I have a relatively old Jade bonsai that I have let grow sort of freely with minimal pruning (only branches going in or across etc. I am about at the height I want and at a crossroads for what to do to get to my final shape.

It is looking like a triple/quadruple trunk at the split so I’m afraid I need to cut back 2/3 of the secondary branches to get a core main one to stand out. Some suggestions say wire them down but by bit but I just don’t think it will help develop how I want nor does it look right. Looking for a Jim smith style. Pictures of mine attached along with what I want to go for.
Looking for suggestions please.

Crassula is a succulent, not a tree. Hence cannot be wired.

Your reference photo is a tree decades older than yours. If you aim for that it is better to let your tree grow freely until trunk thickness is close to your final design.

This Portulacaria afra is a nice specimen. To place branches, probably best bet is to use guy-wires instead of wiring the branches. Besides that, let it grow in full sun, with plenty of fertilizer and water in the hot period of the year.

Jades are primary styled by cut and growth. Wire cannot change direction of succulents.

Tropfrog wrote: Jades are primary styled by cut and growth. Wire cannot change direction of succulents.

Notable exception being the species shown here.

Mac A wrote: Looking for suggestions please.

adamaskwhy.com/2012/08/22/dwarf-jade-portulacaria-afra/

Thanks y’all, I will try guy wires. Any specific suggestions for which branches to start to lead down and which to cut? Should I pick one to use as the main trunk.