jade stem cutting

[Petra26]

here are some pictures of a jade stem cutting that I had grown since last summer/fall. it has been doing pretty well. that 1 big leaf on the bottom is from original cutting, but the rest of the leaves on top is all new growth. my ideal goal would be to grow it into a jade bonsai.

here are the pictures...

[url=https://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0590ar5.jpg][img]https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/990/img0590ar5.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0591mx5.jpg][img]https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2118/img0591mx5.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0593sv3.jpg][img]https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3179/img0593sv3.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0594tl9.jpg][img]https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7311/img0594tl9.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0592zi2.jpg][img]https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9608/img0592zi2.th.jpg[/img][/url]

so, what else can I do to get this into faster bonsai shape?

[Gnome]

Petra,

what else can I do to get this into faster bonsai shape?

Unfortunately there are no shortcuts. You simply have to allow the passage of time. Get it out into full sun this summer and fertilize regularly. The other option is to obtain a larger plant or cutting, large cuttings will root readily also.

Here is one of mine, before a pruning, after and a little later.

[url=https://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=99709520cz9.jpg][img]https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5313/99709520cz9.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=95923277yu9.jpg][img]https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/704/95923277yu9.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=42273093fo4.jpg][img]https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3193/42273093fo4.th.jpg[/img][/url]


Norm

[Petra26]

wow, that look cool. that's what I wanted to do to mine that's some severe pruning, I didnt know it could take that much pruning wow, that's pretty cool. you can noticeably see a fattening in branches in the 3rd picture with the new growth. I guess it is a good idea for me to start looking into fertilizing my plants. I think I have finally reached that stage oh, what kind of fertilizer should I use for jade plants? I heard that african violet fertlizer is good for it aswell.

[Gnome]

Petra,

that's some severe pruning, I didnt know it could take that much pruning

Yeah, they respond really well to severe pruning. And I'm just the guy to do it.

[url=https://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pruningsna1.jpg][img]https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7517/pruningsna1.th.jpg[/img][/url]

you can noticeably see a fattening in branches in the 3rd picture with the new growth.

About three months had passed between those pictures, I did the pruning in June and the last picture was taken in September. If you look closely you will find that the last picture is a bit closer so it is a little misleading though.

what kind of fertilizer should I use for jade plants?

I use the same thing as I do for most everything else, nothing special. One thing to note though is that I water and fertilize more aggressively when they are outside than in the winter when they are under fluorescents.

Norm

[ynot]

so, what else can I do to get this into faster bonsai shape?

Good lighting, Warm temps, A lot of time...Oh, And just add water. .

You may find petra that shortly you will have many jade 'potansai' as often Jade owners use the pruned material {Branches, Large or small, Leaves, etc.} for cuttings.
[...Well I ended up with an entire window full of them in NC anyway ]

As Gnome mentioned any suitable balanced fert will do. IE:10-10-10.

Good lighting will help to keep your new growth tight and compact [Smaller leaves also].

Good luck

ynot

[Petra26]

omg gnome! that's is a lot of jade branches/leaves pruned!

I guess only way to speed up the process is to give it better conditions and some fertilizer. will need to jury-rig something together that can incorporate lighting for my plants and goldfish

[Gnome]

Petra,

omg gnome! that's is a lot of jade branches/leaves pruned!

Yeah I guess it is, I don't prune this much regularly, I got carried away last spring and cut them all back hard. I did not discard them all though and many have become healthy new plants. A lot more than would fit on my window sill.

Norm