overwatering
- Poor Drainage
- Sudden temperature changes
- High humidity.
You must know if you have a heavy hand on watering or your plant is suffering from poor drainage, oedema is the least problem, and the more danger is root rot. So, you have to solve them before root rot kills your plant.
I totally discussed Edema on the Jade plants in my other post, I told you how to control it and treat your plant. Please read it and ask me your questions.
Scales Are Similar to Brown Bumps on Jade Plants
Some people complain about brown protuberance on their succulents and when I visit their plants, I find out they are infested with Scales. Are you even familiar with these annoying pests? You can see them in the following image.
As you see in the picture, Scales are tiny, flat insects that often resemble small, raised bumps or crusts on plant leaves, stems, and fruits. They can be serious problems if don’t control them early. Do you know why? Because:
- They feed on plant sap, causing various problems such as stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and even plant death.
- In addition, they produce a sticky substance called honeydew. This can attract ants and sooty mold, further damaging the plant.
- Finally, due to their scale-like cover, most common pesticides cannot affect them and their control can be challenging.
So, if you spot scales on your Jade plant or any other plant, you should start dealing with them quickly. In low infestations, I recommend gently removing them from the leaves with an almost sharp object like a knife. Be cautious that the leaves are not damaged. However, you must remove the infested foliage and use a Systemic Insecticide, in high infestations.
I discussed Scales on succulents in my other post, you will find more ways to prevent and get rid of them there.
Endophyllum sempervivi: A fungal Disease which Causes Bumps on Succulents
Endophyllum sempervivi is a rust fungus that primarily affects succulents in the Sempervivum and Jovibarba genera. You can see it in the blow image. Although I don’t have found any report of it in Jade plants, if you spot its symptoms on your plant, please let me know about it in the comments.
It is a very serious disease and I recommend throwing infected plants away instead of trying to treat them. However, if spot it, please take a picture of it and send me before eradicating it.
The end,
I know the bumps on jade plant leaves are often oedema because of overwatering, poor drainage, high humidity or even sudden temperature changes. I told you when your plant takes up excessive water, its cells will blister and turn into corky brown spots. However, oedema doesn’t kill your plant, but I know the root rot will do it if you don’t solve your plant watering problem.
However, Scale insects can also be similar to brown bumps on foliage. I told you to deal with them before getting a bigger danger to your plant. in addition, aphids and mealybugs can damage on leaves and sometimes produce bulges on leaves. If you think the above agents are not the reasons for the bulge on your jade plant leaves, please inform me in the comments. You can also ask your questions below this page.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.