Also consider pinching tips without pruning if you want areas to fill in more...hard to tell which branches go in which direction with the dark picture, but you're right- We shouldn't complain about sunshine!

On another forum, the only suggestion I got was that a few people felt there was too much of a "sling-shot" appearance, and that I should shift the tree in the pot. I did that a couple months ago, which gives more of an upright appearance. I also removed some crossing branches, which, as you noted, made it hard to see which branch is coming from where, and downward growing branches. There are still a few downward growing branches that I might remove, but I think there is better padding and open space.

The biggest problem I see in it's shape is that the branch on the left is too thick in comparison to the main trunk line. My plan is to trim the branch on the left regularly while letting the remainder of the tree grow, aside from some maintenance like removing growth that will never contribute to the plant's shape overall.

I've never had much luck with the pinching method. I use that approach for a couple years, and ended up getting a lot of regrowth right at the same spot without added ramification: it was basically only slowing the plant's growth. I've started to let the plant grow out 4-5 nodes and cutting back at least 2 nodes / pairs of leaves. What I found was that I actually don't need to trim at all: my jades tend to ramify plenty without any pruning aside from removing trifurcations and branches that are unwanted because they don't contribute to the plant.

On the right side of the tree, there is some back budding in spots that I think are ideal for new branches. I also think the position of those buds will add girth the branches on the right to look more even with the thick branch on the left. It needs a lot of time to fill in - we will see! It looks a little off right now.

Here is my other Jade:

I haven't done any work on this one in a long time. It has some crossing branches, inside growth and downward branches that I might remove. I've thus far left the inside growth because it is adding girth to some branches, so they are sort of "sacrifice branches," if you will. If and when I trim, I want to highlight the trunk on the right as the main trunk line, so I'll need to cut back the branches that are growing toward the veiwer, which includes one downward growing branch. This was sold to me as a Crosby Compact, and it had the sort of wild bright green contrasted with orange/red when I first got it, but now I get dark green and red comes out at seasonal changes - I think it's due to the climate and being indoors during the winter.

Thank you! The thought of whacking that branch way back has crossed my mind. It looks a little to long. I hoped to avoid it and that it might look right once the tree grows, but I think there is a good chance your right.

I vote to whack the left branch!

Erin - off completely, or shorter, like Amynoacids suggested? If I get enough votes, I guess I'll have no choice but to do it ;). It's going to take me a little courage, mostly because my wife will be pissed (it's her favorite of my plants, even though she didn't notice I had completely shifted it in the pot).

If it were mine I would probably cut it about where the other side has the Y. That's about half way ish.
Figure where you want the new foilage pad in relation to the main branch/ apex. I wouldn't want the new foilage pad directly even with the other sides branch either though.. so maybe lower than the Y...
Your other jade looks great! Makes me almost want one again lol

Eek I just looked at the pic again... if it were mine I would entertain the idea of growing all new branches this summer and bringing everything closer into the trunk.
the right side had gotten away from you and if you cut that side as well then the apex/ main trunk will look too tall.

I looked at the pic again too, and they are all really long. Each could be topped off (bonus- 3 nice little jades to pot up/give away/play with) and shortened to various heights. With some of my favorites, I don't like to whack all at once. It takes enjoying the plant down a notch when it doesn't have any branches left. If it's your wife's favorite, you might want to play the long game. :)

Yeah, I agree with both of you. The picture exaggerates the length of the branches a bit - it looks better in reality. However, I will have to chop it either this season or next.

I just chopped a bunch of my jades, too! Will try to take pictures tomorrow.

I'd love to see pics! Mine is starting to bud back out. I will share pics when there is something to show that you can see in a cell-phone pic.