just shape it in whatever manner makes you happy.. and then propagate all the cuttings ...

it appears to have been light deficient in the past .. the floppy curling growth ... it should look more like a tree in structure ....

but i notice all the new growth is straight upright.. so i figure the light issue was fixed at some point .....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Crassula+jade+propagation&t=ffcm&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

Thank you Ken. I watched the YouTube videos and that helped. I'm going to do some serious pruning now....

Observation: It would be beyond difficult to shape the tree into something that makes one happy, when one doesn't even know what that might be or how to proceed. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to provide meaningful pruning advice that can be applied to major rejuvenation pruning with nothing to look at but a single 2D image, so it ends up not unlike the blind leading the blind.

Presumably, the goal of pruning would be to create a sense of harmony between what you select to serve as trunks and the would-be branches. That be approached by working toward something that resembles a clump of trees that might be seen somewhere in a natural setting, or, she could move forward with the goal of creating a topiary planting which might have a foliage outline that has a rounded irregular shape. The later of the 2 options would be the easier.

Lori - If you are willing to invest some time in getting your plant turned around and on the road to something with more eye appeal, I'm willing to help you. I have practiced bonsai for about 42 years and have done extensive work with Portulacaria afra, which is the same as your Crassula in terms of care, growth habit, and how the plant responds to pruning. Your half of the bargain would be providing images from 4 directions (NSEW or front/ back/ left/ right). You might need to provide those images more than once as the pruning progresses. You would also have to do the pruning.

Whether or not you take advantage of my help, you might want to consider these first steps.

1) The plant should be removed from that pot ASAP. If it's been in that pot for 3 years, the roots are likely badly congested unless root rot has been an issue. The main reason it shouldn't be in that pot is the lip that turns inward. You'll likely need to break the pot to remove the plant. If you are able to remove the plant w/o breaking the pot, the pot would be better suited to having annuals planted in it. A low-fired clay pot would be much better as it breathes (allows gas exchange between the grow medium and the surrounding air.

2) The first pruning step should be the removal of all those thin basal sprouts (growing from the base of the trunk), or perhaps they are branches attached to the plant low on the trunk. This will also provide viewers a better look at what's going on insofar as the trunks' spatial positioning.

Al

Al

I cut quite a bit off the plant, let them dry a few days and potted up the cuttings. Next I will repot the original plant. Thank you for all the time you took to respond.

How about an update?

Al