Hi Luke, congrats on your Jade plants. To answer your question I guess its basically up to you, depends on what you have in mind on how you want the Jades to look like? Did you transplant all of them "singly" in each pot, or do you have several planted together? You can try growing some of them in tree form (bonsai) look, and you can pinch them to make it branch out more. You can remove some of the leaves on the lower branch to give it a trunk. Again its all on how you want the Jade to look. You can also grow it like a bush...then you wouldn't need to remove the bottom leaves. Good luck with your new Jades.

Great advice from one of the best Jade growers I know!

Believe me, Pug knows her stuff..

If it were me, I would do exactly what she said. In fact I have do so..They are so fun to manipulate to what you want them to look like.

Mike

Luke, something else that you might want to do is post a picture! ;-)

Josh

Thanks for the remarks. I like the bonsai look very much and will attempt to go in that direction. I was just reading the Bonsai Forum and could spend a lot of time there. I've recently become more interested in bonsai and learning what I can. I've been reading about container soil and have got enough materials to make about 300 lbs. of it.
I've always enjoyed jade plants and can remember my grandmother's plants on her sun porch in everything from old coffee cans and anything that would hold soil. About 55 yrs ago.
So it sounds like as far as purning, the jade can handle most any manipulation? I'll probably do a little experimenting and see what happens. I'll probably be back for with more questions. Thanks again. Luke
One more thing. How do you get the roots to grow above soil level?

Luke

Pug, I didn't answer your question. I put them one per pot. They all had branching and one had 3 branches from the base.
Luke

greenman, I'm going to have to figure out how to post a picture. I have the info, I think, So, I'll give it a try. I may need some help. I'll let you know how it goes.

Luke

Luke,
expose the roots just a little at a time.
The general opinion is that Crassula ovata with decent nebari are few and far between, but that hasn't stopped me from trying. I was doing quite well with one Jade in particular - but I left it out during a freeze, and the whole thing shriveled. The exposed upper roots of the nebari were destroyed. The lower roots survived, though, so I'm starting over again.

Portulacaria afra might present more satisfying roots... and they often have striking patches of red around the base.

Anyhow, I posted a Thread on the subject a while back. The Search doesn't seem to like it, however. Let me see if I can find it...Whoops! Nevermind, it's now a Missing File...those whacky GardenWeb gnomes...

Josh

Thanks Mike, but I am truly not deserving. I am learning so much from this forum and still have a lot to learn when it comes to growing these beautiful Jades.One thing I'm sure of is I love them...even though it is quite a challenge growing them here in Humid and sometimes very wet FL.

Josh, I'm so sorry that your very nice Jade was so damaged. I too have lost a few plants and jades to freeze(who would have thought it was possible in FL)right? I hope it re-grows from the lower roots for you.

Luke, looking forward to pictures.

Well, I havn't had time to try to post a pic. yet, but was wondering where to get a Portulacaria afra? Is there a good internet source? I check out pictures of this plant and some nice bonsai. Looks interesting. Remember that I live in z5 and the best I could do is place it in a southerly window. Will this plant tolerate this?

Thanks, Luke

Hi Luke, I've seen them on Ebay and a couple of links I posted below carries them. Although I'm sure there are several other sources out there. I've even seen them on occasion (small) ones in a mixed succulent dish at the big box stores.

Here's a variegated one...(copy and paste)
http://site.mawebcenters.com/accentsforhomeandgarden_1/catalog_i7475777.html?catId=292137

As far as growing in your zone, I will let someone else answer that since we are in very different climates.

Here is a link that might be useful: gosucculent.com

they should be fine in a southerly window, providing the sun isn't obstructed by a tree or building. put them outside once the weather warms up.

Luke, if you can get to a Wlamart, my local one has been selling Portulacaria Afra (elephant food) for $3.50 for small pots, and about $7.00 for larger one's. Home Depot also had some bigger pot's for around $10.00.

Roots, You were right. HD had just got a large shipment of succulants in yesterday. The 4in pots with about 8 or 9 babies was 3.99. Guess I'll be repoting tomorrow. May as well, will be snowed in anyway. Thanks for letting me know.

Luke

Np, didn't want to see you wasting all that $ on shipping and handling.

Well, I got the 2 4" posts that I bought yesterday repotted and they are nice. I only had 10 small plants in the 2 pots and they had 2 to 3 stems per plant and well rooted. Now just sit back and wait about 10-15 years. Thanks for all of the help. Still snowing!!

Luke

Good purchase!
Luke, you'll find that Portulacaria afra grows very fast...! If you could somehow grow it with root-access to the ground during the summer months - in-ground, raised bed, submerged pot - I imagine that you'd have fully workable material within three years.

The variegated form, on the other hand....much slower...

Josh

Josh, I can get it outside this summer. Thanks for the advise. I have them in 4.5" pots now. Could I take the bottom out of the pot and place in a 6" pot outside with the gritty mix soil and just slide it out of the 4.5" pot when it's ready to bring inside in early fall? Would this work? Hope that you can follow this.

Luke

Sure, Luke, that would work (if I'm picturing it correctly). From which pot will you remove the bottom - the 4.5 inch?
You needn't, as the roots will exit the drain holes and happily delve into the gritty mix. You might want to give your Port's
even more room, of course. They'll grow fast, I tell you...

I rooted a large cutting last year in a one-gallon black nursery pot, and I still have it in that container.
I'll re-pot this Spring into something wider but shallower.

Josh

Josh, yes, that's what I was thinking, take the bottom out of the 4.5" pot. I thought that the roots would not be disturbed as much when it came time to repot into the larger pot. Maybe I should use a larger pot than the 6", where it could stay for a few years. What do you think?

Luke

Hi, Luke.
This Spring, I would put the Port's into the larger container, personally. The more root-room you can provide, the sooner you'll see results.

Of course, this is dependent upon a fast-draining mix. A large container full of peat-moss/bagged potting soil will most likely stay waaaay too wet.

I'm really looking forward to getting my Port's outside.

Josh

OK. I'll follow your advise. The mix I'm using is Al,s gritty Mix.