I actually like that one! And im not a very big fan of jade plants... lucky find

I don't even know where to begin with the pruning. I imagine I should cut off all of the branches that are hanging down? After looking it over now I see there are a lot of branches that hang and start to grow back up. What would be my best option? I will wait until tomorrow after work is done to start this project because I know once I start I will want to finish and it's already late :). Hopefully I will have some responces here by tomorrow night :). Thanks GW!

Great score! Now it's time to chop that puppy up!

i would trim off anything that is drooping. then i would prune off anything that is not aesthetically pleasing.

i would leave some green though so the plants ability to photosynthesize is not completely removed. you can always remove that green when it begins to re bud, if you would have pruned it off the first time.

i would love to find a plant that big myself, i would worry about where to put it for the winter later.

Doug

I just got lucky finding this to be honest. I think Im going to prune either tonight when I get home or tomorrow morning. My wife said the same thing about where are we going to put it in winter. Well figure it out :)!. I couldnt pass this deal up at all!

Wow...look at the size of that trunk! Great find! Good luck with trimming it. I don't think you can go wrong, just like others have suggested trim the growths pointing downward and cut off the ones you don't feel looks right. I wouldn't cut too much off...you can always remove more later. You'll have a lot of cuttings to start new plants. Maybe even a bonsai or two!

Did you find that one on Craigslist?

ag;

that's a great jade! You may have hundreds more after trimming, right? Few with a really thick trunks.

The dark pink flower - that's not jades, is it? The light pink ones look to me like faded jade flowers, the darker maybe a flower from something else falling on your jade?

You may not have much problem in winter if you do substantial trim except for all the extra new plants...Congrats on the great plant.
Rina

Thank you everyone. I was grinning the whole ride home, and can't wait to get out of work to start pruning :).

Yes, I just happened to look at craigslist and saw the posting that was just posted. Got in touch with the person and had to drive an hour away but got it. She told me that the first $25 gets it and she was having a garage sale the next day so I knew I had to act fast. I honestly thought it would be gone before I got there. I feel so happy I can't even explain it!

Thank you everyone. I was grinning the whole ride home, and can't wait to get out of work to start pruning :).

Yes, I just happened to look at craigslist and saw the posting that was just posted. Got in touch with the person and had to drive an hour away but got it. She told me that the first $25 gets it and she was having a garage sale the next day so I knew I had to act fast. I honestly thought it would be gone before I got there. I feel so happy I can't even explain it!

Fantastic score!
Trim it as others have suggested - start with downward, drooping, strangely angled branches.
Then, once you have a better view of the branch structure, make the more significant cuts. The
more you prune it now, the easier it will be to manage during the Winter (i.e. the closer you
can site it next to a window).

Josh

Now we all know that jade didnt get that big in that pot, so how is it standing up?

The woman said it's always been in that 10" pot. Roots are breaking out the top and the pot is breaking apart.

After I prune it can I transplant it right away or do I need to wait a few weeks? It is in a severe need of pruning and transplanting so what would be my best bet on doing both??

Prune, then repot in about a month.

Josh

Did some trimming tonight. Got some done, but it's dark now and I will resume in the morning :).

Here are some trunk shots before the pruning.

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The trimmings from tonight.

I'm not sure where I should trim from here. Kind've nervous to cut any of the bigger branches.

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How big of pot would you recommend me transplanting this plant into?

i will gladly pay for shipping if you'd want to get rid of some of the clippings! :).... you're one very lucky person to have that beautiful Jade.... I too would have driven an hour to pick that beauty up!

Chuy

If it were mine I would go up at least one size up. Not more than two sizes up. Make sure you use a really good mix that drains well (but I'm sure you already know this :o)

Also, I would use a Clay pot(but its your choice) to keep the Jade from tipping over from all that weight. Bad news is it will be very heavy when you bring it inside for the winter...but the upside is Clay will dry out a little faster than plastic...a plus when growing them indoors for the winter. Good luck!

Chuy,
That would be fine. Send me an email and we can set that up.

My wife picked up a glazed pot that is 2 sizes bigger. Would this be ok or should we return it for a clay pot?

Thanks everyone :)! Time for some more pruning!

Is it glazed inside and out?
The problem with glazed pots is that they don't "breathe" as well as unglazed clay.

Josh

It looks really nice, but I think I will have to return it then. I think it's just glazed on the outside, im not sure.

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Potted up some of the cuttings from yesterday in gritty mix. I put them inside a small greenhouse inbetween 2 north windows in the garage. Should I close the plastic on it to help promote root growth or should I leave it open to get some air in there. All the other cuttings are going to hopefully go to others :).

I still have some more cutting to do on the plant I think I am going to take some pictures and show my progress and maybe someone can give me some tips on where to take my next cuttings.

Here are some pictures I just took of how the Jade looks. If anyone wants to suggest on areas I should cut or if I should leave it as is. I think it could use some more pruning i'm just not sure the best spots to cut now that I removed most of the smaller stuff.

Here are the pics.

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My small Jade collection outside.

great job.. looks good to me!! but if it were mine, i think i would cut off one or two of the lower branches that seem to be growing outward... but that's just my opinion on what i would do... :)
Chuy

Where would you cut? Maybe make an X on the image and upload it or describe where? I want to cut those side ones off but unsure how far up I should go. Also should I leave the branches that are hanging down in the first pic or should those be cut flush with the large branch?

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Here is an angle of the branch I think you are talking about?

Making more progress cutting day by day :). Got some nice bigger cuttings today.

It rained all night and with the soil mix it is in i'm a bit worried. Do you think it will be ok being outside and being in such a small pot (10") with avoiding rot?

Here's a few pics for today.

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Wow! That thing is really shaping up nicely!

I think you can end up with several more chunky tree cuttings coming off of that main plant by the time you are done. You may want to think about deciding what you want to be the front of the plant, then decide if you like the large remaining branches crossing, or if some of those can be removed and rooted.

Just don't soak 'em in water until they rot like the eBay seller a bunch of us bought large jade cuttings from!

Good luck!

Tom

I have so many cuttings if anyone wants any. I think i will finish cutting it up tomorrow.

AE,

In my jade-shaping eye, you would be on the sharpening steel as you read this, putting the final edge to your scimitar-like secateurs. In other words, hold my hand...wait, not that (song had recently played)...in other words, keep on chopping, brother.