Jade - Portulacaria Afra

[lukes4]

Hi all,

Thought i might share a pic of my most valued tree. My mother took it as a cutting 20 years ago of her mum's plant, who grew that plant as a cutting of her mothers plant (my great grandmother).
I do find Jade challenging to grow in the formal upright style due to the weight of foliage and branches causing it to droop.

The other pic of the jade group came from old stumps i collected off verge rubbish collection 18 months ago - i find these plants so hardy and versatile.

Let me know what you think.

If anybody else has Jade bonsai please share some photos!!

Cheers
Luke

[mickaus]

Wow looks fantastic to me. I'm a big fan of Jade

Would you mind letting us in on some of your techniques for caring for this tree, in particular leaf reduction and back budding?

[kcpoole]

Nice Jades

would like to see the crown of the upright one a little higher, It looks a little to flat for me.

Jades are easy to grow and look after, they take wire well and I just trim back to 2 leaves to get leaf reduction and ramification on mine

They will back bud From anywhere and everywhere when you cut back hard

ken

[lennard]

Nice Jades .

I like the first one very much.

Lennard

[gku]

Nice jades!!! love the first one...

Can you share some tips with us... I've got a couple of jades which is despearate for a haircut.... (photos attached)
I'm a beginner to bonsai and 2 victims so far....

Can anyone point me to the right direction as to what i should do first?

Jade1 - which branch should i take off or should i take down the height of the trunk first? Do i need cut paste?

thanks,
Gigi

[gku]

Sorry this is my second post... just realise the pic size is too small..

Attached some higher res ones...

[kcpoole]

Sorry this is my second post... just realise the pic size is too small..

Attached some higher res ones...

The first one I think I would take the top section off as a cutting, just above the right diagonal branch.

The second might make a nice twin. the left trunk, take off the tall skinny trunk above the first branch on the left, trim all that lot back and then the right side, keep the same height as it is now, just cut back and shape the foliage

I will see if I can a virt on that tomorrow if I have time

Ken

[kcpoole]

A quick Virt of the second one to show what i might do
Of course, seeing the tree in the bark Might be different

Be nice if we could lower the right hand branch as well

Ken

[gku]

Hi Ken,
Thanks so much for your advice and the virtual picture.
The virtual picture looks so good, now i cant wait to work on the jade.
Will post some progress shots once i've given the jade a make-over.

As for the first jade, you suggested to take the top section off as cutting... can i saw the whole top off and stick the top trunk into propagating sand do i need to take all the branches out first? Of the top section branches off as cuttings?I have only read about cuttings, that i should dry it off for a week or two (until cullous), and then put it into the potting mix.
If i saw off the top section, can i do it now or should i wait until autumn?

Gigi

[kcpoole]

Jades almost grow from cuttings just by looking at them:-)

You can Almost take them anytime by breaking off a section by hand and planting in a normal mix. No need to cut them or take off any foliage
Break them off and pot up

I took some a few weeks ago and are now shooting well. Not sure about Adelaide but you are not much colder than us here?

Ken

[gku]

Thanks for all the jade tips

Will start breaking and pot them up....maybe they will become good gifts later
We are getting rains at the moment, otherwise the weather is pretty similar to NSW...

Thanks again,
Gigi

[hard1all]

and don't water the cuttings at all until you see new growth
if you keep supplying moisture by watering root development will be slow and you'll risk developing rot

[gku]

thanks for the tip too.
Lucky i had to wait for the shops to open to get some small pots for the cuttings........ otherwise they would have been watered by me or the rain

Gigi