How to prune jade tree bonsai to make it look good? Illustration of how to prune old jade tree stumps

The old stumps of jade trees have strong branches, beautiful shapes, and are green all year round, which has great ornamental value. Although it has strong germination ability and can grow many branches and leaves in a year, if it is not properly pruned, the plant will grow in a messy shape and the nutrients will be consumed by the branches.

How to prune jade tree bonsai

1. Remove the bottom buds in time

Jade plant has fleshy stems and leaves and grows very fast, but if it is not pruned regularly, its branches will grow wildly, which will not only make the plant lose its beauty, but also consume a lot of nutrients, making the main trunk unable to grow strong for a long time.

During the growth of jade plant, small buds often sprout from the bottom of the trunk. After such branches grow out, they will consume nutrients and affect the appearance. However, they should be wiped off in time when they just grow out. After such branches grow out, they cannot branch out.

2. Be willing to prune the middle side branches

Many jade plants raised by flower lovers have not seen their trunks grow thicker over the years. This is because many branches have grown in the middle of the trunk, and they are reluctant to prune the branches, resulting in more and more branches and a more messy plant shape, which consumes a lot of nutrients and slows down the growth of the trunk.

Therefore, in order to make the jade plant grow vigorously, in addition to ensuring sufficient fertilizer and water, these scattered branches, as long as they do not serve as a foil, should be cut off regardless of their thickness to save nutrients for the growth of the main trunk.

3. The long and dense branches in the crown should be thinned out

The key to whether the jade plant is ornamental or not lies in whether the crown of the tree is full and symmetrical, and whether it is as dense and sparse as possible, with clear layers, like an old tree that grew naturally.

The longer branches at the top of the crown should be cut short to make the whole crown arc-shaped. If there is a single high or long branch, it should be cut short in time. If the crown density is too large, you can use scissors to cut off the messy and weak branches inside to make the crown more transparent and make the entire crown fuller and more symmetrical.

Maintenance of Jade Tree Bonsai after Pruning

1. Soil selection

Jade plant is not very demanding in terms of soil selection, and it can be grown using ordinary garden soil, but if you want to speed up its growth, it is best to use sandy soil that is well-drained and fertile.

2. Lighting requirements

Jade plant likes light, so in daily maintenance, it needs to be given sufficient light. Observe its branches and leaves. If the color becomes lighter and there is leggy growth, it means that the light is insufficient; sufficient light will reveal a red edge above its leaves.

3. Watering

Jade trees do not like water, so the amount of watering should be reduced during daily watering. Generally, watering should be done once a week during cultivation. If you are a friend in the south, you must not directly raise the jade tree in the open air, otherwise it will be waterlogged.

4. Temperature

The most suitable growth temperature for jade plant is 15~25℃, and its cold resistance is not strong. Therefore, it is recommended that the temperature should be kept above 7 degrees during winter planting to prevent frostbite.

5. Fertilization

When the jade plant is still in its growth period, you can use slow-release fertilizer to slowly replenish nutrients; in the flowering period, that is, spring, when spring comes, you can use potassium dihydrogen phosphate, diluted 1000 times with water, and use it to water the flowers to promote the growth of flower buds!