Are you trying to trim it for functionality or were you trying to explore jade bonsai?

Personally I would let it continue growing as is, at least for another season! All those leaves and branches are providing energy for the plant and will help thicken and strengthen the trunk. Repot it in a heavier ceramic or clay pot and maybe adding a rock or two will help keep the pot stable.

That is exceptionally pretty.

That is a very nice plant! I have so much trouble with brown spots and edema on these jades that I feel sorry for my plants. My guys are outside all year and if it isn't rainy, it is really humid.

Are you sure that this is only one plant? In the first picture it appeared to be 2 plants (to me), but I have had plants branch near the soil line before, so I could be wrong. If it is 2 plants, I would separate them when I repot. Just my opinion, of course.

Either way, I would definitely repot a new plant. That way you are sure of what the potting medium is. I use a gritty mix because of my climate. Many use c&s soil mixed 50/50 or even 40/60 with perlite or pumice.

Nice find!

That is a damn fine plant. My variegated jades are just barely hanging in there...

Thank you so much everyone for your replies!

@gabby - I would like for it to have a bit more of a tree/bonsai look. Baby steps though :P

@crenda - Thank you! I noticed the spots too and even wondered if it was pest at first. Poor thing. Can it go away with recovery?

@woodnative @crenda - Yes it is one plant, the base is buried underneath the soil. I think someone potted it this way so that the pot edges support the stems due to the top being too heavy. As is at this moment, I don't know how this plant could stand above ground even with rocks. The stems are not strong/hard enough to support the weight from the leaves. Some of the stems are also laying above the ground (currently against the pot edges). There is not one stem that is standing straight, they are all collapsing.

I will definitely repot this beauty in a new pot w/gritty mix, and introduce it gradually to my windowsill, thank you for the advices - but I also wanted to use the opportunity to freshen it up a little while I'm at it, as it is way to heavy to support itself at the moment.

Any ideas how to do so?

Heres more piccies:

@Lauren - Thank you Lauren!! Very appreciated. And oh no!! Sorry to hear :( It seems like many people have difficulties with variegated jades, why is that?

I don't know! It always seems vaguely disappointed in me and life in general. I can't quite figure out what it needs to cheer up.

They also seem to do poorly as cuttings. I don't get it. I am baffled. It won't die but it also refuses to fully embrace lifesnd just kind of live in the moment.

Im not so good with explaining what's wrong with a plant without getting really abstract....

I don't know! It always seems vaguely disappointed in me and life in general. I can't quite figure out what it needs to cheer up.

They also seem to do poorly as cuttings. I don't get it. I am baffled. It won't die but it also refuses to fully embrace lifesnd just kind of live in the moment.

Im not so good with explaining what's wrong with a plant without getting really abstract....

I wonder if tying the branches together in a more upright position with Bonsai wire would help stabilize the plant until it becomes strong enough on its own?

Raising my hand also with problems with variegated Jade. Mine looks terrible.

@Lauren - That's unfortunate :( Does it also have those brown sprinkle spots?

@Liz - That's a good idea, thank you for the advice, very appreciated.

@Rina - thank you so much for this wonderful detailed post, I am so in love with your plants they look stunning!!

Cutting the main stem in half is actually not a bad idea, I can definitely visualize how it would help straighten it up. I actually wonder how far deep is the main stem underneath that soil, and possibly raising the plant upward.

As for the spots, the picture in my previous post is showing the very worst leaf, but I'd say about 90-95% of the plants is covered by those spots (even on some of the new growth) and did play as another factor to why I wanted to freshen it up a bit..

Would the roots show some particular signs if it were to be fungal disease?

There were 4 of them (variegated jades) at the store and all 4 were covered of spots like this one. Not sure if lack of light exposure can create spots too, but I should mention that these poor jades were not provided any source of sun/artificial light beside the ones from the store ceiling (which were way too high up anyways) and I don't know for how long they have been sitting on that shelf but they were definitely not new arrivals..

Here's a closer look at the spots

Seems like this one has a few fully white leaves too

Marie

Marie

It may be something like powdery mildew (it shows on stems and mostly leaves, not roots) - but I am not absolute sure. Powdery mildew usually doesn't kill the plant, but will make some leaves 'ugly'...It could be 'only' oedema (edema), and Crenda described it in her post - it is also very humid where she is.

Oedema happens when plant takes in more moisture than it can transpire. Humidity is not helping, and poor air circulation + slow draining soil add too. That is one of the reasons I suggested separating plant; or prune it so there is better air circulation. It is quite dense as it is. BUT - you should do as you envision your plant; you may not like look I do :) I try to grow all jades with fat trunks, wider at the bottom and narrowing toward top. I can't do bonsai as I do not (?) have the 'vision'...it is like playing chess - one needs to see many steps ahead. First cuts will not get the final results.

Plants were likely cramped in the store, probably in wet soil - so giving it space & well draining mix will help. If it is stuffy and humid where you keep it, maybe small fan will help to move air. (One of the reasons I keep plants outdoors as soon as weather is warm enough). Damaged leaves do not revert to healthy, nice color leaves (at least in my experience). Preventing more of them to have that damage should be the goal.

Thank you Rina! My home is so dry that my nose bleeds on a daily basis haha it's succulent heaven here! And I always have a cracked window at all year around.

I may be mistaken with the concept of 'bonsai', but what I meant to express is definitely something exactly as yours! So I can surely trust your judgement haha. I've wanted a variagted Jade ever since i first saw your pictures when first found the forum.

I'd love to remove as many of these unhealthy leaves/parts off it, that's for sure.. I have no experience with pruning though so I'm not too sure which and where I should cut and keep?

Bump

Bonsai is really an art - but one doesn't have to grow plants only that way (I believe it takes many, many years to become good at shaping plants in true bonsai styles). But many techniques of bonsai are useful and used: pruning, pinching are most used ones. Pruning will keep plant in shape you want - where to cut is difficult to recommend exactly, since seeing plant in a photo is not the same as seeing it in 'real'.

Some badly affected leaves could be just twisted off. Pruning any branches is very simple: use sharp knife, good idea is to wipe it off with a tissue/cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol between the cuts. Any pruned off piece will grow into new plant.

You just have to 'go for it'...perhaps start with taking off just few worse looking leaves...or maybe a small branch that seems to be in 'wrong' spot...

I do not want to tell you exactly where to cut - but if my plant, separating it into 2 would be what I would do first. But that is just my idea and maybe you want to keep it as is as few ppl suggested...

You should repot it into better mix anyway, so that will give you opportunity to see the roots and see if it is just one stem (likely) or 2. Maybe you can post photos of it when you clean the roots off the soil.

Thank you Rina! It is definitely one stem, not 2. What are your thoughts about beheading? I'm thinking I should maybe go on this route and have a start fresh with non-damaged leaves.

What would be your reason for beheading it?

1. To help to stabilize the plant. 2. To encourage new branches to sprout hopefully upwards in the center and maintain overall desired look. 3. No more spotted leaves.. new start with new leaf growth that will be healthy and aesthetically more pleasing (I think I was able to only see 5-6 leaves that didn't have spots..)

You could behead it - but if you never did any pruning it may feel very drastic. You'll end up with bare trunks - not really a problem, but is that what you want? Sometimes it helps as you can see better which way are branches growing, and maybe it will be easier to decide which ones to eliminate. Leaving some leaves helps as they produce 'food' for plant. (I am not trying to talk you out of it, just to make sure that's what you want). Here is one of jades I beheaded and was totally 'naked':

Beheading doesn't guarantee that all new leaves will stay 'spotless', as this plant seems to be harder to keep that way.

Re #2: if I understand correctly, it will be encouraging new growth between the main branches. That way you'll have much more dense plant, with too many arms, eventually many new leaves = dense plant, less air circulation...

What shape would you like to see?

Thank you so much Rina for this helpful information. In regards to the new leaves, since the plant was kept in very poor conditions & care, I'm willing to take the risk and see if spotless leaves would come out when being well-taken of in the best conditions.

Thank you for suggesting! I definitely read a lot about those jade whacking stories on the forum haha. I once read that cutting a branch would get a new set of branches at the last node in opposite directions, is that correct?

I just don't want the plant to look like someone stepped on it (which I think does at the moment). I'm not sure to understand what you're trying to say at the parapragh Re #2 ? I have made a 'rough' visual to give an idea of what shape I have envisioned.. Does it make sense?

How I would like the branches/growth to become:

How the branches/growth are at the moment:

Ok I just unpotted it and washed the roots (for a very long time) and I've now placed it on newspaper. I can see even more it's potential now!! Should I also cut/remove the roots on the upper trunk part? And side question, is it ok to cut a 'green' stem, or should the cutting always be done on older/brown stem?

I think I understand what you trying to achieve. But leaving plant as is - with 3 trunks growing literally from the base - will keep them in position they are in and even more splayed if there is more new growth in the center IMO. They can't get more upright even now since there are branches in the middle taking space. Plant grew well (meaning lots of leaves) and there is lots of 'pressure' from existing inside/in the center branches and leaves together with other branches to keep them heavy. I think if you want to keep plant as is but more upright, center needs to be cleaned off the growth, some outside branches shortened or pruned off, and the trunks tied together to train them upwards - this are my thoughts and maybe not quite correct - would anyone have different suggestions?

You could leave all existing roots or cut the uppermost ones - I think that would leave more of a trunk. If left out of potting mix, thin roots will likely dry up anyways. Or pot same as it was - IMO it was quite deep (not dangerous to plant, but trunks splitting below grade).

Thank you so much Rina, this is extremely helpful!! Is it ok to cut a young branch that is still 'green' colour?

Oh, yes (forgot to mention :). Green or older, woody - np at all.

I would also suggest cutting just above the 'collar'; that way, the stem will have much less tissue to heal over and scab. This will, eventually, dry up and fall off on it's own. You could recut the pruned piece same way - little closer below the 'collar'.

Here is a thicker branch (woody); I left it bit longer (not too bad) below the collar - not that much of a problem, except it takes much longer for it to callus over, to be ready to pot up. In the mean time, it is shrivelling slowly - it may even look bit scary :)

I see what you're attempting, and it's probably what I'd attempt as well.
To raise the trunk, I would remove those upper roots (which will be exposed after the raising). Then, I would simply take a loop of bonsai wire or soft cord/string, and pull all the branches inward from the outside - not too tight inward at first, but enough to bring the canopy closer together.

I'd also repot immediately. This bare-rooting will most likely cause the plant to be very soft and even more droopy, so securing the branches in place as soon as possible is important.

Josh

I like Josh's recommendation of using wire. And that's probably because he and nomen helped me figure out how to wire a splayed out jade. =)

Mine is a compact jade, but the problem was similar. Here are before and after pictures of the plant. And yes, there was also pruning involved.

Before -

And today - 6 months later

I checked today and the wires are still not tight on the branches. There is still some play in the stems, so I'll leave it as is for a while longer. I like the look now, so I won't be trying to move the branches any closer together.

I have found that new leaves on my tricolor come in clean. But after time, the spots appear. I know that I do not have optimum conditions with all the humidity, so I am resigned to living with it. I just take care with watering and the summer heat to avoid edema totally ruining the look of the plant. And I site mine on a table with a ceiling fan in the summers. No one wants to eat outside during the summer anyway, so the plants take over!

In the end, it's your plant and your vision. I still think it is a beauty. Good luck!!