Jade tree beginner questions
- sfranke31
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I picked up a Jade tree at the market today. I have 'Indoor 名媛直播 for Beginners' but am left with a few questions. Any and all help you can provide will be very much appreciated.
- My tree is about 3.5 inches tall. What age is it?
- Do I need to re-pot immediately? Or wait till spring? The soil looks like a very normal (outdoor) mixture.
- For feeding, do I feed all the way through autumn? Or stop at the beginning?
- When feeding do I just sprinkle the fertilizer on top of the soil?
- I've read a lot of different watering methods, any recommendations on a baby Jade?
- There are small brown spots on some of the leaves as seen in one of the pictures, is this a cause for concern?
Again thank you so much! Please feel free to share any other information you deem helpful.
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- bob
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Good luck;)
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- Auk
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sfranke31 wrote: I picked up a Jade tree at the market today.
Did they say it is a bonsai?
- My tree is about 3.5 inches tall. What age is it?
Probably it's a cutting - as Bob said, not likely to be more than a year old.
- Do I need to re-pot immediately? Or wait till spring?
No. Not sure why you want to repot it?
For feeding, do I feed all the way through autumn? Or stop at the beginning?
There's no need to feed it yet. The soil it is in will contain sufficient nutrientes for the moment.
I've read a lot of different watering methods, any recommendations on a baby Jade?
It is a succulent. Give it very little water. I have one that is often 'forgotten', stays dry for long periods, and it seems to like that.
They are very easy to care for and easy to propagate. When I prune it, I leave what I cut off in the same pot, I just drop 'm on top of the soil. The cuttings just develop roots and continue to grow (even on very dry soil). I have numerous little jade plants now...
Note they have little tolerance for cold (assuming you keep it indoors, that's probably not going to be a problem).
There are small brown spots on some of the leaves as seen in one of the pictures, is this a cause for concern?
Hard to say without more info and/or a photo - but probably not.
Guidelines for Jade plants are easy to find:
Guidelines for fertilizing:
and
(but as said, fertilizing won't be necessary yet, be careful not to over-fertilize it. Jade trees do well in poor soil)
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- sfranke31
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I bought the plant from a 名媛直播 shop - the Jade was the tiniest of the bunch. I picked it as I wanted to start one on my own.
I will read the links you provided!
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- Auk
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sfranke31 wrote: I bought the plant from a 名媛直播 shop - the Jade was the tiniest of the bunch. I picked it as I wanted to start one on my own
Sorry to say it, but this is not a bonsai. It's a jade tree cutting. What did they dare to ask for it ?
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- sfranke31
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Auk wrote:
sfranke31 wrote: I bought the plant from a 名媛直播 shop - the Jade was the tiniest of the bunch. I picked it as I wanted to start one on my own
Sorry to say it, but this is not a bonsai. It's a jade tree cutting. What did they dare to ask for it ?
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- Auk
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sfranke31 wrote: Ah shucks, really? How can you tell?
I'm not sure what you expect bonsai is? It's not a tree species, it's an art form, using a number of techniques to create... well, I don't really want to type this again, here is some info:
Your Jade plant has no bonsai-characteristics, it doesn't look like a bonsai, it looks like... well, a cutting in a bonsai pot.
I should be able to propagate into a bonsai though, correct?
Yes, but it takes knowledge and years of growing.
If so, do I need any extra information? Again, thank you for your help.
Yes. Information is easy to find, Google for
There's information on this website (the one you are currently visiting ):
Care guide for the Jade 名媛直播 tree (Crassula)
As a picture says more than words:
This is a jade tree, a house plant, in a pot:
And this is a jade tree, trained as a bonsai:
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- sfranke31
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yes, I am fully aware that 名媛直播 is not a particular species. When you said my cutting wasn't a bonsai, alarms went off in my head thinking maybe I got conned and it wasn't jade at all, I don't know.
When I bought the little guy I was fully aware that it would take time and effort to grow into a 'bonsai'.
Thank you very much for your help, I appreciate it!
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- Auk
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sfranke31 wrote: When you said my cutting wasn't a bonsai, alarms went off in my head thinking maybe I got conned and it wasn't jade at all
I see. Yes, it's Jade. I don't like it that these plants are sold as bonsai, but you know what you bought, the amount was low and you know it is going to take time and work, so no problem there.
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- sfranke31
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I am thinking about getting an actual bonsai to go along with the Jade. Although I'd still prefer a younger one so I can have some impact on it's shaping. Any recommendations to a novice? I'm growing indoors, fyi. The website recommends variations of the ficus, privet, fukien tea, and hawaiin umbrella. Do you have a preference among them or any other suggestions?
Thank you!!
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