What Are the Causes of Shallow Roots in a Jade Plant?

Thorough Watering

• Water jade plants thoroughly so that all the soil is moistened. This encourages the roots to grow down into the soil. Shallow watering that only wets the top few inches of soil encourages shallow roots. When the top inch of the jade plant’s soil is completely dry, water your jade plant, allowing all excess water to drain away. During the winter, reduce the amount of water you provide, aiming to keep the soil barely moist.

Correct Drainage

• As succulent plants, jades are vulnerable to rotting and must grow in a container with a large drainage hole. Verify that the hole is unblocked and that excess water can drain away freely after watering. If drainage is inadequate, a constantly wet area of soil can form at the base of the pot, killing any plant roots growing in it.

Repotting

• Do not put pebbles of crocks in the bottom of your jade plant's pot when re-potting. These take up space needed by deep roots and can cause drainage problems. Use a paper coffee filter of fine wire mesh to prevent soil from washing out of the drainage hole.

Solutions

• Place jade plants in heavy ceramic containers so that they are less likely to topple over. Unglazed ceramic pots are porous and allow the soil to dry faster, preventing the plant from waterlogging. Alternatively, double pot your jade plant by putting its pot inside a larger container and filling the space between them with soil.