I stopped my jade plant turning red by making one small change – it's only grown plump green leaves ever since

My jade plant grows happily on a north-west windowsill in my home office. It hasn't always lived there, though, as it took some trial and error with placing my jade plant to find the right spot for it. This is because I noticed my jade plant turning red after previously sitting somewhere much sunnier.

If you care for a jade plant, this might also be something you've experienced. It's a common problem when figuring out where to place a jade plant. Too much sun, the wrong temperatures, and other factors can cause this plant's succulent leaves to turn a red hue.

While it may look attractive to some, red foliage is actually a sign your jade plant is distressed. However, I discovered how to stop my jade plant turning red and how to prevent it happening again. All it took was one simple adjustment.

What causes a jade plant to turn red?

There are a few causes behind a jade plant turning red, but there is one that is most commonly the culprit: sunlight. More specifically, too much sunlight.

This was the case for my jade plant. As succulents, it's easy to assume jade plants need direct sunlight. For this reason, I first placed my jade plant on a very sunny windowsill.

It didn't take long for the tips of its rounded leaves to turn red, a sign of leaf scorch.

Leaf scorch isn't just to do with sunlight, however, as dehydration can also cause a similar effect. This means watering your jade plant too infrequently can turn it red, too.

Not only this, but letting your jade plant sit in dry soil for a prolonged amount of time can also lead to wrinkled leaves and leaf drop.

Sometimes a jade plant turning red is also a response to temperature fluctuations. Jade plants aren't cold-tolerant houseplants, but likewise don't do well in hot temperatures, causing crisping leaves among other issues.

All of the above factors may cause red foliage as a stress response. They trigger the anthocyanins (red and purple pigments) to be activated, in attempt to protect the plant from damage.

How to stop a jade plant turning red

The best thing to do when you spot your jade plant turning red is act fast. As soon as I spotted those red tips on my jade plant, I made changes to its growing environment.

This included moving it somewhere with less direct sunlight. However, it's also important to not choose a spot too shady, as these are not indoor low light plants. Too little light can cause a jade plant to drop leaves.

If your jade plant turning red is caused by too little water, increase your watering frequency. Take care not to drown your plant, though, as this can cause houseplant root rot.

I like to use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to identify when the top two inches of my jade plant's soil is dry, indicating it's time to water.

As for a jade plant turning red from temperature fluctuations, keep on top of winter houseplant care to keep your plant sufficiently warm during the coldest time of the year. This includes moving the plant away from chilly windows and even using a heat mat from Amazon.

FAQs

Should I remove red jade plant leaves?

Yes, you should remove red jade plant leaves. Red leaves are a sign of stress and indicate something needing to change in their growing environment. You can usually pinch off red jade plant leaves, but can also use essential pruning tools to cut them off – like these pruning snips from Amazon.

Moving my jade plant out of direct sun has kept red leaves at bay ever since. I find my jade plant gives me other signs its growing environment needs adjusting, too. For example, my jade plant droops when it's experiencing a nutrient deficiency. It's easy to fix, however – I just use a jade plant fertilizer (from Amazon) to give it a boost and perk it back up again.