Dwarf Jade Exploration: Discovering the Wild Habitat of Portulacaria Afra!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Do they make real Bonsai or not?

[@MimNat]

What is life?😂

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Spekboom Bonsai is life

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Wow, amazing to see these old Spekboom specimens!!! Thanks for taking us along!!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Hi Nigel. Glad you enjoyed it! It was my pleasure. Thanks for watching and the support.

[@VictorHHH7]

Paradise right there that’s for sure

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

It's sure is. Thanks so much!

[@hectorgarcia-bb7td]

Beautiful trees and views, thank you!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thanks for visiting

[@auwminbonsai]

5:01 😍😍😍 cascading Spekboom

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Imagine that thing in a pot!!!

[@SeraBonsaiDwarfJade]

My god, what an amazing experience!! I would love to be there to see all those dwarf jades 😍😍

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

It is truly incredible. This was just a tiny taste of what is out there. was basically out filming for a few hours only. You need to plan a trip to see it one day my friend. Thanks for the comment and continued support!

[@BonsaiJade]

Fantastic film 👏👏👏👏

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hassimgora]

Fantastic. One of my favorite trees to bonsai.

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Mine too! Thank you for your comment.

[@chrisdell1721]

PARADISE! So inspiring!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Sure is thanks for the comment!

[@donnietsunami]

Absolutely wild to see jade that size

[@andriesjansevanrensburg1245]

stunning

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thank you so much Andries.Its is truly paradise out there.

[@auwminbonsai]

Just saw a reel on instagram. Thank you bro for showing us big Spekkies out in the wild. Amazing content!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thank you so much my friend. Really appreciate the support!

[@huabai-zs4xc]

我作为一个中国人，看到南非物种的多样性以及我最喜欢的在中国叫做马齿苋树的自然生存地的风貌，令人欣喜若狂。希望能够多更的看到关于植物原产地的自然生长环境。

[@jtkruk]

Fantastic! Finally someone posted video of Ports kin wild! Thanks!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DanRiding]

Naturally stunted, good job Chris

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Like your hairline, thanks for watching.

[@anthonydell2661]

Spekboom heaven! Absolutely stunning footage and such a beautiful part of South Africa

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Truly magnificent

[@taneathiart]

Beautifully shot! Amazing

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thanks for the complement and for watching

[@dkstott29]

Wow😮😮😮😮

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thank you very much. It is truly magnificent to see these trees out there. There are places where the S Spekboom are thick to the horizon.

[@NanokinGarden]

Wow amazing

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thank you so much. Im so glad you liked it.

[@chrisdell1721]

I hope you got me some cuttings!!!

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Ill think about it

[@ecologicalechoeswithresear9786]

The leaf stunting is likely driven by excessive leaf stripping by duiker. It's one of my indicators of high densities of leaf stripping herbivores in the landscape (the smaller leaves at 1.5 m and below).

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Hi Alastair, thank you for the information! I noticed a plant with much smaller leaves compared to the others in the area, even at the top. Could it be that they're grazing more on this one plant? I’d love to interview you or some of your colleagues in Cape Town sometime. Thanks for watching my video!

[@ecologicalechoeswithresear9786]

@@dwarfjadebonsai So, I have seen with tame springbok kept in a small camp that they definitely have their favourite plants. Some get absolutely hammered, and others are largely left alone. No discernable outward differences amongst the plants. So my first idea about the single plant versus others in the area is that it is favoured by the local herbivores. Always up to talk about subtropical succulent thicket, in which spekboom is a major ecosystem engineer.

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Thanks for the great information! I’m really enjoying learning about this amazing plant. I’ve noticed there seem to be different varieties-am I understanding that correctly? Some of the Spekboom I’ve collected have massive leaves like a Crassula Ovata, while others have much smaller leaves. The plants around Calitzdorp generally have smaller leaves compared to those in the Greater Karoo area, and I’ve also come across a ground cover variety. If you ever are in Cape Town it would be awesome to interview you for the channel.

[@Patschannelspicychannel]

Where was this place?? I must visit it before i die.

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

You sure do need to visit this absolutely amazing place its called The Little Karoo, renowned for its rich biodiversity and unique plant life. Nestled between the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges in South Africa, this semi-arid region features stunning landscapes and diverse vegetation, including numerous endemic succulents and hardy shrubs adapted to the arid climate. With hot summers and cool winters, it is home to charming towns like Oudtshoorn, known for ostrich farming, and Calitzdorp, famous for its port wine. Scenic drives like the Swartberg Pass reveal the area's natural beauty, while its remarkable biodiversity includes endemic species like the Karoo tortoise and various birds. The Little Karoo is a captivating spot for both nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts, showcasing a vibrant tapestry of life in a unique environment.

[@Patschannelspicychannel]

@@dwarfjadebonsai thank you for all the info!! Elephant bush is currently my favorite plant, and these old growths would be truly amazing to see.

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Stay tuned, there is a lot mor ecoing. There is an ancient Jade forest that i am planning on visiting!!!!

[@spekboombonsai]

But Spekboom isn't a tree so it can't be a real Bonsai 🤣

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

Its real I promise

[@astounded]

Oh they're real alright. Some bonsai "experts" have as stunted an interpretation of what constitutes a "real" bonsai as their cramped imaginations.

[@dwarfjadebonsai]

@@astounded A few years ago, when I began my Spekboom bonsai journey, I set out to find a larger, more established Spekboom bonsai to kickstart my collection. I reached out to several bonsai nurseries across South Africa, but sadly, I couldn’t find any for sale. Most of them mentioned they didn’t work with succulents. It’s surprising that Portulacaria Afra is more appreciated abroad! However, I’ve noticed a positive shift lately. Since Ryan Neil has showcased and embraced local trees and styles in North America, South Africans are starting to follow suit. It’s an exciting time, especially with the incredible variety of species and styles we have here!