Jade Plant

[rainbowgardener]

The picture was posted in Feb. Shade only ever made 13 posts, the last of which was in April. That means he likely won't be back to see your question. Unfortunately around here, we have to get used to never hearing the end of most stories. Just occasionally, some one comes back to update us on what happened. I'm a Sheldon type with a high need for closure and it drives me crazy, but I have learned to live with it.

[Rose bloom]

Thank you for telling me. I did not notice the date.

[Shade]

I basically set it in an east window when it was small until it out grew the windowsill. Once it was about a foot tall I began sitting it outside in the summer. That is when it really began to take off each year. It loves being outside in the summer. The only water it gets in the summer is when it rains or I have to water the lawn. It is even bigger this year! The trunk is about 5 1/2 inches in diameter and its bloomed more than it ever has in the past. I never fertilized it until this year, which is probably why it bloomed more this year than past years. I leave it outside until the temperatures reach around 34-36 or whenever the first frost is forecast. It's my prize houseplant. I call it Jadezilla. Here is a story. We are selling our house and moving in the spring so we could put up our Christmas tree. So..we decorated the Jade and put lights and everything on it. Its pretty cool. I will see if I can post a picture of it. Oh..and btw... I did remove all the lower branches that are seen in the picture above but it just spread out and filled it again! It is still in the same pot I never transplanted it or downsized.





My apologies for all the editing. If you click on the pic an go to my photo bucket it shows a picture of my daughter decorating the jade. For reference in the size of the jade, my daughter is 54 inches tall. Also in the picture above you can see the white flowers.

[Rose bloom]

Wow!

[rainbowgardener]

Hey, Shade -- thanks for coming back and updating us! Like I said, more often than not we never hear the end of stories around here, so it's really nice to see what happened!

[applestar]

Jadezilla, you look gorgeous, Darling.

...really, that's is one happy plant. And I love that you can see the trunk and branch structures now from the way you pruned.

The lights will mean increased dryness. Since holiday lights are usually indoor/outdoor, you can mist with a sprayer without fear of electrical accidents (make sure yours is before doing that though).

[Shade]

Thanks guys. I waited to post until after I brought my jade inside...sorry for the long time between posts. @Applestar...it looks like Jadezilla is doing pretty good with the lights so far (only a few days to go before we take them off). When we do move I am NOT looking forward to moving him. He weighs about 85-90 pounds. Our new house, once it's finished being built, will have much more room and I have a perfect spot for him. We will have a nice patio outside for him in the summer. I just hope he survives the move with minimal damage.

[Rose bloom]

Me,too!

[baileysup]

Christmas Jade! Awesome! So cool Shade. Thanks for the pics

[Happy Days]

I am so happy to see this plant doing so well. I absolutely love it!

[Shade]

Thanks for the comments guys. My jade is my crown jewel of all my plants.

[Happy Days]

I've forgotten how old the plant is (if you've said).

[Shade]

It is currently 7 1/2 years old. It will be 8 around June.

[purpleinopp]

What an amazing plant! Didn't notice the 2nd page of the discussion at first. One of the biggest potted ones I've seen.

[Rose bloom]

How are you going to move it?

[Shade]

I've thought a lot about how to move it. It will have to be moved twice, once to our rental house for 2 months and then to our new house when building is complete. I think what I am going to do is put it in the U-haul the very last thing after everything else is loaded. I am expecting some loss of branches but Jades are very hardy and will recover. I will take every precaution to prevent any loss at all.

[Shade]

An update. I moved my Jade successfully to the rent house about 3 weeks ago. In about another month we will have to move him to our permanent residence. I hope the last move will go as well as the this one did! As a side note I a have noticed that it hasn't shed leaves this winter as it has every winter I have had it. I am not sure why but I am pleased non-the-less. I can't wait to get to our new house so I can find a permanent place for him.

[tomc]

I'd propagate a new jade baby, and sell the parent.

It'll take a serious search, but you can prune jade back and more (or less) into bonsai. Look on the web for how others done it. Jade will back-bud.

[Shade]

I am no longer looking to downsize or prune it back. I have really grown to like it as it is. Not really fond of the bonsai look.

[Shade]

I am about to move my jade to its permanent home this Saturday. Wish me luck.

[baileysup]

Good luck Shade. Let us know how it goes, and a picture is always nice, if you can . I love seeing your jade. It's spectacular, and inspirational.

[applestar]

Ooh Good luck!

[Shade]

I will post a pic in its new home if I can remember how to do it.

[han412]

This is a pic of my jade bonsai. This plant responds well to prune. If I were you I would prune the plant to a desired size and start a bonsai .

[Rose bloom]

Um, han12, he said he did not want to downsize it anymore and said he did not really like the bonsai look.

[Shade]

Well, my jade survived!! My computer didn't. I am on my daughters laptop.. I hate it. I will take some pics and try to post them when my comp is repaired!!

[Shade]

Here is my big jade after we have moved. He has a new home in front of our southern window. It is now too wide to take outside. It is over 48 inches across and our doors are only 36. I am still going to see if I can manage to get him outdoors at least one more year if I can.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76428164@N02/14141126964/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76428164@ ... otostream/

[applestar]

That's an amazing looking plant. Fantastic!
It looks like a plant dolly would be useful. I've invested in a new one for the fig, replacing a cheap one from the craft store I had been using, and it is so much more stable and rolls smoothly that I got a second one for the smaller banana. I resorted to planting the big banana in a wheeled bucket.

If you prune, you could propagate cuttings from it?

[baileysup]

48"! Wow, that really puts it into perspective (I didn't know it was THAT big, lol). That jade is a monster!! And a lovely one at that. I'm so glad she survived the big move, and is looking STUNNING as ever. I'm glad you wanted to leave it in it's natural state, and not make it a bonsai, because it has A LOT of NATURAL beauty . I let my jades grow natural as well. Thanks for the update Shade.

[Shade]

@applestar: Yes you can propagate jades from cuttings. I have given many many cuttings away over the years. He (jadezilla) will be 8 years old in June. Jades will grow from leaves or stems.

[Shade]

Just a interesting update. We have since moved into our new house and Jadezilla is out side happily enjoying the summer sun on the back patio. I could barely get him out the patio door and lost a couple of branches doing so. I am afraid I may have to cut him back in order to get him back inside this fall! He is sprouting branches all over and I hope it will bloom again this fall as it has every fall for the last 5-6 years. I did manage to lift him out of his pot and give him a dirt transfusion this spring. That should give him a growth burst (not sure if that is a good or bad thing...lol).

[Andie]

I love your plant and would like to see an update at this point.

[Shade]

Here it is outside happy as a clam!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76428164@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/76428164@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/76428164@ ... otostream/

Forgive me as I have forgot how to post pics directly to the forum.

[Moneytreehappy]

Hi,
I saw this very old post when looking for pics of large jade plants. Ours is huge. It's very special and I've nurtured it for about 20 years. Maybe more. Anyway, sometimes I can't quite believe it and had to share this pic when I saw Shade's magnificent plant.

[Moneytreehappy]

Whoops. It's sideways. Anyway, my husband is 6'2 and is standing behind it.
Might try and repot this spring. But it weighs an absolute tonne. Takes up most of our room in the winter and we too decorated it as our Christmas tree this year.

[BoudicaTheBrave]

Wow! Such a gorgeous Vibrant Jade plant ^.^!!!! never seen the likes quite like this, Amazing

[melkerr]

whats your secret to success on these large plants? fertilizer? what kind of soil or watering schedule? wow!! impressive on both of those!

[Shade]

whats your secret to success on these large plants? fertilizer? what kind of soil or watering schedule? wow!! impressive on both of those!

I almost never fertilize my jade. I sit it outside in the summer and it gets water whenever it rains or I water the lawn. It lost quite a few branches since I last posted and isn't quite as full as my original post. I now have a smaller jade I started from the big one and it looks really good. I will see if I can post a pick of it soon. One interesting little tidbit...the last couple of years I have seen birds roosting in my big jade. I found that kind of amusing.

[Shade]

Hi,
I saw this very old post when looking for pics of large jade plants. Ours is huge. It's very special and I've nurtured it for about 20 years. Maybe more. Anyway, sometimes I can't quite believe it and had to share this pic when I saw Shade's magnificent plant.

Wow...your jade is amazing! How tall is it? How big around is the trunk at the largest point? Do you put it outside in the summer?

[imafan26]

It is one of the good things about most succulents, they don't need a lot of care or fertilizer, but they like the sun.