I have been growing what I've always considered to be a small-leaved Jade
plant for years and am now wondering if what I have is Portulacaria?
Is there such a thing as a small-leaved Jade Plant?
This plant looks just like Jade but the leaves are much tinier and IMO it
grows a bit slower and more compact than the every day Jade you see
out there.
Here is the plant in question:
https://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/djlen/IMG_2611ab.jpg
https://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/djlen/IMG_2607.jpg
Any thoughts on this?
Regards,
Len
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maveriiick
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Gnome
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Len,
I agree with your original assessment. Your plant is a variety of Jade that does have a somewhat smaller leaf.
Sometimes Portulacaria is referred to as Baby Jade, Dwarf Jade or Small Leafed Jade, these are common names, along with the traditional ones Elephant bush/food or Spekboom. The problem with common names is that not everyone agrees on what to call something and this leads to confusion.
Here is a photo of one of my Portulacarias that I just took so that you can compare them.
[url=https://img223.imageshack.us/I/portulacaria.jpg/][img]https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/13/portulacaria.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
I agree with your original assessment. Your plant is a variety of Jade that does have a somewhat smaller leaf.
Sometimes Portulacaria is referred to as Baby Jade, Dwarf Jade or Small Leafed Jade, these are common names, along with the traditional ones Elephant bush/food or Spekboom. The problem with common names is that not everyone agrees on what to call something and this leads to confusion.
Here is a photo of one of my Portulacarias that I just took so that you can compare them.
[url=https://img223.imageshack.us/I/portulacaria.jpg/][img]https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/13/portulacaria.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
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maveriiick
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Wow, this gets more confusing, the more I look at these plants.....lol.
Norm, your Portulacarias looks so similar to mine but the leaves look like they are not as thick as mine.
I have to think that I've got a Jade. I find this variety slower growing than the reg. sized Jade with a tendency to droop under the weight of the leaves if you don't keep pinching it back to allow the 'trunks' to thicken/strengthen.
I'm so jealous of yours and how nicely it's developed. How long have you been working on it to get it that way?
Would you say that the Portulacarias is a faster grower and thickens up quicker?
Also, mine will drop a leaf and if I just let it lay there it will eventually throw roots and I've had them begin to develop into new plants while just laying there...lol. Probably the easiest propagators I've ever seen. Do you find this the case with Portulacarias
I like some feed back on this if you have a minute.
And lastly, where can I get some Portulacarias leaves or stems to start my own little trees. I never even knew they existed till now. Gotta try some.
Thanks for you patience in reading this.
Norm, your Portulacarias looks so similar to mine but the leaves look like they are not as thick as mine.
I have to think that I've got a Jade. I find this variety slower growing than the reg. sized Jade with a tendency to droop under the weight of the leaves if you don't keep pinching it back to allow the 'trunks' to thicken/strengthen.
I'm so jealous of yours and how nicely it's developed. How long have you been working on it to get it that way?
Would you say that the Portulacarias is a faster grower and thickens up quicker?
Also, mine will drop a leaf and if I just let it lay there it will eventually throw roots and I've had them begin to develop into new plants while just laying there...lol. Probably the easiest propagators I've ever seen. Do you find this the case with Portulacarias
I like some feed back on this if you have a minute.
And lastly, where can I get some Portulacarias leaves or stems to start my own little trees. I never even knew they existed till now. Gotta try some.
Thanks for you patience in reading this.
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Gnome
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Len,
I first got three small ones in a single pot from Lowe's. My first move was to re-pot them individually. When the time came to do my first pruning I rooted the cuttings. This species roots so ridiculously easily that I am now over-run with them.
From these first cuttings I have two individuals, the one I posted earlier and another. For three or four years I did absolutely nothing to the pair of them and they were virtually identical. recently I cut the top put of one to encourage branching, the result is the one above. Here they are side by side.
[url=https://img194.imageshack.us/I/portsx2.jpg/][img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1951/portsx2.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img194.imageshack.us/I/portsx3.jpg/][img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4303/portsx3.th.jpg[/img][/url]
There is a good lesson to be learned here. As you can see the cuttings are larger than the parent stock. This is because I did no pruning and potted the cuttings up as needed. In contrast, I kept the first three clipped back and under-potted. This was not a deliberate plan, just how things turned out.
[url=https://img19.imageshack.us/I/portsall.jpg/][img]https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2507/portsall.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
I honestly don't recall when I got my first ones, these were cuttings, but I'm pretty sure it has been at least five years. Regarding the shape, I have actually done very little to it.I'm so jealous of yours and how nicely it's developed. How long have you been working on it to get it that way?
I first got three small ones in a single pot from Lowe's. My first move was to re-pot them individually. When the time came to do my first pruning I rooted the cuttings. This species roots so ridiculously easily that I am now over-run with them.
From these first cuttings I have two individuals, the one I posted earlier and another. For three or four years I did absolutely nothing to the pair of them and they were virtually identical. recently I cut the top put of one to encourage branching, the result is the one above. Here they are side by side.
[url=https://img194.imageshack.us/I/portsx2.jpg/][img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1951/portsx2.th.jpg[/img][/url]
I have been pleased with the growth mine have put on. Remember these were cuttings. Here are the three original ones I began with. These were pruned not too long ago, that's why they look a little sparse right now.Would you say that the Portulacarias is a faster grower and thickens up quicker?
[url=https://img194.imageshack.us/I/portsx3.jpg/][img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4303/portsx3.th.jpg[/img][/url]
There is a good lesson to be learned here. As you can see the cuttings are larger than the parent stock. This is because I did no pruning and potted the cuttings up as needed. In contrast, I kept the first three clipped back and under-potted. This was not a deliberate plan, just how things turned out.
Yes, although I don't bother with leaf cuttings as I have so many stem cuttings. I have so many in fact that I can no longer continue to root them as I cannot over-winter them adequately. I did a round of pruning about 6 weeks ago and the cuttings are just laying in box in the garage. They are starting to get a little shabby looking by now. All of these came from the original three, which are hiding in there somewhere.Also, mine will drop a leaf and if I just let it lay there it will eventually throw roots and I've had them begin to develop into new plants while just laying there...lol. Probably the easiest propagators I've ever seen. Do you find this the case with Portulacarias
[url=https://img19.imageshack.us/I/portsall.jpg/][img]https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2507/portsall.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
Yes, after looking at all those pictures of yours I'd have to say that I have the Jade and you have the Portulacarias, and they do not appear to have the same drooping habit that mine have under their own weight.
I will have to keep my eyes open at Lowe's and elsewhere for some of these
plants.
Thanks for the time and effort. Now I have a better idea of what I'm looking for.
I will have to keep my eyes open at Lowe's and elsewhere for some of these
plants.
Thanks for the time and effort. Now I have a better idea of what I'm looking for.
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Gnome
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BV,
Everything I have goes outside for the summer, I have no strictly inside plants. I do as you describe, spray the pots, and the plants themselves, off to remove any pests. Each pot is removed from the flats and I look them over as I spray them off, that's about it. These don't seem to attract many pests though. Mostly pill bugs under, or a woolly caterpillar tucked in between, the pots.
Norm
Everything I have goes outside for the summer, I have no strictly inside plants. I do as you describe, spray the pots, and the plants themselves, off to remove any pests. Each pot is removed from the flats and I look them over as I spray them off, that's about it. These don't seem to attract many pests though. Mostly pill bugs under, or a woolly caterpillar tucked in between, the pots.
Norm
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Gnome
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Len,
I'm not entirely sure, I want to say about four years of unrestricted growth, definitely more than a couple of seasons. If you want to thicken the trunk the best way is to simply let it grow. The problem with this is that you end up with a straight trunk with no movement. Of course you can always cut it back to a low branch and root the top portion.
Norm
I'm not entirely sure, I want to say about four years of unrestricted growth, definitely more than a couple of seasons. If you want to thicken the trunk the best way is to simply let it grow. The problem with this is that you end up with a straight trunk with no movement. Of course you can always cut it back to a low branch and root the top portion.
Norm
What if there is no branching and only a single growing trunk/stem---can you still chop off the top and expect back-budding to occur wherever a 'latent' bud is present (I.e. typically at the top-most remaining 'latent' bud?)?Gnome wrote:you can always cut it back to a low branch and root the top portion
Hope that makes sense.
I bring this up now because I'm about to pick up some of these fellas in the next month or so, and I'm just curious as to how their back-budding tendencies might be compared with, say, Schefflera or Ficus.
BV
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BV,
Yes that makes sense, I understand the question. I don't recall cutting a Port back quite as hard as you describe but I have cut Jades back brutally and they always respond strongly. I would have every expectation that the Ports would respond well also. I'll get one of my extras and cut it as you describe to see how it goes. It can be a test subject for you.
Norm
Yes that makes sense, I understand the question. I don't recall cutting a Port back quite as hard as you describe but I have cut Jades back brutally and they always respond strongly. I would have every expectation that the Ports would respond well also. I'll get one of my extras and cut it as you describe to see how it goes. It can be a test subject for you.
Norm
I would tend to agree.Gnome wrote:I have cut Jades back brutally and they always respond strongly. I would have every expectation that the Ports would respond well also.
Well don't let me twist your arm or anything, lol.Gnome wrote:I'll get one of my extras and cut it as you describe to see how it goes. It can be a test subject for you.
But yes, I'd be curious to get someone's firsthand experience with this, so I'd really appreciate hearing back on this 'test subject' you've got lined up. I have a strong feeling it will back-bud quite readily as long as it's been growing strongly with a healthy root system---and again, that 'test subject' you've just volunteered is one sure way to find out!
Thanks again.
BV
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BV
Here you go. Just cut a little while ago. It was not exactly growing vigorously as it was in my cool basement. After the cut I moved it to a warmer location so we'll see how it responds. It would probably be best to do this during warm weather as you might with a Ficus but I have a lot of these so I'm not worried. Anyway, here are the pictures.
[url=https://img143.imageshack.us/I/portbefore.jpg/][img]https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3022/portbefore.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img143.imageshack.us/I/portafter.jpg/][img]https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/248/portafter.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
Here you go. Just cut a little while ago. It was not exactly growing vigorously as it was in my cool basement. After the cut I moved it to a warmer location so we'll see how it responds. It would probably be best to do this during warm weather as you might with a Ficus but I have a lot of these so I'm not worried. Anyway, here are the pictures.
[url=https://img143.imageshack.us/I/portbefore.jpg/][img]https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3022/portbefore.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img143.imageshack.us/I/portafter.jpg/][img]https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/248/portafter.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Norm
Len...that's one of Jim Smith's stunners---excellent desktop photo!
Thanks for sharing this, Len. Hopefully it provides some inspiration to others as well.
My bonsai interests are such that I've already become fairly familiar with a lot of Jim Smith's work. Matter of fact, I'll be heading down to his nursery (about 4 hrs. away, in Vero Beach, FL) to see his work in person next month! One of my main goals will be to pick up at least one of each of Ficus microcarpa "Green Island" and Ficus salicifolia...possibly a Portulacaria, depending on how far I can get my limited dollars to stretch (if they run out, I'll simply pick up the Portulacaria locally, as I've seen it here locally on a regular basis).
Norm...thanks for the chop.
And I agree with you in that it's best done in the spring, but I'm guessing you'll still get decent results. Like you said, you've got extras, so no harm in trying!
Keep us posted!
BV
Thanks for sharing this, Len. Hopefully it provides some inspiration to others as well.
My bonsai interests are such that I've already become fairly familiar with a lot of Jim Smith's work. Matter of fact, I'll be heading down to his nursery (about 4 hrs. away, in Vero Beach, FL) to see his work in person next month! One of my main goals will be to pick up at least one of each of Ficus microcarpa "Green Island" and Ficus salicifolia...possibly a Portulacaria, depending on how far I can get my limited dollars to stretch (if they run out, I'll simply pick up the Portulacaria locally, as I've seen it here locally on a regular basis).
Norm...thanks for the chop.
And I agree with you in that it's best done in the spring, but I'm guessing you'll still get decent results. Like you said, you've got extras, so no harm in trying!
Keep us posted!
BV
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BV,
I just noticed that a very small bud has emerged from one side of the topmost node. On the opposite side there is swelling but still no green. One node down, only one side shows swelling. It took about three weeks so far. The bud is still very small and it will be a while before I can get a picture but it responded as expected.
Norm
I just noticed that a very small bud has emerged from one side of the topmost node. On the opposite side there is swelling but still no green. One node down, only one side shows swelling. It took about three weeks so far. The bud is still very small and it will be a while before I can get a picture but it responded as expected.
Norm
Good to know, Norm...thanks for that bit of info.
Some new budding is always good, but I suspect that a much stronger response would be had with even more budding present if the plant were growing more vigorously prior to the chop and if the chop were done closer to spring.
You also said it seems to be responding as expected, so it appears we're both on about the same page in our thoughts here. Thanks again.
BV
Some new budding is always good, but I suspect that a much stronger response would be had with even more budding present if the plant were growing more vigorously prior to the chop and if the chop were done closer to spring.
You also said it seems to be responding as expected, so it appears we're both on about the same page in our thoughts here. Thanks again.
BV