I just pruned off some long branches on my Port. afra.
I've never done a trunk chop, though, so I can't tell you how the plant would respond.
If the plant is healthy (vital), it should handle a hard-pruning without much trouble.
Does yours ever go outside?

Josh

i would not chop the trunk at that low mark. i would cut all the small branches off of the large branches. i would not do it all at the same time. i would chop off all but one or two small branches, maybe the lower ones. wait until new growth starts, then chop off of the ones left behind. i pruned all of the green from a port afra once, sadly the plant did not make it. good luck, i am sure you will do just fine. and it is your plant, do it your way.

Yeah, not so sure your plant is port afra unless we see a closer pic.
Port afra grows differently than a jade. When you chop it back, there's no guarantee that it will put out new growth from there. It's better to trim it back to where there is already an offshoot so you know you're not deadening the branch. Maybe Tom will chime in, I know he has some experience here.

Thanks for all of your responses. I really appreciate them.
SO...Josh, no it never goes outside, its in my office at work by the window as you can see.

jade_man, are you suggesting that I cut off everything that I marked EXCEPT the trunk cut?

and hanzrobo, here are the close up pics as requested.

Thanks again!! Looking forward to more feedback!!
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Theo,
i would just prune off most of the spindly growth. leaving say the lower branches for now. then when your plant starts to put out some new growth the lower branches can be safely removed. it is an indoor plant and those light do not provide as well as the sun would. i would not recommend removing all of its ability to photosynthesize, for safety's sake. i would leave the thick older branches. and remember to only do what you want to do and are comfortable doing.

Doug

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Ok sounds good...I have to tell you, though an indoor plant, it gets a TON of sun. its a south facing window and I rarely have my lights on in the office during the summer months.

NOW, what about what I cut off..can those branches be saved and re planted?

yes most of them should root for you. allow the end to dry and then place in some gritty type mix. i would wait a week or two then water.

It's defintely a Portulacaria afra ;-)

Outdoor shade is many times brighter than your sunniest indoor window.
Outdoors, the recovery will be faster and the new growth will be more compact and healthy.

Josh

Josh,
So that being said....If I make the cuttings that jade_man suggested will a)can I save and replant the cuttings and b)will the plant survive all those cuts?

I would say "probably" to both a and b ;-)
Port. afra roots easily, and it is also vigorous...so as long as it is in a vital state when pruned,
it should have enough energy in reserve to backbud prolifically. The plant will have greater
vitality if outdoors, however.

Josh

What is this gritty mix of which you speak? ;)

you should know that that gypsum is not an equal part. it is i believe 1 Tbls per gallon.

Here is a link that might be useful: One of many threads about Al's Gritty Mix

The only thing wrong with your plant is the height (too tall) & maybe a few branching problems that could easily be fixed. The top could be started as a cutting (pretty safe bet), or layered off & shortened (safer, but you don't get the benefit of another plant from the already rooted trunk).

This one has outgrown its style & just got a partial revamping yesterday:
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If the plant is healthy, you can cut them back very hard & they will back-bud prolifically.

Alternately, you could allow the plant to grow unchecked until the trunk develops sufficient caliper to look as though it's in balance with the ht, but trunks with movement in them are much more interesting IMO.

Al

Al - I'd love to see a picture of that p. afra after the revamping if you don't mind. That's a great tree.

Dan

Hey Al,

Just curious, about how tall was that P. afra above before you revamped? Really amazing looking creation, utterly tree like; on 2nd & 3rd look, really quite amazing! TFS.

If I didn't know it to be P. afra I'd be totally convinced it was a tree.

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Here it is - the aftermath. It'll take about 2 years to get it back in decent shape. It needs repotting, so I'll put it in a larger pot to speed things along. Right now, it's 10.5" tall from the soil line and the trunk is 3.5" in diameter at the soil line. Because the plant is pretty apically dominant, the top will develop quickly.

Here's a 2 year old cutting. I cut that back at the same time, but it was the first trim after it grew wild for 2 years.
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The design you see the beginning of is temporary. There's a semi-cascade in it, but the whole tree will end up being formed from small branches on the (now) back. The large semi-cascade branch comes off in a year & the little branch on the back that is just peeking over the top of the larger branch gets developed as the new cascade branch, and the movement switched from L to R, to R to L. What I have planned will significantly increase the taper of the tree and add to the illusion of age. ...... keeps me off the streets & out of the bars. ;-)

Al

Al

thank you for posting these photos. I was also wondering how it looks after. Before, the tree looked pretty good to me - but am sure the after will be amazing...I wish I had ability to see what you can see - at least 10% of it!

What is the black 'stuff' you used on trunk?

Thnx.
Rina

Gorgeous Al! I have such admiration for your beauties :-) I hope one day my portulacarias look half as good as yours!

What cool looking afra's!

Here are a couple of mine i have been working on forever. They endure the hot summers here in full sun, and they get no special treatment. They do still have a ways to go before i feel they are ready for their permanent homes.

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Hey Al, do you have an updated photo of that Jade plant? I would love to see how it turned out!