...link to post on Container forum is here...

It really is much easier to use perlite in the mix, especially for succulents. Plus, it is really light, so it can take some weight off those big pots (gritty mix is heavy!).

Thanks to you both for your response, it is very much appreciated!

I finally sifted the reptibark and confirmed that nearly 80% of the bark is too large. I may try the vegetable chopper but I'll also start looking for pumice or perlite.

Also, Rina_Ontario,Canada, I posted a pic in our container garden discussion. Let me know what you think! Thanks again!

Also, if this helps any, I think the bark can actually be as large as 3/8 inches.

Oh, that is helpful information! Thanks mesembs!

Look for orchid seedling bark - it is a much better size.

OTOH, I do not use the gritty mix with my succulents and cacti. I use a proprietary "aloe mix" developed by a local wholesale grower (Fleetfoot and Foulweather) that is almost entirely grit, sand and perlite with just a little peat to hold everything together. It is an excellent soil mix for any cacti or succulents if you can find it.

(btw, F&F supply nearly all the better local retail nurseries with their cacti and succulents. Huge and varied selection of plants!)

Em Gee

Here is your photo:

IMO, that is plenty of container. I like that it is quite wide and not extremely tall. If my plant, I would not put it in bigger one at this point.

I would most likely separate plants - my preference is to grow plant with a thick, tapered and 'old' looking trunk, which is usually better to see if there is individual plant. But it is your choice, and do as you please - and there is nothing wrong with having more stems. Just a personal preference...

If you post a close up, clear photo of that small 'jade', we will be able to ID it better. There are 'real' jades (Crassula ovata) that have very small leaves, and I can't tell which one you have.

If that is Sempervivum in the middle (spreading all over the place), it need lots more light very badly. It should never have such long stolons - and actually, vast majority of succulents grow much more compact. Chicks should look something like this:

and as they get older and bigger, they are still very close to mother plant, and compact:

yeah, the bark is definitely a hassle-- i'm currently making my way through a huge bag of pine bark mulch from amway, and at least 75% doesn't make the cut. i just keep telling myself my plants will thank me when i'm done, lol!

@rina_Ontario,Canada:

Also, I had been wondering if my jade (large leaf) is actually more than one plant sharing the same container. If so, I would be more than happy to separate them and encourage a thicker trunk. If I did so, what size of a contrainer would be wise to start with? Also, is there anything I should consider before or during that process?

As for my Sempervivum, which I believe it is, outside of more light, how can I help at this point? Since the chicks have reached out so far what can I do to save them? Do I simply bury part of them when I transplant?

Thanks again for all your help!

And here is a close up of my supposed "hen and chicks" in need of a new home and apparently other help, too!

"hen and chicks" in need of new home! · More Info

It is grossly etiolated because this is really a very hardy outdoor plant. It would be much happier planted outdoors in a reasonable amount of sunlight. Any soil, as long is it is well-draining, will work.

That last jade is not Portulacaria afra, it is one of the small leaved jades.

The large jade plants could be separated easily if they are individual plants, I would probably use pot about 4" diameter for each of them. They should be in well draining mix and also given as much light as possible, to encourage strong new growth.

Sempervivum could be helped only by giving it more light. It should be done gradually, since plant has been in low light for a while.

I am not sure how well the chicks will grow on their own, they are extremely etiolated. They could be quite weak - I am just guessing here. Maybe just put whole plant - as is - into better light. Outdoors, preferably. Or you could pull off all of the chicks, cut the stolons maybe 1 - 1.5" long, and stick them into well draining mix. The stolon doesn't need to be long, roots actually grow from the bottom of the rosette. Maybe all will survive, maybe just the bigger ones. But there is whole summer for them to grow, so they could recover by end of it.

Trunk of the 'mother' plant looks unusual for semp....

Wow, thank you so much for all this. Yes, over the years I would pull off the dead leaves from the semp which caused it to grow thicker and longer. At one point I even braced it so that it stood tall resembling a Palm tree. I now realize my folly and I'm so grateful it survived my ignorance!

I will either buy pumice or perlite or possibly orchid bark and transplant the semp in a planter outside. Eventually I may try to cut off the stolons but for now I may keep it all as is.

And I will try separating and transplant the large jade into smaller containers. :)

Thanks again rina_Ontario,Canada, you have been such a help! I will post pics of finished products once completed.

Hi, I've finally completed my mass transplantation project! (Photos coming soon...) All succulents, including my aloe Vera, and rubber plant have all been moved to a gritty mix (heavy on the grit, blended with Floor Dry, bark fines, and perlite), the others went ok into regular potting soil with the perlite that was too small for the GM.

Turns out my large jade was actually 4 separate plants so they all have their own home now.

Question for the large leaf jades, aloe and the rubber plant: because I drenched the roots rinsing off the soil, how long do I wait to water? It was really hot here yesterday during the transplant session (~99℉), but I kept them out of the Sun and added no additional water.

As for the hen and chicks, I removed all chicks from the hen, and planted them all in a wide, shallowish planter. Admittedly, I watered once after their transplant and then watered a couple days later after confirming all was dry with a skewer. Then I remembered that I wasn't supposed to water yet and haven't since Friday. Again it was super hot here this weekend so perhaps it is time? Also, I did read that I should spritz with a spay bottle for those that don't have roots yet...

Finally, does this protocol of keeping them out of the Sun and no water initially for all transplants? I admit I watered those that only had their roots shaken clean before resettling in new soil (not rinsed). (Old habits are hard to break...)

Thanks in advance! I'll post pictures soon!

Also, how long do I keep them out of direct Sun post transplanting into GM? Thanks!

I like to keep my newly transplanted succulents out of strong sun until they become established. It can take quite a while. I think it would be safe to start easing them back into full sun after 2-3 weeks, longer if they need it.

Will do! thank you!

How long do you wait to start watering?

It depends. You can begin watering again after a few days. I wait 3-4 days, but that is on the long side

Sounds good. I bought a whole pack of bamboo skewers to test before watering. I'll check tomorrow and go from there. Thanks so much!

Em Gee, looks good! I like those pots the jade plants are in, where did you get them?

They look quite a bit better in individual pots! You did very nice job repotting all plants.

Are the saucers attached to pots? If so, they usually drain slower, so watch for that. In either case, make sure residual water doesn't sit in saucers as it could get reabsorbed back into soil and keep roots too wet.

Thank you both! It has been such a process but I've learned so much along the way and the best part is all my plants look better! I am so grateful for this forum!

Katherine, the pots are from Bruning Pottery in Snohomish, WA. I actually drive 40 minutes to shop directly as they offer an additional discount on 2nds!

And yes, Rina_Ontario,Canada, the saucers are attached so I will be careful. Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks again!

All seem to be taking to the new soil pretty well. However the large jades now have some wrinkled leaves. Is this due to too much water or not enough?

Is it possible I need to add more bark to retain more water? If so, will it harm the plant to remove it from the mix to add more bark and then replant again? I imagine I will need to keep it in the shade again for a bit to resettle its roots?

Thanks in advance!