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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #25962

  • Carmen_P
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Hi Everyone!
I'm totally new to this but suuuper excited to learn more about it as I continue to explore and grow my bonsai knowledge. I just received a 5 stem pre bonsai tree (pictured).
Would I have to separate all the stems so that they can grow independently if I wanted to thicken the trunk and/or grow branches that are more clustered towards the top?
I've seen some really interesting Jade bonsai where they are grown together like a little forest so maybe that would be suitable for this since they are already growing in a cluster? Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #25971

  • leatherback
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Sorry but read up on bonsai. You will never get any serious branchnig worthy of bonsai on plants like this. Keep thm as nice plants.But do not pretend to grow bonsai.

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #25976

  • Carmen_P
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I have been reading up on Bonsai which is why I chose this particular species. In fact, this very species was listed on this website as a good option for beginners.
www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/jade-tree

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #25982

  • Auk
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Crassula/Portulacarya can be grown into something that looks like bonsai, but they will never be real bonsai - as they are succulents, not trees.

As these are mine, I can safely say it without insulting anyone:
This is NOT bonsai:

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26008

  • Carmen_P
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Thanks. There is a nice way to say it, and a condescending way to say it and I appreciate this.

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26010

  • Mimo
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Hello there.
You can still turn it into something resembling a bonsai.
This is a pic of crassula that is more than a meter tall and if it was shaped better it could make a nice "tree"
Of course it will take many many years :)

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26014

  • Auk
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Hello there.
You can still turn it into something resembling a bonsai.


I had one like that. Got the plant from a colleague, who neglected it for many years (so it thrived).
Had a fat trunk, enough branches, so after cleaning it up, removing unneccessary branches and shortening the very long ones i had something that didn't look bad.
I left it outside. Then there was unexpected frost... it did not survive that.

When I see my meanwhile ex-colleague she always brings this up... it was more than 10 years ago.

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26015

  • Mimo
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I grow few of them from cuttings, watering occassionally, would like to get a big plants with fat trunks from them one day.
Not a bonsai but can be nice.
Just to make the new branches grow in the right directions is tricky.
But when I don´t like them I just tear them off and have another plant suddenly :)
I just moved mine inside yesterday, frosts are coming only after 3 days since it was 30°C outside.
Pretty rapid change for my taste.

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26018

  • leatherback
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Thanks. There is a nice way to say it, and a condescending way to say it and I appreciate this.


Ehm.. how is it condescending what i wrote? I am assuming you meant my post.

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Just got a Jade Bonsai! - Total newb over here :) 7 years 6 months ago #26025

  • Ruth
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Why do we say it can't be bonsai when it is in various public bonsai gardens, grown by a bonsai masters? Who sets the criteria? I read so much about bonsai guidelines, not rules but guidelines. I know next to nothing about bonsai, I recognize this, but when I view various sites on line with beautiful P. Afra in them ...why are they there? And why are they on this website. I get personal preference, but personal preference and a definition of what is bonsai are two totally different things. Blessings to all from a very confused Ruth.

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