Staff Answer
Sep 05, 2024 - 11:59 AM
We want to first preface this by saying that bonsai is an art form. How you decide to shape or trim your bonsai is up to you and will be informed by how you want your plant to look.
First, plant the Jade Plant in a shallow pot, about 3"-4" deep, that has a drainage hole. We highly recommend using this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix as soil. Aim to grow it in partial sun. Only water if the soil is completely dry and the leaves feel flexible. When you do water, deeply drench it until water runs out the pot's drainage hole. Potentially, support the main stem with a skewer.
After about a year in the shallow pot, it's time for the first trim. It's preferable to trim in the spring when your plant is actively growing. Be very aggressive with your pruning. What you're looking for with your first trim is, essentially, to turn your plant into a twig. You'll remove most of the foliage, just be careful not to remove it all. Wherever you prune, the plant will fill that spot with even more foliage. Use this to your advantage by heavily trimming the areas where you want to see the most growth.
You can experiment with trimming different parts of your plant as the years go by and, as the trunk thickens, your plant will be able to support more foliage. You can also wrap some of your plant's branches with wire. This will allow you to bend a branch where you want it. After a year or so, you can remove the wire and the branch will stay in place. You can shape your plant however you please with this method.
First, plant the Jade Plant in a shallow pot, about 3"-4" deep, that has a drainage hole. We highly recommend using this Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix as soil. Aim to grow it in partial sun. Only water if the soil is completely dry and the leaves feel flexible. When you do water, deeply drench it until water runs out the pot's drainage hole. Potentially, support the main stem with a skewer.
After about a year in the shallow pot, it's time for the first trim. It's preferable to trim in the spring when your plant is actively growing. Be very aggressive with your pruning. What you're looking for with your first trim is, essentially, to turn your plant into a twig. You'll remove most of the foliage, just be careful not to remove it all. Wherever you prune, the plant will fill that spot with even more foliage. Use this to your advantage by heavily trimming the areas where you want to see the most growth.
You can experiment with trimming different parts of your plant as the years go by and, as the trunk thickens, your plant will be able to support more foliage. You can also wrap some of your plant's branches with wire. This will allow you to bend a branch where you want it. After a year or so, you can remove the wire and the branch will stay in place. You can shape your plant however you please with this method.
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