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| Hello, let me start by saying that I know zero about plants or trimming.
I saw an amazing Jade at a craft show that I fell in love with and they were selling babies for 5 bucks or so. Anyway, I put it in my backyard years ago and now it's huge!
I have no idea where to begin, how much I can cut, basically I know nada. I would love to trim it up and make it look awesome but I sure don't want to kill it. Any advice, tips, hints would be much appreciated!!
http://img.skitch.com/20100911-b8ujmpnefhpsdtb74b2561jjjt.jpg
I know, it's a mess!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi, do you realize that isn't even a Jade (Crassula) but a Portulacaria afra? Same family, same needs, but more fun for bonsai! Now, this is not the time of year at all for you to be pruning anything - spring is the right time. As far as what branches to cut, or whether to trunk chop altogether would be up to you I guess, after you've looked at similar trees (Jades, P. afras or whatever) and found styles you like. In all honesty, I would not bonsai that tree, but allow it to just do what it's doing as it's gorgeous! I would maybe get it into a pot that won't be problematic in future re getting it out (the overhanging rim) and you'll have to be very careful when you move it (again, tho', in spring). Once you have it out of there into a better pot (tho' having it 'spill' over the sides of that one is cool) maybe you can get a better idea of where to go with it. Do you know that you can just pinch/snap off any leaf, stick it back in the soil and it will take root? Just think, you could have a 1,000 baby trees in one season :-)! Wiring is not often done on these trees because the branches tend to snap (also) easily unless allowed to go very dry, in which case they'll be soft, but the wire can also cut into them easily, so basically I'd use 'clip n' gro' styling vs wires. You must also be aware by now that it's best to let most of the mix get dry between waterings, though what you've done with it outdoors I don't know of course, not being in a place where I can grow these outside! In a pot, it's much better to not use 'potting' soil, which is full of peat that hangs onto water and can rot roots - certainly makes it harder to water when you find the top dry but the rest still damp or even wet lower down. A mix of some small (1/16") soft wood bark bits as 20% of fast draining grit (natural colored small aquarium gravel works fine) will allow water to go right through without causing problems. |
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| It's often "Elephant bush", though I have no idea why! |
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- Posted by greenman28 Nor Cal 7/8 (My Page) on Sat, Sep 11, 10 at 11:07
| Larke, that would be "Elephant's Food Bush"....and now I think you'll understand why ;) The plant shown here is part of the Portulacaceae family. The Jade Plant - Crassula ovata - is part of the Crassulaceae family. As far as I can tell, they are not the same family, nor are they even the same Order. These plants are very commonly wired. I have several Portulacaria afras and they respond fantastically to pruning, Josh |
Here is a link that might be useful: Portulacaria afra - June 2010 re-pot
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- Posted by greenman28 Nor Cal 7/8 (My Page) on Sat, Sep 11, 10 at 11:14
| Chris, your plant is awesomely out of control. I recommend that you make a few minor cuts, just to see what you're working with. Even if you were to make a "mistake" - which would be damn near impossible - |
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| Josh - you're right about the "family" (I really did not mean the formal Latin 'family', just that they were so alike) but I've never heard the 'food' part of the common name before. |
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- Posted by greenman28 Nor Cal 7/8 (My Page) on Mon, Sep 13, 10 at 10:38
| Copy that! I see what you meant. The 'food' part isn't commonly transcribed, in my experience, either. Another thing to keep in mind is that Port. afras require slightly more water Josh |
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| Thank you.. some of that might explain why mine is growing as it is. |
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