The Jade tree is a popular tree species used for Bonsai,
and is widely available at home improvement stores and online shops.
The Jade is also known as the Portulacaria or Crassula.
These are in fact two varieties, of which the Crassula has slightly larger leaves.
In nature, the tree grows mostly in Africa.
It often has a thick trunk and a fine branch structure with oval succulent leaves.
So how do you care for your Jade bonsai?
The Jade is a tropical tree species, which means it likes lots of light.
When placed indoors, make sure you put the tree immediately in front of a window.
It needs a few hours of direct sunlight each day.
If the leaves develop red tips this is a sign of enough sunlight reaching the plant.
You can keep your Jade outdoors as long as temperatures are above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
or 7 degrees Celsius.
Water the Jade sparsely whenever the soil gets slightly dry.
Jade trees can store water inside their leaves
and therefore do not need as much water as most other indoor Bonsai.
Misting once a day can help raise the humidity around your Bonsai.
Jades don’t like permanent humidity so stick to once a day.
Fertilize your Jade once a month using a liquid fertilizer while watering.
Regular pruning is required to maintain the shape of your Jade.
Simply prune shoots that extend to 4-5 leaves, back to 2-3 leaves, using a sharp scissors.
Bonsai are kept in small pots, and therefore we repot the trees every two years, in early spring.
If you see the roots circling around the root system, your Bonsai needs to be repotted.
If the roots are still contained within soil, leave it and check again the following spring.
The Jade prefers a very well-draining soil mixture.
You can propagate the Jade using cuttings,
or buy them online as these are widely available at bonsai retailers.
If your Jade is losing a lot of leaves, this is often the result
of improper watering or not enough light.
Again, make sure you place your Bonsai at a very light spot right in front of a window.
Water a little, whenever the tree gets slightly dry.
Learn how to create your own Bonsai trees, by enrolling in one of our online Bonsai courses.
We explain techniques like pruning wiring and repotting,
and you can ask questions to the teachers.
For the curriculums and free lessons, go to: bonsaiempire.com/courses