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Hello Everyone,

I should say I'm new here however I read a lot in the bigest silence. For all the information that I've got I have to say a big thank you!

So for Christmas a friend of mine bought me this little guy. If I'm correct it's a portulacaria afra. I'm happy with it and really don't have problem in general. But even in the first day I realised it has a broken branch and the point is that branch is not dead at all and I assume it's an old enjury.

So my question is simple: Should I cut it off?
How you can see in the picture it has a downwards way and it makes a "whole" in the crown.

Also an other question : On the (let's say back side) it is not as dense as in the other side. I try to find how successful is the back budding but I am still in doubt I'm just wondering to shortening back those leggy branches.
Would be successful to rebuild the ramification?
Also in this way can I "fill up" the whole if I cut the broken branch off?

If it is happy and alive, why not leave it on.
I personally am not a big fan of this species for bonsai. I think they are less suitable. You will need to give this plenty of sun, and lots of water IN SUMMER, then it should backdud well. I have seen pictures of people cutting back big specimens to just a trunk and a few branches, and it becomes a green ball within weeks, in the right climate. These are known as elephant food in South Africa where they are native, and take a lot of abuse if treated properly. They are sensitive towards wet feed when not actively growing & cold, as far as I know.

Thank you for the quick reply!

When I've got it I read about this sort of plant and it's growing/back budding ability. As you said it's called elephant food so they "prune" the plant regularly in the nature.

I think the temperature and the light is not a problam.
At the moment I keep my Ficus and P.afra indoor. Also I grow herbs (my other hobby is cooking) and I have a growing lamp for them. So I use it to support them with extra light.

All the best!

Did any of you guys try to fix a broken branch with glue?

1oinogr wrote: Did any of you guys try to fix a broken branch with glue?

I have, successfully. I would never try it on a succulent though.