Cheryl Yes, while jades can handle some soil as a part of mix, gritty/gravely mix is good - great drainage, air exchange. I think pruning depends on your 'vision' of finished plant. I personally like them potted single, with thick trunk. Others may have different likes. I like bonsai styles, but don't have enough knowledge... I would prune all of the branches - make them short; most likely I would cut off the thick one and pot it as separate plant. It is good time to do it. Yes to acclimatizing, especially if they were indoors for a while. Also if re-potting and pruning - I would keep them in some dapple shade/filtered sun to begin with (not necessary to bring them in), and keep putting into more sun every 2/few days (I don't know where you are). Here is photo of one with 'extra' branch, before: (there are many good threads on pruning on this forum - search for 'chopping jades')and after: If you like to start new thread, after opening Cacti& Succulent forum, there is large 'box' on top; put title of your thread in top column (where it sayz Example title), and continue with text & photos below. I wouldn't start new one on this subject - it's already 'running' and would be duplication. You could put zone/general location next to your name, it will eliminate questions "where are you located" :) Rina

I used a super dilute mix, and truly it is hard to avoid the soil entirely no matter what. Others may chime in with their experiences, but mine are such that I didnt have many problems. A couple of my Hoya got some weird spots on leaves, and my aeonium really didnt seem to like it when sprayed on the leaves. Granted, the Aeonium came with a raging infestation I didnt spot until I got home and I ended up tossing the plant eventually. Jade was fine. Really, wouldnt hit the soil unless it was a concern the bugs where in there... the lady at the nursery/garden center I bought the other spray from told me to hit the soil too with the stuff, but I dont know. No insecticide is particularly great for the plant, its all about damage control. Also, when I water I nearly always water until water drains through the pots, which probably helps. My experience is they come in waves, and by the time you have knocked them back a couple times its pretty well over. I do watch like a hawk for these things, probably more so than is necessary... but I hate these things in the ways that people hate differing political opinions. Edit: I like your approach Becky. May have to try that... with loose soil mixes upside down doesnt always work, but makes good sense and I may try that in the future.

Vitorama, I stand corrected again. The Bonide I saw was 'Bonide Fruit Tree Spray Concentrate'. Not the Bonide Houseplant Insect Control. Didn't know much about it. It is a systemic. But I love the Fruit spray better now because it is much safer to use. The Bonide Houseplant has the same stuff as Bayer does. Imidacloprid; a class of insecticides that share a common mode of action that affect the central nervous system of insects. I purchased a gallon of imidacloprid that will last me a life time. Just a small percentage is used in those products. I think the FDA is trying to ban it due to it's toxic effect on anything that ingest it. Can not use it on any Fruit or vegetables due to it's systemic effect. It kills bees and good insects that eat the affected ones. For my house plants it is fine but not for outside on flowers or even my roses.

Mix a 50:50 solution of water and isopropyl alcohol in a little plant mister and keep it next to your plant. Misting will allow you to get into the nooks and crannies. That type of mealybug doesn't go into the soil for any reason....not for breeding, feeding, hiding, etc.