I could be a either a thyrsiflora or trifasciata, many plants would fit your description. There are many new sports and clones, each having a name. I know I'm not good enough to take a guess, and won't. Pictures will help. Do the leaves twist. How dark in the green, it could be a hybrid, would you love the plant less. It's like getting a mutt at the kennel, you still love it. Sorry I couldn't be of help but thank you for posting. Norma

Looks like Portulacaria afra 'Tricolour'.

That's the green and white variegated form of Portulacaria afra. It is not a Jade, although it is sometimes listed as "Baby Jade." Most call it Elephant's Food Bush.

They need to stay moist. If you let them dry out the way you would a Jade plant, they will drop all their leaves.

Josh

Forgot to mention light levels...!
Give it as much light as you can. I put mine in a southern window for the winter.

Josh

Thanks Josh! Now that I know what type of plant it is, I was able to do a bit of research. I think I need to change the potting soil, as it may be in general houseplant soil, not cactus/succulent type. Very helpful to know!

Sarah

You're welcome!
I started growing this plant last October, and I learned the hard way that it
needs to stay moist! I've linked a Thread below, which shows the process of
re-potting. With a potting mix this free-draining, I have to water more often.

Josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Portulacaria afra re-potting - pics

not to be a contrarian, but I have a couple P. afra plants that routinely go dry between waterings and don't lose leaves.

When the leaves get a bit wrinkly, I water.

I never let mine go completley dry between watering and it is very robust and the leaves are nice and thick and flesh, never wrinkly. These plants like water more then Jades.

Like Josh I have been growing mine for several months now also(he was my teacher) and he guided me to learning how they thrive. Listen to him!

Blutarski,
are you growing both the green and the variegated form?
Perhaps your soil-mix holds more moisture than mine?
I grow these in bark, perlite, and small gravel, in plastic containers. The water flows right on through.

I water my variegated Port. afras regularly - about as regularly as I water my Christmas Cactus.

But I do wait to water my green Port. afra until I see wrinkled leaves. The reason being, if I water before I see wrinkled leaves....I end up with yellow leaves, which then fall from the plant.

Thanks, Mary, I appreciate the vote of confidence!
I still have much to learn, though. And, of course, all gardening is local....what works for me might require a small adjustment to work for others.

Josh

These can be difficult for some -- myself included. I've tried a number of these (5-6 times maybe, very small ones). I lose them every time, first from overwatering, then from underwatering. More recently the latest vendor told me ONLY water every 10 DAYS, NO MORE, NO LESS. I still lost them.

Lovely little charmer, but CAN be tricky, just so you know.

greenman,

I have one of each variety. Both are in a bonsai mix, but the non-variegated form is in a mix that is much, much more porous- it doesn't pool up on the top of the soil at all and rushes straight through the drain hole.

I don't really know what either is made out of specifically, but it looks like some pumice, other inorganic stuff, and bark

Good afternoon, all.

Blut, how large are your containers?
My containers are small - 2 - 4 inch for the variegated plants. I imagine that
I would water less often if I were to increase the container/soil volume.

I rooted some cuttings of the variegated form and I had the same problem - I lost
nearly every leaf due to underwatering. However, as soon as I increased the moisture,
the cuttings sprang back to life and regrew leaves.

I'd say it's certainly easier to correct an underwatering issue than it is an overwatering issue....!

Josh

So far, from what I've taken from this discussion and a bit of online research is I may need to water the plant more and different soil. Yesterday, I repotted the plant in organic mixed soil for cacti. I may also try small amounts of water twice a week. Thinking back, I believe I watered the plant more when it was at my office. During the move, the plant was unfortunately neglected some.

Sarah