How To Prune And Straighten A Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

In this video I show how to prune a Jade plant (Crassula ovata) which has become straggly. In the first part of the video I explain why jade plants become straggly and how to prune to encourage busier growth. I also show how to straighten trunks or branches which are crooked. In the second part of the video I show the same plant three months later to demonstrate what a pruned Jade plant will look like a few months after pruning.
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[@prcr]

The great thing about this video is that you managed to show the plant before, during, and well after the pruning. I'm much more confident in pruning my jade plant now.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my video, when I can I like to show the after effects of pruning in my videos. I hope your jade pruning goes well.

[@dottisechrist8139]

Nice tutorial, but you could mention that the stems you cut off can easily be repotted to grow additional plants.

[@jenprouty3026]

I was waiting for him to say he repotted the cut branches!

[@theviewer52]

Sometimes- in my other plants the branches that I cut off have died completely - esp when I cut relatively thick branches

[@annabella9798]

Do you just repot them in the soil?

[@annabella9798]

…and can I prune it now? (Mid October)?

[@chunkyfecalbreakfast]

@@annabella9798let the ends callous over for a few days/weeks and then pot them up. You can do this with any size from individual leaves which fall off. I potted a whole branch which broke off the mother plant which was the size of the jade in this video and it is now it’s own plant.

[@KingOath]

When the trunk is relatively straight itself but growing out of the pot on an angle or bent near the bottom, I just re-pot the plant with the root ball tilted on an angle/off centre to compensate. So the trunk is now vertical but roots are tilted inside the pot. The plant just settles itself in over time and it ends up perfectly straight from my experience. Personally I find this easier than pulling it straight with a stake

[@SSheriff49]

YES .IT IS EASIER AND THE RESULT IS IMMEDIATE.NO ANXIETY!

[@michaelpung4121]

Yes indeed! Plus a larger pot would be beneficial to that size plant. Jade's do not mind being root bound but that does limit its growth. Great video though.

[@veronikaweiszmuller6158]

I do the same

[@wingolden]

My jade plant is having a long main stem with big fat juicy leaves on top. Can someone tell me how to thicken the stem so that it won’t sway ? The main stem does not bear any leaf buds. I was hoping some leaves will grow out so to anchor the plant better.

[@will1631]

@@wingolden usually it will start branching on its own, but if it's growing too tall without branching you want to pinch the top two leaves. When they grow too talk without branching they tend to lean to one side. You could cut it a few nodes down and repot the cut section, and that way you can get your original plant down to a reasonable size, and new branching will start where you cut.

[@TopazFire15]

I really appreciate waiting to get footage from several months later!! So often I look for advice on succulents and the videos never show the outcome, just a description of what it “should” look like.

[@mariebuckley1655]

I have a 40 year old jade....and now I fee more confident to prune and straighten. Bless you

[@heatherhui938]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought that was the same plant - it looks so different. Thanks for showing its progress after a few months.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I hope the video helps to show how much a Jade can be transformed with pruning and staking.

[@sofiacarreno8524]

Yes! 👍

[@kim99may]

@@Gardeningat58N yes very detailed and actually showed the update!

[@gilbryantrybull5694]

I usually put the cuttings in soil so that they can root and give them to friends/family. This way there is no waste. 💚

[@tofapolamalu-gantt2747]

I like how you showed the plant from the beginning to the end. Wow! Now I know what to do.

[@Clarachk]

Great info! I feels so much more confident now and less scared to prune! Extra tip I learned recently: Each pair of leaves that grows are opposite each other. And, you will notice that the direction of the leaf pairs as they go up the primary/secondary/tertiary stems all alternate in direction... as in one pair north/south, then next pair east/west, continuing along the branches. The tip is that you can control the direction of new stem growth by paying attention to where you prune. The new "v" shaped stem pair that shoots out will follow the direction of the pair of leaves directly below the node that you prune at!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Yes that's true, I sometimes use directional pruning to shape my plants, it's a very good way of controlling the shape of a plant as it looks more natural than other methods.

[@hijklmnop42]

Mind blown! I guess I had noticed that but never really thought about it… 😆

[@Clarachk]

It’s the small things!! 😊

[@sopdiedop]

I watched this after I had done a hard prune due to the same issues and then I panicked and thought maybe I had been too harsh 😂. Thanks for reassuring me!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Your jade should be fine, healthy plants usually respond very well to a hard prune. Just make sure you give it plenty of light as it recovers so that the new growth remains compact.

[@dianegao9176]

Finally I know why my jade plants are not growing up. Thank you for the sharing. Very informative.

[@Gardeningat58N]

I'm glad my video was helpful, good luck with your Jade plant.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you for the information. It's sort of intuitive but your drastic pruning and giving it extra light is excellent and productive

[@laurenfell3243]

I didn't even know a growth lamp was a thing! Definitely going to get one for my succulents. This is a VERY informative video. Thanks!

[@LacitsyM]

We need to wire our leccy for that at these prices now. 😉

[@FeuerblutRM]

Jade plant is a cute name too. In my language they are called "money/penny trees"

[@Gardeningat58N]

When I was younger I used to know them as money plants, because the dry dead leaves look like silver coins.

[@fabiannorman6882]

In my language they're called paradise trees

[@mizsy.4796]

In my language, my Mom told me this is "Majomkenyér fa", with means in Hungary is Monkybread tree:)

[@bluegypsydoll]

Thanks! I have a 6 year old jade I have trouble pruning due to thin branches. I’ve watched other vids but this info has helped me a lot! Ty!! Btw those are beautiful jade!!! Good job 👍🏻

[@birdie701]

I stopped using sting and started using zip ties. This enabled me to tighten as the plant straightened and they are wider, preventing the string from cutting into the stem. Just a thought... keep or toss. :)

[@karabonsai]

That´s an good idea!.

[@heleenjoosten957]

. N

[@MissMalikaA]

I use zip ties too, much easier for me than fiddling with tieing knots

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

Personally string and tube system. Benefits of those + wire, but without any of the drawbacks. Never a single wire or string scar, but just as much control.

[@gimmefuel7268]

This is EXACTLY what I needed to bring back our poor Jade tree!!! Thank you !

[@djevanoasikan2778]

How did it go?

[@voloDYAKo]

This is a magnificent transformation of the plant. Thx for sharing!

[@andrewwatts2695]

Great advice 👍🏼 I've been trying for some time now, but have never looked for advice like this before 🤞🏼

[@stefantopuzov6140]

Very helpful. Thank you! I have 2 of those at home. The one that is in a good spot is thriving. The other one I have to move seasonally because it is on a terrace and it is too cold for it outside during the winter, but then, inside it gets even less sunlight. So it has gotten quite leggy over the years. I now have a much sunnier spot available to overwinter it in, so I'll probably move it there, have it sit for a month and then prune it in November or something.

[@aighmij8659]

Thank you so much for your jade pruning videos! I was able to brave my oldest & very warped jade, and discovered that some of it had rot! Now I feel very brave about messing with some more whacked jades. 😁

[@theresamayton302]

Hope you had success with pruning all your plants. If you haven't already, check out Herons Bonsai. Peter Chan is a knowledgeable, kind man & writer. You will be amazed at how much trimming plants can take, lol.

[@maga7960]

This was really a useful video, I'm going to try this on my very leggy crassula. Thank you so much for sharing

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, hope your Crassula grows back with strong short growth. Spring is a perfect time to do it because the light levels will be good for the next 6 months.

[@Passionbloom52]

O wow , Thankyou so much , now I know how drastic I need to be with my Jade Plant , as the weight is pulling it over

[@kim99may]

I swear I really looked down and the little tree was sheared now I know how my relatives feel when my da and I show up at their houses. Lol. Great video. I had to rewind I was walking and watching and wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Transition with fast motion caught me off guard. Got an actual laugh watching a how to garden video! Love 💕 it.

[@mariannereuter]

That was really impressive. I got the "scraps" of my SIL´s pruning of his jade plant and managed to grow roots. Good to know how I can control their growth. Thanks for sharing!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Jade plants are great for growing from cuttings, good luck with your young Jade plant.

[@chrystalsabin4091]

I absolutely love jade plants because they are so easy to care for. Your jade is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@Gardeningat58N]

They really are tough plants, also so easy to propagate, I always have loads of cuttings whenever I prune them.

[@miragegrey4177]

Sadly, I can't keep one alive.

[@lindaknowles4026]

@@miragegrey4177 me either. It is so weird because I do not have trouble with any others! I have gotten 3 big cuttings from my sisters Jade and also bought one. They all bit the dust.

[@bereasonable8018]

So glad I found this video. I’ve been having this problem and didn’t know how to fix it

[@meg1955]

Thank you for posting this! I "inherited" a jade plant from the previous homeowner (who did not take anything from the patio with her when she moved). It was obviously originally a bonsai, but it was tipped at an angle inside a plant hanger and is now all crooked (and more than a foot high and wide) in its little bonsai dish. What a mess! I am anxious to try this and see where things go from here!

[@thesewknittingfootler1333]

Thank you so much for this video. I will follow your advice this weekend with my Jade plant.

[@OliveraK]

Thank you for the very helpful video. Awesome explanations!

[@aremacsnel]

Glad I found you.

[@alisonuzdanovics9712]

That was amazingly helpful. Thank you!!

[@oscarlpb602]

it's great to see how the plant has progressed since your previous video!

[@melb3513]

You explained that very well

[@JackofWhitechapel]

My mother in law gave me a ten year old jade plant that hangs like a vine rather than stand up like a tree. Hopefully this will help me fix it. Great video, especially love the tip about where to prune between the nodes not on them.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Yes this technique should work well on your plant. Once pruned make sure it gets plenty of light otherwise the new growth will start hanging again like a vine.

[@suleicaholguin-veras9028]

Both way are beautiful too.

[@TuckFwitter]

It's an older style my granny trimmed hers to droop over the sides and hang down.

[@beverlyraznoff8927]

Thanks for this video. As others have stated, this gave me the courage to prune my jade. You mentioned feeding. What do you recommend and how often?

[@elenagorba9096]

Thank you for the video. A clear and a very useful advise. Much appreciated.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful.

[@jorick2194]

Thank you for this amazing video! My jade plants aren't quite large enough to prune yet, but I have some other (not succelent) plants I have been wanting to fix up but wasn't quite sure how. I think this was a great universal plant fixing guide ;)

[@Gardeningat58N]

Yes, this should also work on other plants, not just Jade, although not all plants will respond in exactly the same way.

[@myrabbitispink]

nice work, the jade turned out beautiful

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thank you

[@micksmusicchannel]

Great video. I love jade plants 🪴

[@yanagreen2487]

so glad I came across this video. I have a jade that looks very similar to the before plant.

[@sofiacarreno8524]

Love your videos! They have helped me to take care of my Jade plants and give them the appearance I like.

[@Gardeningat58N]

I'm glad my videos have been helpful, Jades are such great adaptable plants.

[@eileencollins3126]

Wow! I have a fairly old jade plant that I am going to do this to, including moving it to a south facing window. Mine is in a west facing window downstairs now with a deck above it, so it gets no sunlight! Your video is very concise and informative. Thank you very much!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, good luck with your old Jade plants, it should appreciate a sunnier position. Try to slowly acclimatise it to stronger sunshine as they can suffer sunburn if their leaves are not used to high light levels.

[@christineborgatti3760]

I am always concerned about pruning my jade plant so thank you.

[@mssn3166]

Beautiful result. Thank you!

[@olafjensen4508]

Nice one. I've got just that problem. So here goes

[@user-xq5ih5oz2u]

Wow; only three months for rather substantial growth. Gives me more confidence in pruning my newly acquired jade. Propagating some leaves now and just repotted the jade. I’ll wait to prune since I did just repot it, tho! Thanks for the easy to understand tutorial.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Yes they can grow fairly quickly in the summer months if the plant is happy. Good luck with pruning your jade plant, early summer might be a good time for you to prune it as it should have grown it's roots into its new pot and it will have most of the summer and early autumn to regrow it's branches.

[@mhey945]

That's wonderful...im trying to make my jade beautiful too

[@simplesquamous.]

What a magical result... Thank you for teaching us!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks :)

[@dans9228]

Thank you for this great video. Now I feel confident trimming my Jade.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad my video has been helpful.

[@stay_curious]

Thank you so much for this video! It was just what I was looking for

[@christianhuber4054]

Extremely helpful, thanks

[@angiethompson5648]

Beautiful. I am currently working with 2 jade plants. One it a cutting of a very, very old plant and that one is coming out just fine. But the other is a jade that I just tossed into a barrel 3 years ago in a spot that was not quite sunny enough. This year the frost got it badly and now I am greatly regretting my placement choice. It still has a lot of big beautiful stem left so wish me luck.

[@beyondthegarden4208]

That is such a *GOOD IDEA* for the opening title (first 5 seconds) 👏👏

[@RinpochesRose]

Thankyou, excellent information and just what I was looking for on youtube. Great 👍🏻

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks.

[@pamelaeadie5574]

Thanks for the video. Very helpful.

[@kishoribawake8607]

Ohhh..waaaw..thanx for very useful guidance.....I have 9years old same jade...but unable to stand proper because of its leaves weight....I will definately try this.. ..

[@metratone5]

This was nice to watch. I grew my current plant from only a single tiny stem but it's grown nice and healthy that I'm about to move it to a slightly bigger pot. I hope it grows to be nice a thick like yours. So thanks for sharing.

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my video, good luck with your Jade plant, I'm sure it will enjoy the larger pot.

[@elainemfarrell4476]

Hi can you tell me what type of soil you used to repot please 🙂

[@CorvusCoraxDraws]

Praying for my plant. Have had it for years but because of depression i haven’t been able to water it for ~2 years. Genuinely suprised it's still alive... and yesterday, I ended up pruning it A LOT because i panicked about losing her. She had a lot of leaves falling off, and a bunch of dry ones. (Though a handful of healthy ones as well) This video helped me relax. Thought i might have been to harsh on her and that she wouldn’t survive now, but she's a fighter. Her death will correspond with the end of the universe

[@Gardeningat58N]

Wow that's a long time for any plant to go without water, I've had a Jade plant go for about a year once without water because I forgot about it, but two years is impressive. Hopefully with the pruning and some water she will re-sprout lots of healthy new leaves.

[@CorvusCoraxDraws]

@@Gardeningat58N She has started to grow leaves! They are so small right now, just small dots. But im really happy

[@beybslifeintheus494]

Beautiful plants

[@amykrueger-smith5461]

Wow !!! I inherited 3 2.5 to 3 foot large jades that were very crooked but i didnt know it waa fixable. Uve totally changed my mind. Thank u

[@Gardeningat58N]

Good luck with your Jades, if the stems are very thick make sure to straighten them over the course of a year, the thicker the stems the longer it takes to straighten them, also make sure you do it a little at a time because if you bend it too much in one go it can snap.

[@magdalene23]

A much needed video! Thank you

[@drawace9094]

Thank you! I learned so much.

[@Justusson]

Super tutorial! Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks on the behalf of my tree!,.. 🙏

[@user-bm5ez7mr2i]

Great job! 👍👍👍

[@debkousik8943]

Amazing..... really lot to know

[@leftorium]

Such a great tutorial.

[@veemedina7857]

Wow it looks much happier! Amazing job. 🤩

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks

[@veemedina7857]

@@Gardeningat58N np

[@davidtiller1740]

Thanks. This was really helpful.

[@michaelvasquez7656]

I have a ton of jades and I've had a lot of success with them. I like to clone them with the cuttings and fallen leaves.

[@dev22221]

Thanks for the video!

[@cathiaakin9049]

Great video with very useful details. Thank you very much

[@Gardeningat58N]

Glad it was helpful.

[@jannatabdullahtwins]

Love this informative video

[@janicephipps1714]

Many thanks for the video; best one I have seen!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my video.

[@indigo8817]

My first jade plant I got few years ago but it died after few months. I think its because it never got sunlight only bright light ....now I have grown jade plant from one leave and its getting sunlight too, it likes quite a bit of water too and its very healthy..I will keep propagating so it will get bushy💚

[@nelsonianb1289]

3 months, seriously, thats NUTS!

[@royfaulkner4326]

VERY INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL!!! Thank you for your help!!!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful.

[@krokomo6937]

so helpful, tysm!

[@Nigromancy]

Great video!

[@hopalstudiosjuliehattis]

Very helpful. Thank you😊

[@alejandraraymond163]

I really appreciated your video. Thank you for sharing. I have beautiful 3 feet Jade tree with that problem . I did put 3 bamboo sticks to helped the heavy branches. Also on its think stem because suddenly looks saggy. I started to move it to a sunny location slowly to avoid burn leaves. I am sure with your device it will be alright.

[@Gardeningat58N]

I'm sure your Jade will look better in a few months with the extra support and higher light levels. Pruning off the longest branches will help to take weight off the trunks and will reduce the sagging.

[@kathyburnum7996]

Outstanding! Thank you!

[@zsuzsakovacs8076]

Thank you

[@ChristianTiamzon]

Thanks for this!

[@blacksheep9772]

Very helpful, thanks so much 🌷

[@loovigelis6824]

Thanks for sharing.

[@kajolacharya2957]

Wow a very Thank you for helping me❤❤🍀🍀☘

[@hanaaandsanaachannel]

جميلة جدا شكرا ❤

[@GraftingTactick]

Great tips

[@RokNovak]

Great work!

[@Julia-uc7ty]

I woke up to notice my youngest jade plant was leaning, my first thoughts were “what on the bonsai is going on” .. followed these steps, fingers crossed she recovers xxx

[@Gardeningat58N]

After a few months she should straighten up.

[@kareemashry6588]

Wow, incredible transformation! Mine is a big dilemma, would you apply the same concept if my stems are thick U shaped barks drooping over my pot?

[@floriandomingo6052]

Nice i love jade plant

[@mariawelling4194]

Magnificent!

[@marypliska4070]

Beautiful!

[@amykrueger-smith5461]

Did it tonight. Was fun . plabts look funny now.

[@robbasgardening5610]

Great video, thanks!

[@Gardeningat58N]

Glad you liked it!

[@robbasgardening5610]

@@Gardeningat58N my next step is; get a jade plant!

[@basperry2420]

you mentioned feeding, what do you feed your jade with. Also can you recommend a good soil Thanks

[@connieb1970]

That is just the help I needed. Thanks. Could you tell me what is the best soil/additions for young plants?

[@al3xf103]

I have a jade that grew well on a north facing sill for about 7 years, with nice structure, then it caught a mildewy type disease and I had to spray it and its not been the same since. I repotted it recently and realised almost all the roots had died. Trimmed all the recent leggy growth but getting a lot of dieback now. Thinking I may have to invest in a grow lamp for it to survive. Nice channel, came here from the basil video.

[@Gardeningat58N]

If the plant is very weak sometimes there will be some die back after pruning. They can survive surprisingly low light levels, but they will become very weak and leggy over time without enough light. Also when they are weak they are more easily killed by diseases and over watering.