Too many air roots!!

9 years ago

Okay, should I just take the hint and go ahead and cut this limb off and pot it on its own??

i actually think the air roots are forming because, a. The plant is kept on the dry side ina pumice mix, and b. That limb is leaning over excessively. I read that leaning signals succulents to make air roots as they prepare to fall off of the plant.

but should I just cut and make a new plant now?

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

9 years ago

If plant is top heavy, you should do some pruning :) And, IMO, branch should really not break off without support. I believe it would have to be very unbalanced plant and heavy branch in order to break. Usually it tips the pot in case like that. I have Tricolor jade that is very unbalanced and more than ready for pruning.

The right side has to go, and some on the left too.

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Comments (8)

Lauren (Zone 9a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Just a gentle bump. Really want to decide what to do...
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You could cut it or leave it IMO. I do not know about plants leaning signals - I believe they lean toward light or growing away from obstruction. I see air roots like that forming and do not do anything. They eventually dry up. Is it a branch growing?

Another possibility: is there a chance that leaf was bumped? Even slight bump could have detach tiny portion of it and it responded with growing new plant & roots. This is what I mean:
That leaf was definitely bumped and is slowly drying up. New plant started growing from it, as it would if I tried regular leaf propagation. I'll pot the new plant soon, with the leaf attached. It is definitely new plant, not a branch.
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Lauren (Zone 9a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, Rina :). It is a branch, and it is getting very heavy. I suspect that one day, it will just break off unless I add some support.

i was just thinking that cutting it off might give more energy back to the mother plant and make it grow more new leaves?

Also, it tips over sometimes. I am certain that it has been bumped numerous times!

i read the thing about plants leaning in a science abstract somewhere....
Lauren (Zone 9a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Oh, meant to add: there are air roots all along the branch.
Lauren (Zone 9a)
Original Author
9 years ago
That plant is a beauty! I've never pruned a jade before, and this one took a long time to come back from the brink. But, I'd better get started doing it now because it's going to have to happen one day anyway. I will keep you posted.

wish me luck!! And thank you:)
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
Lauren

Good luck! And 'don't sweat about it', lol. Less you worry better it will turn out. I am sure it will grow just fine. I would send you one of my thicker-trunked ones if you were in Canada.

Tricolor above has gone thru major pruning 2x . I have too many plants already from it, and there will be more after next round. I just stick them in gritty mix and let them be. They go outdoors in spring and get really nice coloring. Some have few light leaves. (The plantlet in the pic is growing on one of the plants from first round of pruning.).
Lauren (Zone 9a)
Original Author
9 years ago
I almost bought two of the tricolor yesterday but I put them back because I found a sans I really liked, and I am trying to keep to a budget. Also, I really thought that I'd end up killing them, as they are variegated and need special care (I assume).

But id love to have one as big and pretty as yours!

im just gonna cut the branch off and sit it in gravel. You are right: less worry is better. It's like they can smell weakness....