If it was mine, I wouldn't repot. Jade cuttings are simple, cut off the piece you want, lay it next to the plant in the same exposure for a few days so the cut can heal, then stick it in a pot.

As far as trimming, you don't have to do it all at once. But either way, just cut off the parts that aren't in harmony with the shape/size you prefer. New foliage will appear soon after.

This branch was cut about 6 weeks before this pic.

Thank you Tiffany, Wow that really does regenerate fast! So I can take the cutting and lie it on a dish next to the pot for a few days and then stick the cut end in soil in a small pot and water it and leave it alone and it will root? I don't have to wait to see roots?

What is the reason you wouldn't repot? This has been potted like this for over 5 years and I would think it at least needs a little new soil, even if I put it in a pot that is not much bigger than this one, no?

You can rescue this jade with a few simple steps. Start by removing the dried or shriveled leaves because they no longer help the plant and they make pruning harder. Then cut each stretched branch back to a firm node. New growth will form from those spots and give you a fuller shape. Place it somewhere brighter because jades need strong light to stay compact.

Use a gritty succulent mix and move it into a pot just one size bigger. Too much soil around the roots holds water and slows recovery.

For cuttings, take a firm tip, let the cut end dry for a day, then press it into barely moist soil. Keep it bright and dry. Roots form more reliably when the soil is not wet.

My problem is I have no southern exposure windows and where I can keep it on the counter is a big window so nowhere to mount a light. It's a big West window and I just realized that now that the leaves are off the trees, it's probably getting more light. Maybe that is why it's pushed out new growth in the past month?

That is my brightest location. I have resorted to buying all low light house plants now. But this Jade tree is my one hold out from trying to do plants that need more sun.

When you say cut back to a firm node...above or below the node?

Always just above a node for any pruning. You want the bud below the node to sprout. If you cut below the node it is a long distance to the next bud down and the stem between the cut and the bud will just die off.

Happy to reply. Ideally, new foliage will form at a LOT of the nodes, most of the nodes.

I wouldn't repot it if it was mine because I've never unpotted a Jade with significant roots so it looks like the pot is a fine size for the pictured plant, especially if you plan to do some trimming.

You could wait for a cutting to sprout some roots, if you want. If you plan to trim more than 1 piece, you don't have to do the same thing for all of them, at least after the wound has a few days to dry.

I've been getting some house cleaning done the past week in preparation for Christmas. Things that don't get done during the growing season. And it's been so cold, I'm in the house all day. Now I'll be ready to do something with that Jade plant tomorrow.

Thanks Floral, above the node. :-)

Tiffany, You're right, trimming the plant and repotting it at the same time, probably a little too much stress for it. I'll trim it now and repot it later after it's pushed out some new growth. At least refreshe the soil. For now I'm thinking of using some seaweed emulsion on it to help it along.

And I am going to have multiple cuttings so I could try them different ways. I don't suppose putting it in a glass a water is a good idea with succulents?

When I've tried that, it has gone well.

Really? I'll try it!

Let us know how it goes. :) When I did it, it was outside during hot weather. I have no idea how much of a factor that was.

I did work on this plant after this thread. I got myself a light and the Jade Tree responded well to it. I cut it back and it has had new growth. I used a couple of the technquies recommended here to try to root some of the cuttings and wow, success!

I have a few photos. I did eventually pull off some of the worst of the old leaves and there are a lot of new leaves coming in, but, I didn't get as much growth lower on the trunk as I wanted. I was hoping someone could weigh in on if there is some way to make that happen? I wish I had just cut it much lower, but it would have left bare branches.

The new light that the Jade Tree is usually under, new Christmas cactus, underperforming spider plant just moved to a larger pot....

Yay, first time trying a cutting in water and it worked!

The trimmed Jade Tree and the new growth....

And the cuttings I left on the soil at the base of the tree....two of them rooted....

Looking at the photo above of my Jade Tree, I'm wondering why I couldn't make further cuts. I see 3 branches that I could make a cut lower and right above a grouping of new leaves. Anyone know whether the tree is ready for additional pruning? Or whether doing so would trigger new growth lower on the branches?

Also I have two rooted cuttings in the pot with the tree, I should remove those and give them their own pots, right?

Hi Tiffany, no, actually, having more plants is just frosting on the cake. My goal was to rejuvenate the plant and shape it better than it was. I had been neglecting it and I don't have a location with as much sun as it needs, so the new light helps a lot. I'd like to see new growth lower on the branches and dense growth and a symetrical shape. Healthy new growth.

Next month is March and I'll probably repot it and start fertilizing it and when it's warm I may put it outside for the season.

You can see how lopsided the growth is....

and here you can see the way this branch is growing at an angle, since it was cut there, that side branch I'm thinking of removing. And there is new growth starting like at this lower node and that is encouraging.

It sure is cute! When shaping, I always follow the same plan, remove that which does not fit with the goal. Removing the tips of branches will do the most to encourage lower nodes to form branches. And, as you said you have implemented, more light.