Gollum Jade aerial roots.

Messages
1,104
Reaction score
2,181
Location
Tennessee
USDA Zone
7a
I have a golum Jade hanging out by a southern window. I noticed today some aerial roots forming. Further research shows a divide between perfectly normal while humid, or possible root problem. Problems aside, is it possible to encourage arrial roots to form banyen style in a succulent like this? Seems like a fun experiment. IMG_20190105_090849.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20190105_090834.jpg
    IMG_20190105_090834.jpg
    132.5 KB · Views: 85

Carol 83

Flower Girl
Messages
11,126
Reaction score
27,131
Location
IL
I had roots like that growing off of a regular jade. I was told here, it stemmed from soil problems, or not enough drainage. But they never seemed to affect the plant negatively.
 

cbroad

Omono
Messages
1,685
Reaction score
1,970
Location
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone
7a
I have one that does that every so often, I read somewhere here also that it could have to do with the soil drying out too much which causes the plant to push out roots up top. So far that seems to be a pretty good explanation because when mine dries out too much that happens.

I think in order for them to reach the soil you'd have to devise a method of keeping them moist until then, like a negari contraption or something and expose them when they're more mature. Otherwise they dry out too soon and shrivel up. In my opinion, it wouldn't really be worth it unless you want to create some franken-jade which might be cool in it's own right.

Keep us updated with what you do!
 

Shinjuku

Mame
Messages
207
Reaction score
639
Location
Sacramento, CA
USDA Zone
9b
I think in order for them to reach the soil you'd have to devise a method of keeping them moist

You can use a plastic drinking straw. Cut the straw to the correct length so that one end of the straw is against the branch with aerial root inside, and the other end of the straw is going straight down into the soil. This creates a mini “humidity dome” so to speak so that humidity from the soil fills the straw, giving the aerial root the humidity it needs until it grows long enough to penetrate the soil.
 
Messages
208
Reaction score
253
Location
SoCal zone 10a
USDA Zone
10a
You can use a plastic drinking straw. Cut the straw to the correct length so that one end of the straw is against the branch with aerial root inside, and the other end of the straw is going straight down into the soil. This creates a mini “humidity dome” so to speak so that humidity from the soil fills the straw, giving the aerial root the humidity it needs until it grows long enough to penetrate the soil.

This idea is genius! Oh man I’m going to have some fun with my jades this year
 

just.wing.it

Deadwood Head
Messages
12,141
Reaction score
17,546
Location
Just South of the Mason Dixon
USDA Zone
6B
If they throw aerial roots when super dry, have they at that point grown substantial subsurface roots?
I thought succulents will only grow roots when the plant is searching for water....and at that point they are utilizing the water stored in the foliage.....which shows itself as lines on the leaves, and then we water.
I thought drying out was the only way to grow subsurface roots with succulents.
 
Messages
208
Reaction score
253
Location
SoCal zone 10a
USDA Zone
10a
If they throw aerial roots when super dry, have they at that point grown substantial subsurface roots?
I thought succulents will only grow roots when the plant is searching for water....and at that point they are utilizing the water stored in the foliage.....which shows itself as lines on the leaves, and then we water.
I thought drying out was the only way to grow subsurface roots with succulents.

This is true but I’ve never had a problem with a succulent drying out pushing out aerial roots and then remembering to water again and it coming back to full health and just remove the aerial roots...possibly some roots die off in rootzone but hasn’t been a issue to bring them back from that for me, and I’m in so cal ?
 

cbroad

Omono
Messages
1,685
Reaction score
1,970
Location
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone
7a
If they throw aerial roots when super dry, have they at that point grown substantial subsurface roots
For me, oh hell yes! I have to admit I'm horrible about watering my indoor stuff, so they get superrr dry...
 

AlainK

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
5,394
Reaction score
9,486
Location
Orléans, France, Europe
USDA Zone
9A
This is rather frequent on crassula sp.

On mine, they never grew aerial roots, the branches just bent down as if they wanted to separate from the mother tree and clone themselves.
 

Melospiza

Shohin
Messages
264
Reaction score
236
Location
Chicago, Ill, USA
USDA Zone
6A
I have found that it is hard to keep the aerial roots alive. Mine produced aerial roots just above the soil, so I buried them in substrate. The aerial roots did grow into the substrate but the original roots just withered away.
 
Messages
1,104
Reaction score
2,181
Location
Tennessee
USDA Zone
7a
Nice Jade @Underdog ! After checking mine out, looks like I was keepign mine too wet. I've skipped out on watering this week and will just let it dry out a bit.
 

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
Messages
12,421
Reaction score
27,873
Location
Charlotte area, North Carolina
USDA Zone
8a
I enjoy seeing these photos of aerial roots on succulents. I had always heard / assumed that aerial roots were directly related to humidity in the air. That is certainly the case with aerial roots on some tropical trees (ficus, etc). I have some BIG jades in my landscape that go 6+ months without water and I have never seen an aerial root on any of them.
 
Messages
100
Reaction score
133
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
USDA Zone
7
My wife has an orchid cactus that throws out aerial roots constantly regardless of watering or the humidity in the air. Orchid cactus in the wild usually grows as an epiphite so I believe it’s an attempt by the plant to grab onto something before falling over. They usually dry up after they get a few inches long. I’m not sure what would cause them with jade, though.
 

Underdog

Masterpiece
Messages
2,677
Reaction score
6,873
Location
Ohio
USDA Zone
6
@GrimLore gave me lots of great advice with this one. It is liking it. Keep it root bound and dry as heck between watering was his advice in a nutshell.
 
Top Bottom