Acquired Jade - Potentsai Material???

LiddleBuddha · Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:59 am

Hello Everybody,

My brother gave me a Jade plant yesterday!

I've attached some pics below. Sorry the lighting/background isn't better

. Was the best I could do last night.

I have a few questions as follows:

1 - In anyone's opionion, does this plant look like it might have some bonsai potential? (Or should I say, potentsai?!;

props up, ynot!

)

2 - If so, any ideas about best soil, shape of tree, size it should be, best front angle, etc.?

First Angle:
[url=https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=angle1rb9.jpg][img]https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7809/angle1rb9.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Second Angle:
[url=https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=angle2zi9.jpg][img]https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4351/angle2zi9.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Third Angle:
[url=https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=angle3vt1.jpg][img]https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3796/angle3vt1.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Fourth Angle:
[url=https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=angle4cl8.jpg][img]https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6603/angle4cl8.th.jpg[/img][/url]

The "soil" is in rough shape. It is very hard and clumped to the roots...

"Trunk" and Soil 1:
[url=https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trunksoilmq4.jpg][img]https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4811/trunksoilmq4.th.jpg[/img][/url]

"Trunk" and Soil 2:
[url=https://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trunksoil2gx1.jpg][img]https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6449/trunksoil2gx1.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Thanks very much in advance for any thoughts, ideas, comments!

If this Jade won't do for a bonsai, I think it'll at least be a nice plant with a little bit of love.

Best,
- LB

Gnome · Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:41 pm

LB,

That looks like something you could work with. Jades can be pruned so severely they look like they will die for sure but they always seem to bounce right back. Although a very free draining mix is usually recommended I find they will do alright in just about any type of soil as long as you know their watering requirements. Not saying that you should not re-pot just that it is not urgent.

I give mine large amounts of water very infrequently. I allow them to go a bit limp before watering them VERY well, in fact during the winter I usually water mine via the submersion method. This mimics their natural conditions of drought then a wet period. They can use a little more water during the summer (mine are kept outside) than in the winter. In the summer I water as I do my other trees just a little less often.

I had some trouble with a large one wanting to topple over after a re-potting and ended up making a temporary frame around the pot to support the plant until the soil settled a bit and stabilized.

Hopefully Randy will chime in here as I know he has some nice ones.

Norm

LiddleBuddha · Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:35 pm

Gnome,

Hey, sorry for the long delay. Craziness lately. No good excuse though...

That looks like something you could work with. Jades can be pruned so severely they look like they will die for sure but they always seem to bounce right back.

Sweet! I'm going to prune it and see how it goes. I'm going to start new Jades with the leaves I take off. I might wait til it's a little warmer here though.

Although a very free draining mix is usually recommended I find they will do alright in just about any type of soil as long as you know their watering requirements. Not saying that you should not re-pot just that it is not urgent.

I think I'll repot it soon in the soil you recommended. After I'm sure it's doing okay I think I'll prune it. I took a closer look at the current soil and it is in very rough condition.

I give mine large amounts of water very infrequently. I allow them to go a bit limp before watering them VERY well, in fact during the winter I usually water mine via the submersion method. This mimics their natural conditions of drought then a wet period.

Sounds like how I water my aloe plants, (except I don't submerge them.) I'll give it a try for the Jade. In fact, I think I'm actually going to have to submerge it in order to get any of the current soil to come loose. It's extremely caked on there.

I should be able to repot it by next week at the latest. I'll post some pics as things progress/develop. Thanks again for your time and advice, Gnome! I can't wait to have fun with that new Jade!

Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

Best Regards,
- LB

Gnome · Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:49 pm

LB,

Hey, sorry for the long delay. Craziness lately. No good excuse though...

Don't give it a second thought. I've not been on as much recently either.

Sweet! I'm going to prune it and see how it goes. I'm going to start new Jades with the leaves I take off. I might wait til it's a little warmer here though.

You can start with individual leaves if you want a lot or don't mind waiting while they put on some growth. But if you want quicker results and don't mind having less material I suggest stem cuttings. They will root easily, I like to take my cuttings after the plants have been well watered and are well hydrated. The cuttings must be left to dry for several days before you plant them or else they may rot. Don't water them until they are beginning to root.

Cut above a previous node with a razor knife and leave the stub to dry and fall off on its own. If you examine the plant closely you can predict from which direction the new growth will emerge.

I think I'll repot it soon in the soil you recommended. After I'm sure it's doing okay I think I'll prune it.

I have been potting mine in my usual bonsai mix and they seem to like it, but then again I have grown them in anything from potting soil to regular garden soil. As I said watering is by far the most important aspect in keeping them happy. They do well if pruned during the summer, but again they are very resilient in that regard as well.

Sounds like how I water my aloe plants, (except I don't submerge them.) I'll give it a try for the Jade.

I do this only during the winter. I began mostly because I have a lot and it is much more convenient to put several in a tub than to haul them individually to the sink or drain. I have found that they really respond well to this technique, and I can get away with doing it about once a month during their rest period.

In fact, I think I'm actually going to have to submerge it in order to get any of the current soil to come loose. It's extremely caked on there.

I almost always use some water when I re-pot my trees. It makes it much easier to remove the old soil. Although if you use a good gritty mix it is much easier to remove the bulk of it if the soil is a bit on the dry side first.

I should be able to repot it by next week at the latest. I'll post some pics as things progress/develop. Thanks again for your time and advice, Gnome! I can't wait to have fun with that new Jade!

You're welcome and yes please post the pictures. I'll see if I have one of my makeshift support to give you some ideas.

Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

Thank you, and you as well.

Norm