Kati March 7, 2011 at 9:58 pm. The natural growth of an Portulacaria afra produces cascading branches. Jade plant produces clusters of small white or pink, star-shaped flowers. Or, you can grow it in a hanging basket ant let it sprawl like a waterfall instead of growing it as an upright miniature tree. Make sure your garden shears are very sharp, as blunt shears can damage your plant and introduce infection. That being said, if they get lots of sunlight, they will do fine in temperatures that are higher than this. The silver jade plant is also known as the Chinese jade, silver dollar plant, and even money plant. Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. The plant will use this saved energy on growing the trunk. Avoid cutting the main branch (or trunk) of the plant. How to Grow Dwarf Jade Plant Dwarf jade is a low-maintenance houseplant. Grow in very bright light indoors. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 And thanx for the correction, you are absolutely right about the climate swings in Africa. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are commonly grown as houseplants not only because they are easy succulents to grow, but they are also seen as an emblem of good luck or prosperity.One of the challenges is keeping them from stretching out between the leaves. Jade is Commonly known as Jade Tree Plant, jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant or Money Plant in Feng Shui. You can prune Jade Plant in the early spring because new growth begins during the spring. And, as they can reach 12 feet tall as they get older, regular pruning can spare you from a lot of hard work later. Because jade plants can live for many years, plant lovers need to know how to maintain their plants. As a heads up, if you prefer smaller plants and would love your jade to stay small over time without needing any pruning, you can shrink the size of the plant pot you place your jade in, or start off a cutting in a teeny tiny terracotta pot with a drainage hole. The captivating rich jade color of the leaves lends the plant its name. The jade bonsai is able to withstand aggressive pruning. Transplant in the early spring, just before the growing season begins. Accidents often happen when repotting, so be careful. Prune off dead or shriveled branches. Re-potting: Re-pot in spring when the plant becomes root bound or the soil needs renewing. Jade plants are so easy to grow as bonsai that they are often used by beginners to learn how to create and maintain bonsai plants. Jade plants grow vigorously after pruning, so don’t be afraid to trim away! Cascade Bonsai Style – Kengai. This is one of my favorite Jade Bonsai shapes. With its shiny, plump leaves and pleasant shape, a jade plant is one of the most familiar and treasured plants. Remember though, don’t try to propagate from diseased or damaged plant parts, those will need to be disposed of. They are native to the Kwa Zulu-Natal province and Eastern Cape of South Africa and Mozambique but have been cultivated in Europe and America for over 100 years. Once you have found a suitable spot, rotate the plant regularly so that it receives light evenly on all sides and maintains a balanced, symmetrical shape. Now I feel much. With older jade, repot once every 4 to 5 years or as necessary. Jade plants are a succulent plant with luscious, oval-shaped, green leaves, and small pink or white flowers. If you have a large Jade plant (or know someone who does), you can grow more Jade plants by cutting off a stem from the larger plant. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Continue to water the plant as often as necessary to keep the soil evenly moist during the spring and summer months, when Jade Plants are actively growing. Leggy sections are thin and longer than other branches. While jade plants do not need to be pruned, knowing a little about pruning jade plants can keep a plant to an acceptable size. The only time you will cut this main truck is when you are cutting down most of the plant to help it heal from infection. Never remove more than 20%-30% of the plant. Plant jade plants in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. Jade plant does not mind being in a small pot or root-bound. To keep your jade plant healthy and encourage new growth, prune overgrown sections and remove leggy branches. By ensuring you give your jade the appropriate light, water and nutrients, you can thicken the trunk on a jade plant over time. Although it can be difficult to maintain a downward-growing tree with the classic Bonsai specimens (due to a plant’s natural tendency to grow upright) this is not the case with the Portulacaria afra. Although they are usually considered to be indoor plants, growing jade plants in an outdoor container is one of the best ways to enjoy them. References. Irrigate the Jade Plant after pinching it back to thoroughly moisten the soil and promote new growth. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Step 1 Look over the body or your jade to make note of branches that appear too long to be supported, stems that disrupt the overall bush shape, and branches that are bending down and touching the rim of your pot. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Jade plants are resilient and lovely plants and because they are so easy to grow, some may grow to the size where jade plant pruning is needed. This variety grows into a bushy shrub about 3ft in height. Over time, jade plants can become large and top-heavy, and they may need to be repotted. Then begin to prune it into the shape that you desire. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. This article was co-authored by Chai Saechao. Your jade plant only needs 3-5 hours of sunlight every day. Photo by trambler58/Shutterstock. See the overgrown stems and decide how you want to shape the plant. As a self-described plant doctor, he believes in the therapeutic power of plants, hoping to keep sharing his love of plants with anyone willing to listen and learn. Dear Jade Master, I am writing from Mexico and I wanted to tell you about the jade plant I rescued over a week ago. Mix your soil for the new pot thoroughly. Mix and apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the product label. There was a beautiful though a little bit “bald” jade plant (approx. In fact, keeping them root bound will keep the jade smaller and more manageable. As with most succulents, Jade Plants are tough and adaptable to many situations and a variety of treatments, however they wont last long if you constantly over water. % of people told us that this article helped them. [1] X Research source Use sharp, clean clippers to snip off the stem. Never remove more than 20%-30% of the plant. Remember though, don’t try to propagate from diseased or damaged plant parts, those will need to be disposed of. Water well, then wait for the soil to dry out before doing it again. Follow these steps. Jade plants can start quite small but over time can grow into a large and majestic specimen. Removing them will refocus energy so it can grow in a fuller pattern. Jade trees take to bonsai readily and adapt well to the heavy pruning required to maintain the small size. Try to choose a part of the plant that has a thick stem with healthy leaves. How do I determine the age of a jade plant? Prune your jade bonsai to shape it. You can even prune all the leaves and branches so just the main trunk and roots are left, and it will regrow. The name for this succulent comes from the grayish-silver leaves that some say is in the shape of a dollar. Pruning those branches develops thicker, stronger stems, which lets your plant grow taller and wider. Jade plant care instructions say that jade plants do best in day time temperatures of 65-75 F. (18-24 C.) during the day and 50-55 F. (10-13 C.) at night. But their thick, round shape and smooth to the touch surface makes this plant, the “money plant” or a “lucky plant” in Feng Shui principles. Jade plants can start quite small but over time can grow into a large and majestic specimen. If you go for the second option then Stem cuttings need to be treated in exactly the same way as Leaf cuttings (described above). A compact and full jade plant is a healthy jade plant—it will regenerate and thrive when you prune it. It is not possible to know precisely the age of the plant, but you can estimate it by the diameter of the trunk: 10 years is roughly equal to 0.5" (1.2 cm). Jade plant care instructions say that jade plants do best in day time temperatures of 65-75 F. (18-24 C.) during the day and 50-55 F. (10-13 C.) at night. The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is also known as the money plant thanks to its coin-shaped leaves. Older jade plants may develop a thick, scaly trunk, giving them their classic tree-like appearance. Leaves and branches cut from the main jade plant can be re-potted to make new jades! Caring for a jade plant is similar to that of a cactus but one area of confusion is with regard to its trimming. The tip's coloration is more intense in full sun. In Winter you want to give enough to keep the soil just barely moist. The intersection of the branch and the stem makes a “V” shape. Cutting behind the leaf node results in a large and vulnerable portion of damaged stem remaining, endangering the plant by increasing the chance of disease and rot. ; Prune off dead or shriveled branches. All rights reserved. Repot young jade plants once every 2 to 3 years to encourage growth. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Prune-a-Jade-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Jade-Plant-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Prune-a-Jade-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/aid10095313-v4-728px-Prune-a-Jade-Plant-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"