Hi, Nana!
It's the same plant, Crassula ovata.

As for soil...
Jade plants come from dry, rocky South African hillsides.
They can go for long periods without water, and grow in full sun.
Therefore, I prefer to use terra cotta or other ceramic pots, which
help to keep the potting medium dry. Bonsai pots are excellent.

For potting medium, many growers use a gritty, fast-draining mix.
There are many ingredients that will allow you to achieve this. Perlite
is often used because it is very light and doesn't hold much moisture.
Then there are products such as Turface, pumice, and Haydite, which
will hold more moisture while also promoting excellent aeration and
drainage. Heavier components include screened granite, small gravel,
unpainted aquarium stones, et cetera.

Lastly, many growers use pine or fir bark pieces in their mix, instead
of dirt or bagged, peat-based potting "soils." Avoid peat-moss entirely.

The ingredients in your mix should be around 1/8th of an inch. The more
uniform the particle size, the better the drainage.

Josh

Josh's advice is great. The only thing I'd add is a recipe to make a fast draining mix. Combine one or two parts drainage material to one part organic material. Josh's suggestions for both are excellent. And seriously, DON"T USE PEAT!

Josh: True bonsai pots are high fire ceramic and most "imitation" bonsai pots are glazed on the outside. Neither of those are porous like terra cotta and therefore, act more like plastic pots than terra cotta. It doesn't matter too much for most plants, and even when it does matter, all you have to do is adjust your water accordingly. Since you clearly enjoy really understanding our hobby, I figured I would point it out...

Hey, Jo!
Thanks for that info! I certainly do appreciate it.

Yep, and like Jo said - two parts drainage, one part organic. AND NO PEAT! ;)

My recipe goes: one part perlite, one part pumice/gravel, one part small bark. I actually go
a bit heavier on the perlite if I'm mixing up a larger batch. Sure, the perlite's ugly
and distracting, but it really helps lower the weight of the container.

Josh

Greenman,

I have seen some of your jades and they look splendid. I have some jades too and they are growing pretty slowly. I did read up on one of the threads how you explained to someone (and showed it in pictures) how to make their trunks thicker. I have posted a picture of my jades in the watering my string of peals thread. Can you please tell me what I should do with mine, since I am growing them indoors.

Thanks,
Nae

Good job Josh, your response is precise and accurate. Thank Norma

Thanks, Norma.
I gained most of these Jade techniques from you kind folks!

Josh