Many thanks for the elaborate answer. No wire. Got it. And you are right. Get rid of some small branches and prune back a little to see what I got. And it isnt so much that I want to make it look like a bonsai asap... I did want to reduce the size though even if it takes years. But from what I read in your answer the style is sort of set at this stage. Unless I chop the branches and make the whole thing into a jade forrest.

So flat top style wont do? Or cant I hard prune down the half way line and wait for a season or two?

If you like flat top, it's your tree (tho' it might resemble a box hedge a bit :)). And you can prune your head off... just remember you can't glue anything back on, so do it slowly.

Health first, and it looks healthy to me from a very limited viewpoint. I would check for soft spots in the wood, esp near the base, and check for pests while your at it. Once determined to be reasonably healthy now, ongoing health maintenance would include good soil, light, food.

You seem to be on a good track re: soil, though I personally would avoid any clay, including high-fired clay, as not worth the risk. Potentially, in an attractive, quality pot you may not want to again repot for 10+ years, so anything that could break down over time into a wet clay mush could provide a major setback to your tree. Maybe more pumice/lava in place of the akadama.

Repotting actually works well with one of your styling goals- reducing the overall height. Pruning will help make repotting easier and take stress off the plant as it tries to grow new roots. As to your question of how much pruning it could take, jades can handle a complete trunk chop- no worries there, but best to avoid a high heat time of year when it may be semi-dormant.

I think that after evaluating its health and soil, if it were mine before doing anything else I would start a relationship with a local bonsai club if available. It shouldn't take long to identify a member whose skill and opinion you trust. Work with her/him to gather some styling options and drawings. This isn't a box store tree, but rather one that has been well cared for, has a history, and is valuable emotionally, esthetically and monetarily. it's a gem.

If a local club isn't an option, I would ask for drawings and suggestions from people on this site, bonsai nut, and international bonsai club. This doesn't preclude you making your own drawings- I encourage it.

It really could be as simple as some pruning of small branches to decrease the size, expose more of the branch structure, and compact the growth into a denser canopy. A flat top style is certainly do-able. See link:

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16585-crassula-argentea?highlight=crassula

I disagree about wiring jades, but it does require caution. I mostly use clip n grow, but have wired on occasion, and you noticed above that this artist is using wire. The wire can leave impressions in the soft wood, but that same soft wood also pops back out into shape unless too severe. However, the wire needs to be removed frequently and re-wired until it hardens off in the direction you want. If over-bent, a jade branch can easily snap completely off. If not experienced with wiring, let someone who is do it while you help and learn.

ez

I'm very grateful for all the excellent contributions. thank you. Just a little recap and some comments to make sure all your efforts are not in vein.

Health: tree is very healthy. And it is an absolute priority to keep it that way. buds everywhere. No soft wood. No pest.

Wire: wherever I can use alternative methods to bend a branch I shall. If wire is necessary, it has to be removed sooner rather than later. Will keep an eye on the scars.

Soil: preferably no Akadama. Will stick to pumice, lava, (zeolite), some organic. I know the she likes to stay dry.

Pruning: heavy cuts are ok and best done outside heat days.

Style: I think I will do as suggested. Clean out the branches, expose the structure and trim back the canopy. Then come back to you folks and ask for suggestions :) perhaps I can send my own drawing.

Im pretty brave when it comes to my other bonsai trees, but since this is such an old gem, and out of respect to the lady who cared for the tree before, I want to be cautious. Also, I'm actually in no favour of one style over the other. Should be what suits the tree and not what suits me. Like EZ said, health above all.

If anyone has more to say about the tree, experience, style, tips, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks a million everyone.

Robs

A) If you're happy with a broom style, you can thin out the heavier vertical growth and cut everything left back to stubs so you can get rid of the heaviness toward the top. B) You could also remove the main trunk and keep only the secondary trunk moving to the left in the picture, selecting progressively thinner branches moving back over center as the new trunk line. C) You could do the same as B, except lose the low branch and establish a new, single tapered trunk line by eliminating all the heavy branches/trunks competing for attention.

If you're thinking in terms of 'bonsai' you need to be thinking simplification. As is, the plant has much too much going on just above the first main branch where it appears that up to 5 branches are growing off the main trunk within a very short vertical span. Unless you fix that, it will draw your eye like a magnet. Even if you can't put your finger on what's wrong, your eye will tell you something is amiss.

Al