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Jun 28, 2021 2:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Teresa Felty Barrow
South central KY (Zone 6b)
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When I was a child my teacher had a huge Jade plant that I thought was the coolest thing! Anyone growing one in a bonsai pot? What medium did you use and how large is your pot. Thanks
Bee Kind, make the world a better place.
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Jun 28, 2021 4:35 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I am also curious to see pictures if anyone has any.

I have grown a few jades here and there over the years, and tested the limits of how long they can tolerate being in a container that's too small to allow any real growth (mainly out of laziness). Smiling One thing you kind of have to consider before you get too far along is what you want to use for the starting material. Most of the larger, especially the stouter bonsai plants that you might see (the really impressive ones) were started as cuttings from a plant that was growing in a much bigger container, or the ground. Once a bonsai jade has been staged, it will put out new leaves but very little new stem. Starting from a small cutting or a plant in a tiny pot will change the outcome dramatically, and make it a lot harder to arrive at the sort of stout, low, wide proportions that look good for bonsai (in my opinion). So maybe think outside the box (literally) and start with something that already has some heft, in order to stack the odds in your favor down the road.

There's a great book called Bonsai Succulents (also known as Pachyforms II) by Philippe de Vosjoli and Rudy Lime which I highly recommend as a source for inspiration and ideas in this realm. They get into some really exotic species but the more common ones are also represented, along with lots of useful, helpful tips to make the most out of the discipline.
Last edited by Baja_Costero Jun 28, 2021 4:36 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 28, 2021 5:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Teresa Felty Barrow
South central KY (Zone 6b)
SONGBIRD GARDENS
Birds Hummingbirder Hybridizer Irises Lilies Peonies
Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower Hostas Heucheras
Thank you
Bee Kind, make the world a better place.
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Oct 18, 2021 3:53 PM CST
Name: Dirt
(Zone 5b)
Region: Utah Bee Lover Garden Photography Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Photo Contest Winner 2018 Photo Contest Winner 2019 Photo Contest Winner 2020 Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2022 Photo Contest Winner 2023
gee, I'd love to be able to find an affordable copy of that book!
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Oct 18, 2021 4:23 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Oh, I see. It apparently has gone quite way out of print. Rolling my eyes.
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Oct 18, 2021 4:45 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
OMG - Amazon has it listed for $405 ! (shipping is free, however Big Grin )
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Oct 18, 2021 4:50 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
This thread about "beginner bonsai resource information" here on NGA may be helpful: The thread "Beginner bonsai resource information" in Ask a Question forum
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Oct 18, 2021 5:54 PM CST
Name: TJOE
Indonesia
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Composter Container Gardener Fruit Growers Keeper of Koi
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I think what they did is to let the plant grow big in the ground, then cut the main root to allow the arial roots to grow, then chop the main trunk to allow the growth of small branches and small leaves, I tried to create those a couple of time, but usually they die when I moved them from ground to pot, with or without the cuttings. Some of them survived, ficus and bodhi tree, not the jades, I hardly can grow any jades, not to mention bonsai Glare
If they look healthy, do nothing
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Oct 18, 2021 6:55 PM CST
Name: Dirt
(Zone 5b)
Region: Utah Bee Lover Garden Photography Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Photo Contest Winner 2018 Photo Contest Winner 2019 Photo Contest Winner 2020 Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2022 Photo Contest Winner 2023
I do have a monster jade that I am gonna try something with...
if it dies, it's okay, because I have several monster babies of it Hilarious!
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Oct 18, 2021 6:58 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Don't keep us in suspense, Dirt - what are you going to do to the jade?? I'm all ears!
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Oct 18, 2021 9:57 PM CST
Name: Dirt
(Zone 5b)
Region: Utah Bee Lover Garden Photography Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Photo Contest Winner 2018 Photo Contest Winner 2019 Photo Contest Winner 2020 Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2022 Photo Contest Winner 2023
Hilarious!
something...that involves extracting it from the giant heavy pot that's been relegated to a corner for the last six years (after the kitten used the plant as a jungle-gym and really messed it up--it's old, my original jade that I've had for some 30yrs), some more torture--pruning and re-potting one massive trunk that's been leaning to the light all this while and will maybe make a cool bonsai-esque shape once relocated to a better spot and guided.
It's big though--I can't even wrap my hand around the trunk and it's heavy, so I'm going for a smaller and shallower oblong pot but not really a bonsai dish, and I'm hoping that the window frame can help hold it up Rolling my eyes.
I don't know when I'm going to do it or what I'm really going to do...hatching the idea just now

Shrug!
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Oct 20, 2021 6:43 PM CST
Name: Bob
The Kau Desert, Hawaii (Zone 12a)
Here is my attempt at a Bonsai Jade.
I have never pruned this plant. It has just remained small for its type.
So I chose to pot it in a bonsai type planter.
It has been in this pot for several years and in total it is probably 5-7 years old.

Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/831a0a
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/42d496
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/8f7d5c

I have another cutting which looks like it will make a good bonsai.
This cutting is already 3 years old and has stayed small.
All its siblings are two feet tall in gallon pots.

Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/118b71
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/2bc2a0

I have no idea why these two plants decided to grow smaller.
They have a great root system and have received the same culture as my other plants.
Thinking
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Oct 20, 2021 8:05 PM CST
Name: TJOE
Indonesia
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Composter Container Gardener Fruit Growers Keeper of Koi
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
OrchidBob said:Here is my attempt at a Bonsai Jade.
I have never pruned this plant. It has just remained small for its type.
So I chose to pot it in a bonsai type planter.
It has been in this pot for several years and in total it is probably 5-7 years old.

Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/831a0a
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/42d496
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/8f7d5c

I have another cutting which looks like it will make a good bonsai.
This cutting is already 3 years old and has stayed small.
All its siblings are two feet tall in gallon pots.

Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/118b71
Thumb of 2021-10-21/OrchidBob/2bc2a0

I have no idea why these two plants decided to grow smaller.
They have a great root system and have received the same culture as my other plants.
Thinking

Wow, such a beautiful plant, I really hope I can have a 1 feet jade plant, especially jade gollum / hobbit like yours Thumbs up
If they look healthy, do nothing
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Oct 20, 2021 9:08 PM CST
Name: Dirt
(Zone 5b)
Region: Utah Bee Lover Garden Photography Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Photo Contest Winner 2018 Photo Contest Winner 2019 Photo Contest Winner 2020 Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2022 Photo Contest Winner 2023
I don't really know how you lucked out to get one, let alone two, that stay so small and cute either, but I sure wouldn't mind!
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Jan 15, 2022 7:50 AM CST
Name: Gary
Pennsylvania (Zone 6a)
Thumb of 2022-01-15/MochaJoe/62b4ed
Thumb of 2022-01-15/MochaJoe/56b9f3
Thumb of 2022-01-15/MochaJoe/667ca9

Oh yes!
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Jan 15, 2022 1:20 PM CST
Name: Ricardo
New Jersey (Zone 7b)
Tropicals
I've seen big, gorgeous examples of Jade plants at botanical gardens. Nothing wrong with using them and experimenting. In fact, there are a whole range of tropical and subtropical plants that are infinitely better as "houseplant" bonsai specimens than a cold-hardy conifer, that hates our interior, winter, dry, heat. Some other commonly used subtropical and tropicals include; Ficus, Schefflera, Carissa (Natal Plum), Podocarpus, Polyscias (Ming Aralias), among many, many others.
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