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Cacti & Succulents

jade pruning suggestions

4 years ago

Hello,

Sorry to post another jade pruning discussion (I've reviewed many prior posts), but I'm curious as to how people would prune these two plants. As you can see we've done pruning in the past. I guess the main question is whether to prune significantly at this point, or let some of the more lanky looking branches on top thicken by giving them more time. Do we know if pruning does promote thickening of individual branches/trunks? Both plants have been under indoor lights over the prior winter months, now outside. Any suggestions appreciated!

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Comments (2)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
It is really up to how you want your plant to look. Personally, I prefer 1 stem/trunk. Others like multiple. I would also shorten up all those more lanky looking branches on top. I do not think plant would look so good with thick top branches and not so thick lower parts, but that is JMO. Having main trunk thick/fat at the bottom and sort of tapering toward top would be my preference. All those lowest branches are quite etiolated - I have similar problem growing under lights during winter. I would cut them off or shorten them all considerably - leaving them on for another season or few helps to 'feed' main trunk and thicken it. Pruning etiolated branches definitely helps to thicken them up IMO - skinny, long branches with widely spaced leaves vs short and full.

BUT really, lots depends on what you want. If you want tall plant with bushy look (many stems) it would be different than keeping plant on shorter side, solitary, with thick trunk. Pruning any etiolated branches would help in either case - plant would look better if short or tall, multiple trunks or solitary. It is definitely good time to prune.
volcoff
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you for the comments and suggestions! Just realized I only included one plant and not the other, which I've now attached below in case anyone has any additional recommendations
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I don't really do a lot of pruning until the plants are bigger as well, but sometimes I'll do some pinching out of the growing points if I want a plant to spread and get more full rather than get taller. Mostly I would make sure it gets as much light as possible so it doesn't get too leggy this winter, and if that isn't possible then water and fertilize minimally until spring and there is more light to support good growth. I kind of like jades with bare stems on the bottom, as long as the growth on top is good.
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Pruning depends on your goals. Do you want the trunk to fatten up. Do you want it to be bushy or have only a few main trunks that are very prominent, or do you want it more like a tree with a single trunk with a ball of leaves at the top? Yours right now to me is more of the second with a few main trunks that are very prominent. If you want to keep that look, I would take about 1/4 to a 1/3 of the length of each main trunk. I personally like them bushier. I would take a little more than half the length off of each trunk and cut each limb off the main trunks back to about 1-1 1/2" stump off the trunk. If it is otherwise healthy, I would also defoliate it. Where the leaves come off, it will send out shoots kind of like you see on the right trunk in the bottom picutre. This would give the plant a lot more bushiness. This also allows for smaller leaves and a more compact looking plant (if it is getting enough sun). And, of course, that is the last thing. When you can, put it out in the sun. They grow happier in the sun. By the end of summer, your plant will fill out and be a lot sturdier. Of course, this is all opinion. With jade, you can chop it back to two inch stumps abover the soil and it will live.
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Some secateurs are fine and I'd cut anything that's leaning back towards the ground. Chop, chop, oh the limbs you'll lop!
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thanks josh (and brad!) a few questions before i hack away... - should i replant the 2 plants into separate pots - when i prune at the red marks, is that what causes a plant to Y? or does that hack just cause new (yet random) growth? as for the clippings, it sounds like cutting the tips off and starting a new plant is the best choice for a healthy plant. can anything be done with the remaining "stem" or should i just save the leaves from that? i didn't know if i could plant the existing, wait for that to re-root and the clip the tips off like the parent plant. sorry for all the questions... i'm rediscovering my parents love for plant propogation. jade has been my most challenging so far, and i've found this forum to be my best learning tool! it was just a few months ago i found the right soil mix from reading all the posts here!
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