hello....im sorry i can not help you.
as i have never had expeirience with jades, but ill see if i can get you able to post pictures!
well....if you have them on your computor!.... your going to neeed to upload them to a photosharing webite (photobucket, flickr ECT.) and then once you do that, look for the HTML code and copy that, and then paste it in your next follow up!
simple as that any problems just ask!

(p.s. to copy something, highlight it with your mouse, then press the keys CONTROL+C.
to paste something, after you've copied something, click where you want it to be, then hit the keys CONTROL+V)

hope i could help with the future!

Thanks so much for the tip, here we go I am giving it a shot

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:634047}}

Give it a hard prune, root the cuttings, and give them to your friends unless you would like more plants.

Your jade will fill in over time, and the trunk will get thicker. In fact, keep trimming ALL the tips after they start to grow upwards, and you will find yourself with one full healthy thick branched jade..:-)
I usually pinch the tips of mine off in 4inch or less growth increments...

I can't see the pic (perhaps if you post the link in your message?) but lankiness in jade can lead to joining the WWF while wearing fur....

No, seriously, lankiness in Jade would cause me to first think that it needs more sun - they live best when you can give them as much sun as possible (acclimatizing to full sun is suggested, rather than sunburning it) as as warm as possible. That way future growth will be more compact while not leggy, lanky or languid.

Sun, sun, sun as cactusmcharris suggests. My Jade stays outside ALL year in the sun. It only comes in if temps are gonna drop below freezing. It stays on a sheltered southern porch in winter so as not to get wet from the rains here. Should be starting to bloom here pretty soon!

'Jades' may take cold down to 20F if they are are watered all winter, they will grow fast after Christmas, and may even flower if you do what was told above or below this post where ever it turns up, cut the branches in half, and cut down the top, put it in the smallest pot it will fit into, after you cut the roots back as well. Start off in damp soil and don't water again until the leaves wrinkle, or shows new growth. I know this species can grow in So. England. These like to have their roots crowded and just enough water in the summer to survive and get color on their leaves. My old faithful is started to set flowers already. Follow what the rest tell you, they really know what they are talking about. Norma

I did it, chopped down the jade, see my final result for now, and see what you think

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:634048}}

Sweet!!!!!!!

It is not hurt...It will pop out new growth everywhere..

It will do great...Suggested by someone else also, if you can stick it in as much sun as possible..It is going to look great for you faster than you know..;-)

Remember to watch your watering practices now more than ever. With less leaves, less water. Be on the stingy side..

i am just wondering if it makes sense to chop the jade even more in terms of height. Can I take it down about a foot to strengthen it even more or will it not grow up anymore. I want a FAT trunk.Is that next's trimming project? Should I let it grow for a solid year or two and then chop it down even more, I am already new growth sprouting off the branches.
"

UB,

Yes, you can do a hard prune on top, and for that matter you can do a root pruning, too, so that it will be easier to underpot. There are bonsai/SMOLA enthusiasts here who have written about this in the past several months (I'm too lazy to search for the posts), but Crassula ovata, if you follow a few rules, is well nigh indestructible as a succulent plant. Prune the top severely as you wish, prune the bottom too, allow it to dry for a few days, and pot it up.

IMO, underpotting it will help thicken the trunk. I'd say keep some leaves on the trunk at all times (almost) but keep most leaves from ever becoming leaves - get rid of them when they appear. I said 'almost' because there are times in the year (when ambient teps are warm but not too warm) and it's very sunny that one can completely denude a plant of leaves and in about two weeks (if that long) you'll see new growth everywhere on the plant's branches.

I should have taken a pic, but the one C. ovata in my collection was trimmed to just three completely bare limbs. With the sunlight hours that we have here, it wasn't long before it was covered with minute stumps of greenery.

This has also been done with an Aeonium, too.

If it were me, I would cut it back even further. Something like this.

{{gwi:634054}}

The left branch would become the new leader and the remaining branch stubs would grow new, finer branches that are more in proportion to the trunk. Additionally, I would either make a cut in the horizontal section of the plant on the right, or set it more upright next time you repot and just cut a little off the top. If you cut it again, try to keep a node at the end of your cuts (which it looks like you previously did). That way it will be likely to branch near the cut, rather than leaving you with a barren stub.

And as everyone else has said, lots of sun will keep it looking good in the future.

More light all winter, less water, and give it a quarter turn each month if you want it to branch out all around.
I made a horrid proofing mistake in my last reply, do not water if it is cold. Wait until you see new growth, if you see the temps are going to dip down to 20F it can handle that if you have kept it dry. When brought into the house give it as much light as possible and when sending it out in the spring, gradually give more light so it doesn't burn the new leaves, cut off the twig at the top, unless you want a Christmas Tree, which I have seen decorated and used as such. I hope I have included more tips. Norma

Hey, Uniball, good to see ya.

Yes, now that you have evidence of new growth, cut that Jade back again! It will send up tall growth again, but this time the trunk will be stronger, better balanced.

Penfold posted your pics with suggestions above:
on the right-side branch, I'd prune it inward...in other words, prune it so that it doesn't extend very far from the center of the container.

Josh

think I got it!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:634050}}

You got it, alright! Great job!
Please post an update in a month or so.

Josh

{{gwi:634050}}

Great! Now give it as much sun as you can manage....

Josh

Did you feel like the "grim reaper"? lol

Great job!

Hi,

I also have a droopy, leggy house plant. The branches grow heartily but don't seem to have enough strength in their stalk. The plant is sitting on a window seal, the only place where it could get enough sun. Should I also cut back on the branches? I just repotted it this morning so would it be best to wait to cut? And do you cut right above, or below a leaf? This is a much smaller plant than the one talked about above.

Sadie,
cut above the leaf. The leaf grows from a 'node,' and the segment between leaves is called the 'internode.' I usually cut in the middle of the internode. Feel free to prune it further, now that you've re-potted. Remove any droopy or downward hanging/growing branches.

Also, if you've just re-potted, you should wait to water for a few days at least! Now that the weather has cooled considerably, I'd wait a week to allow any damaged/disturbed roots the chance to heal.

Josh

Thanks Josh! However, I already watered it. Darn! Hope I haven't done irreparable damage. Anyway, I'll try the cutting for sure. Everyone of the branches are drooping so I guess it's going to get a drastic haircut.

Cutting it will improve the shape, but if it's growing weak, droopy branches then you need to correct some cultural conditions or it will just grow more weak branches. The two most likely problems are lack of sun, and a water retentive soil. Lack of sun causes the branches to grow long and skinny in search of more light. A water retentive soil causes the roots to rot which deprives the plant of water, making it droop.

Do cut the plant back, but make sure you give it lots of light and a porous soil so that future growth will be strong and healthy.

Just give it plenty of light, and it should dry out fine.
My watering rule is simple: Don't water if the leaves feel firm and plump. Wait until the leaves begin to feel soft, and then water *the next morning.*

You can prune as drastically as you want. Jades can be pruned down to the soil-line, and they'll almost always resprout from the trunk.

Josh

Thanks all. It has been clipped. Can I repopulate all these clippings?

Please, what do you mean by "repopulate" all these clippings? For now, you'd best leave everything alone for a week or 3-4 days at least.

I mean, take the clippings and make new plants. I read elsewhere to let them dry out first for a week or so. Elsewhere it was suggested to put them in dry soil, no water.