Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant, welcome to my page. Today, we want to speak about mold on Jade Plant leaves, which most Plant parents complain about. It may be black, grey, or white. Two things can cause Black mold on your Jade plant leaves: Sooty mod and Botrytis fungi. However, Grey mold is caused by Botrytis infection. The white mold on Jade plants is often a sign of a fungal disease called Powdery mold, although people sometimes confuse Mealybugs as white mold, this is wrong.
Let’s discuss above molds on Jade Plant leaves in detail in the following. I will show you how to detect and then control them.
Black Mold on Jade Plant Leaves
See the below image, it’s Sooty mold. Sooty mold is often a second infection after attaction of a sap-sucking insect. So, if you spot it on your Jade plant leaves, you must find the main culprits. They are often Aphids, Mealybugs, Scales or Thrips. They are common tiny bugs on houseplants that produce honeydew on your plant foliage and provide a suitable place for growing Sooty mold.
First, check the underneath of the leaves and where the petioles join the stems. Try to find small insects on your plant. I discussed them in my other posts where I listed the 9 common tiny bugs on houseplants (especially Aphids on Jade plants and Thrips on Houseplants). You will find all you need to detect and control them on those posts.
I control Sooty mold on Jade plants by wiping the leaves with a damp, soft cloth or sponge dipped in lukewarm water. I repeat it for several days. In addition, if you spray the leaves with water (especially with middle pressure) will be good to dislodge the sooty mold.
Sometimes, the Black mold on your Jade plant is caused by Botrytis fungi. Let’s get to know it in the following.
Grey Mold on Jade Plant Leaves
Botrytis is a fungus that can attack plant foliage and produce a white-grey mold on leaves. The leaves will turn yellow and fall finally. You can see its symptoms in the below picture. To control it you must remove the infected leaves immediately, improve the air circulation around your plant and spray it with proper fungicides like Chlorothalonil or Potassium Bicarbonate.
To find out more about Botrytis on Jade plants, read my other post.
White Mold on Jade Plant Leaves
As I told you above, the white mold of your Jade plant is most often Powdery mildew. You can see its symptoms in the below picture. Controlling white mold is almost similar to gery mold although there is a difference in the kind of fungicides. I recommend using Potassium Bicarbonate to treat the infected plant:
- Mix potassium bicarbonate, soap, and water in a 2:1:2 ratio
- then spray it onto the infected succulent leaves
- Repeat weekly for 3-4 weeks.
This method is a proven effective treatment for powdery mildew
I discussed the Powdery mildew on the Jade plant in my other post, read it to know how to treat an infected plant completely.
Anyway, people sometimes confuse Mealybugs with white mold, there are lots of differences among them from their appearance to their control. To get rid of Mealybugs on your Jade plants, I recommend wiping them off with cotton balls or Q-tips soaked with rubbing alcohol. You can also pinch and kill all of them and then your plant with the isopropyl alcohol (mix 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water).
If you ensure the white stuff on your plant is Mealybugs, I recommend reading my other post about Mealybugs on Jade plants to gain more tips on controlling them.
Jade Plant Mold on Soil
Sopping mold on plant soil is a sign of overwatering and high soil humidity. However you can get rid of them by collecting molds from the soil surface, but your plant is still involved with the risk of root rot due to overwatering. So, if you spot mold on the soil, improve your watering practice, provide light soil for your plant and check its pot drainage holes.
The End,
If you spot any mold on your Jade plant, first, you must detect its agent to get rid of it. you can do it by considering the color of mold, the black mold on the Jade plant is often Sooty mold. I told you when spot sooty mold on your plant, you should look for an annoying insect which is sucking your plant sap and get rid of it. It can be an aphid, thrips, and so on.
Botrytis can cause a grey mold on your Jade plant leaves, although it can be white-grey or sometimes black too. the white Mold on your Jade plant leaves can be a sign of Powdery mildew, so, your plant may be involved with a trouble problem. Controlling foliage fungi like botrytis or Powdery mildew are almost similar and you must remove the infected parts, improve air circulation and spray your plant with fungicides like Potassium Bicarbonate.
If you have any problem with your Jade plant, let me know about it in the comments below this page. I’m a horticultural consultant and will help you as soon as possible.
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.