GIANT Crassula Bonsai (Beware Dramatic Pruning!)

In this video I will start the process of styling a very old and large crassula into a bonsai. A lot of pruning involved. Not for the faint-hearted!
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[@dildobaggins8987]

I’ve never seen a pruning warning before and considering peters history of dramatic pruning…..may have to sit down for this 😂

[@WilliamAiken]

4:48 the "Oh My God" is hilarious! I love a great bonsai design he does so effortlessly - that's what 30+ years of experience does!

[@realrohitdebnath]

I live in India. I've a Portulacaria afra. It's highly manageable and easy to work with. Highly recommended for beginners and pros.

[@CoryandStuff]

Came here to say this. He is definitely talking about a Portulacaria Afra near the beginning. It’s easy to confuse portulacaria afra a for jades (crassula ovata) because they can be called “dwarf jades” even though they aren’t actually a jade / crassula.

[@peterchan3100]

@@CoryandStuff --You are absolutely right - the jade I worked on in NOT - Portulacaria afra so this tree does not take to wiring at all. Very difficult species to use for bonsai. The P afra is a better one to use.

[@HoldToChrist]

Just got a Portulacaria afra!

[@lynnshirley]

I thought that too @@CoryandStuff

[@MontanaBonsai]

I cant get over how aggressive and confident you are in your cuts. Bravo.

[@Nepali_Bonsai_Bamrukh]

😹

[@Watcher4187]

You can beat the crap out of Jade plants and their cuttings root incredibly easy. I've got a bunch of them at home and have butchered them like this. They just keep right on kicking along, no problem.

[@TheresaPowers]

@@Watcher4187 that was not a Jade plant

[@capnspicy5565]

@@TheresaPowers If that's not a jade then what is it? Portulacaria Afra? Lol

[@kadincetanner5080]

SMALL SHRUB TRIMMING

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Such a wonderful old tree!

[@RosarioCostanzo]

Years ago, I used to steal Portulacaria and jade leaves from my neighborhood and now I have really an army of succulent!! I have so many cuttings that I will arrange a forest! They are generous plants, perfect for bonsai and if you walk around nurseries, you can find a lot of big material relatively cheap

[@pegjames188]

I found when decorating behind a cupboard a pruning I’d dropped growing quite happily in the fluff build up and rooted into the carpet.

[@1BergerVongSchlauigkeitHer]

The South African one is Dwarf or Elephant Jade - Portulacaria afra. Different from Jade and with edible leaves.

[@ImNotAProfessional]

Oh wow i didnt know they had edible leaves. Im not going to try one just in case 😂😂

[@CoryandStuff]

@@ImNotAProfessional Completely safe to eat portulacaria afra leaves, but crassula leaves are not safe. Portuacaria afra leaves kinda taste like an apple to me.

[@sonjamae]

The one tallest branch left now seems very bare, it'll be interesting to see what this ends up looking like when new growth starts up. And also excited to see how the cuttings fare

[@fabulously695]

Crassula Ovata is surprisingly vigorous and resilient, as long as its warm and not over or under watered, you can remove every growing tip and leaf, and it'll still backbud and carry on growing. If they're overwatered, they rot, if they're underwatered, they tend to drop limbs to conserve water

[@Jenny-fk3ke]

so glad for this video - I’ve been waiting ages to see you work on a crassula bonsai. I have a young jade tree which is about 2cm thick at the base and I recently wired the trunk into a curve without any problems. In my experience if the branch is supple enough, and you’re careful, it should be ok to wire without breaking.

[@Jenny-fk3ke]

@Jay Edwards thanks!

[@liwoszarchaeologist]

Bonsai mix is great for rooting succulents, because for both good drainage is the goal. Perlite and volcanic gravel help a lot, and so does keeping the soil very shallow. A good rule of thumb for Crassula and Kalanchoe is to wait for the plant/cutting to tell you it's thirsty before watering. Portulacaria afra on the other hand struggle with taking up enough water until they root, so with those mist them frequently.

[@daljitsrkg]

Hi heron! Thanks for the amazing videos. I have learned so much from you ❤️

[@catibree1]

My heart nearly stopped when he cut off so many branches . Especially the larger one.. But, since he is the master of bonsai, I guess he knows what and what not to do.. I will be anxiously awaiting the new growth on the mother plant, and also the cuttings.

[@tambou5022]

Remember his 2 words, " BE BOLD".

[@serg10xm.69]

I love that you made a video of these, they are very beginner friendly.

[@tambou5022]

I will remember these 2 words from now on when pruning, " BE BOLD". thank you for that.

[@MTPatriot1787]

Fantastic as always. Thank you for your continued sharing of your knowledge Peter. It is much appreciated.

[@TheHadesShade]

Very curious to see how the crassula will look in a few months!

[@russmaleartist]

Should be a very interesting experiment . . . so, I look forward to seeing which media will work the best, Peter. I know you enjoy these experiments as well as sharing them with us. I have been following you on KZbin for many years now, and I still find your videos fresh, interesting and no in the least boring. So, bring on the challenges and experiments . . . I love to watch the "Master at work with his craft!"

[@BonsaiCornwall]

Dramatic pruning? I’m in 💚

[@jeffncompany]

first time I've seen a video from Peter dedicated to a succulent! and what a crassula ovata it was! massive!

[@oneshotllaw2158]

Thanks for doing a video on jade trees very interesting.. got a tree that I inherited from my grandmother still going strong .. take care and have a great day

[@walterwjr947]

Thank you.... 🙏 😔 🙏 Dr. Chan it is a great honor to be allowed to participate in your research. I look forward to the end results, but it will be interesting as we peek into the pot from time to time. You are very brave with your cuts. You just seem to know where. Enjoy the season of the harvest. 🙏 🖖 🙏

[@kerriefearby9542]

My son had sold his house and the new owners didn't wand the very old and very large Crassula ovata which was growing in the garden. So I carefully cut it into manageable "trees" and transported to my place where I immediately potted these cutting's into buckets of my succulent mix. Some of the big cuttings had thick trunks up to 12cm in diameter. Within no time they all developed roots. Since that time I have bonsaied them and taken hundreds of cuttings during the shaping process. Best, most forgiving plant ever.

[@Teresa-ih4sn]

Wonderfully informative video! Thank you Sir Peter!!

[@vktesla]

"its the trunks thats most important. In bonsai you are trying to make tree like images....and trees have trunks" - Little piece of gold everyday from the great master splinter

[@ericshingles]

I have many Jades, Crassula, and Portulacaria, and several varieties of each species, Very easy and rewarding.

[@Stettafire]

My experience with these plants and similar to it (these tree succulent things, jades and others like it) is that directly after pruning they always look odd but they quickly bud agian and look amazing. There is always that moment of regret but you gotta trust the process and trust the pruning. Even the thick cuttings I'd attempt to root, but then again Im a home grower so I don't worry about the upkeep getting too much. They do need watering but very rarely. I water mine once every few weeks, but only like a little splash from a glass. If you are in high humidity (I suppose like a greenhouse) then it's probably fine. But in a central heating house the air is much dryer. Also tropical succulents require higher humidity and more water then desert succulents, so there is some caution to be taken there.

[@peterchan3100]

Yes absolutely right !

[@BonsaiKiwa]

thakns for sharing sir

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

I like Torpedo sand to use in rooting. Excellent video.

[@mikew9499]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and wisdom on bonsai.

[@BonsaiKiwa]

I think so too

[@xxalxxllxx]

Love to see the process. Thanks for including us, Peter. 🌱

[@ulrikek359]

I also experimented: in water they form the best roots and also it is the fastes way. After a couple weeks and some waterchanges you can put them into a cactus-mix

[@jakicatancabelic9436]

Yes indeed Josh "Oh my God!"-still wonderful result. Thank you Mr. Chan.

[@barryauguste9734]

I can't wait to see the update. Bonsai are are constant reminder of how short and fragile our lives are. If only we had more time to be with them..... thank you sir.

[@PatriciaAnnGriggs]

I really really Love this video

[@MidniteSan]

Thx for sharing Peter....

[@jeffsers624]

What works best for me for that particular family of succulents is to leave them out for a week or so after cutting to let the cut end callous. Then stick them in cactus/succulent soil.

[@therisingofroninbonsai]

Wacaouwww.....giant crassula bonsai....jade !!!!

[@bonsaitruongthi]

Great Bonsai Love!

[@egoebonsai37]

Giant Crassula Bonsai is wonderful n beautiful Bonsai Good job Sir 👍🏽

[@soonzach4017]

As always love your beautiful job 👍

[@waynehiorns6688]

Absolutely brilliant I watched many of your vids & little is more & bite the bullet is the way to go, love too get my hands on that large cutting lol Regards Wayne Keep up the good work

[@Pearlygatefarm]

The crunch as the succers came out was a delicious sound

[@nillysbonsai9636]

Them cuttings alone are decent plants! Nothing lost with that aggressive prune :D

[@BonsaiKiwa]

GIANT Crassula Bonsai, this is a very good bonsai sir, the character is amazing

[@Kalithrasis]

They can take less than 10C in winter, but cold tolerance depends on climate and also soil. Where I live they're frequently grown outdoors and in pots without much care and experience 0 to -2C a few times each winter. This climate is also much like their native climate which is summer dry, winter wet. Growing in a heavy, wet, and clayey soil is likely going to cause root rot, but in sand they're pretty tough as nails.

[@fabulously695]

agreed, I leave mine outside in an unheated lean to, in winter it is often between 1-5C,

[@JacobFirlotte]

Where’s that?

[@onLYbyM]

same here sometimes 0 C.. no problem.. been out for 2years.. a young plant too.

[@granthawkins9142]

Man my heart just about stopped when he sawed off that big limb. But I saw exactly what effect it had I'm inspired

[@johnberry1107]

Lovely plant story. New to southern most CA USA from the northeast I am converting to cactus & succulents outdoors. Unbelievable ability to come back from neglect. Thank you.

[@milkman81]

Amazing!

[@johncreet1254]

These are amazing plants; really easy to propagate from cuttings and easy to prune. I had one that belonged to my grandmother in the 1970s that I inherited. It wasn't in great shape but I took a cutting that grew into a huge specimen with a trunk that must have been more than 18 ins in circumference. Unfortunately I watered it a little too much one winter a couple of years ago and the whole thing rotted. Fortunately I took some cuttings which are now growing well.

[@NFSCfan]

That random egg yolk just chillin.

[@kingstar2256]

thank you so much! i will give this a try

[@ELLE-qi5nj]

Oooh magnifique 🌺

[@ianpope6568]

Love you Pete x

[@jsnstamper]

I just trimmed mine yesterday because we have to bring it in for winter. We call it a jade, I think it’s the same variety you have there....keep it up guys

[@jasusmalorus2800]

This is amazing

[@earthladyadventures5018]

I can’t wait to see the results

[@MadAboutCichlids]

The ones you seen in India are most likely portulacaria afra, they're very popular for bonsai there.

[@jeanhawken4482]

Looks good

[@jude1515]

Interesting story. I can’t wait to start creating bonsais.

[@mayarada2059]

Absolutely beautiful fantastic Money plant to have it , my favourite plant and always feel happy to have it .

[@maxkopfraum]

What an amazing plant.

[@shivangnisharma9448]

I have the variety you mentioned, it was discarded by neighbour, tall ungainly, around that time I discovered you & air layering, now I have 2, both look excellent (even if I praise myself) . I wish I could send their pictures . The variety you showed here doesn’t tolerate very high temperatures too, mine have always rotted in summer

[@naphom]

I live in Durban, South Africa. Summer temperatures are often in the 30's (Celcius) and all the Crassula Ovatas I've seen seem to enjoy it. I have a few that get direct sunlight for 12 hours per day and they are doing very well. I suspect the high humidity helps a lot.

[@shivangnisharma9448]

@@naphom thanks, what growing medium are they planted in? This year I’ve switched to cinder let’s hope it works , will know only by august 23

[@naphom]

@@shivangnisharma9448 - uhm.... just soil. Nothing specific or specialized. It's inside one of the concrete blocks used to retain soil, so it was backfilled with whatever was available. .

[@almac2598]

Thanks Peter. A big plant.

[@christmassnow3465]

The other species with the smaller leaves is not actually a Crassula. It is Portulacaria Afra which is classified in the Didieraceae family and previously in the Portulacaceae family.

[@Sandraa021]

would love to se an update on this! I Have just started to take an interest in bonsai and have a jade plant. This looked extreme, but I trust the process and would love to se the result this far! :D

[@yadigarklckaya5989]

He knows what he does👍🏻👏🏻🌹

[@chrisrose323]

Ohh you showed us this long ago when you showed us your exersize room. Cool to see it again

[@Bigninjon]

Love the warning!! Lol

[@convoyconvoyconvoy]

must be the season for trimming jades, as a i brutalised all of mine today and yesterday, i also prefer the dwarf jade over the money tree, as its quicker to rebound from trims too

[@tomzifertomzifer6944]

That thing is going to make new buds all over

[@pezpythons1532]

I started one from a single leaf in 1999 when I was 5 years old, at school. it is now 25 years old and it's trunk is the size of my arm 👍

[@robbybobby6466]

They grew from single leaves that fell on the soil. I have one that is 25 years old now. I love it.

[@4shore325]

Definitely not for the faint of heart! lol I have a large jade that I should do something similar but am chicken. It's not even for a bonsai but just maintenance. I see the branches that are being pulled down and a couple that are crossing another but I have not gotten up the courage to go in and cut away. After this video, maybe I will be able to do a couple of the branches. I was holding my breath as he was cutting, I'm surprised he hasn't hurt himself cutting so fast. I'm sure he has a vision in his mind as he's cutting but, wow, so fast! Great video.

[@t3dwards13]

Phew... I thought he was going to chop down the whole trunk. That would have been tragically dramatic. Lol

[@Alexia.C.S]

I'd love to have one of those cuttings! 🥺

[@justinn.4161]

This title is hilarious 😂😂😂

[@narusawatd.9966]

Do you need to prune the roots? Or how should I go about containing it. I have a 16yo jade and it is starting to outgrow my pot

[@deedahl2866]

I need to see if you have a video on the different types of yews. I have LOTS of cuttings from different ones. Hick's (red berries). Podacarpus. Densiformis media (something). And spreading ones too. Some have short leaves and others are longer leaves. Seems they get broken a lot during transportation so that creates an opportunity for me to get cuttings.

[@terriejohnston8801]

I'm halfway thru tbe video... ALL the cuttings...WHOA! I'D love to watch this Dude, @ his propagation techniques. To JUST STICK in sand!?! Lol. Hoping some propagating b4 video is over. Ive tried SO many ways w so many succulents. YEAHhhh, he's showing us....

[@desiTravelerOfficial]

Excellent video..I am really impressed with the size and history of this tree. Mr. Chan. I developed interest in Bonsai long ago by reading your books :) good to find your chanel. I am from India we are not able to grow this C. ovata in north india as it succumbs to heat in summers... that is why you see a lot of Portulacaria afra Bonsai in India... as PA is more heat tolerant...

[@adinacosma4861]

Good morning Mr. Chan. I'm wondering if I should seal the big cuts or not. Usually I'm not sealing only the conifers. Thank you for the video.

[@weakleaderwbbd8378]

Hi, what type of soil you use for that type of plant?

[@paolomh113]

Hi, could you comment about that hexagonal pot? The u.

[@annabelcleare138]

This is amazing! Please can we have an update?

[@mikec3820]

there is a afra crassula? news to me. im a jade and portulacaria nut too lol thansk peter! beautiful ol jade you have here sr

[@Robert-ij9ih]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6alln6Cj753e68

[@franzwagner7370]

Very nice again! Anybody knows what he means with "sharp sand"?

[@MekhetM]

Trying to grow my own crassula from leaves, I left one lying around but it just rotted. Next I will try with water too :)

[@lisaskidgel-yn1oj]

Mine always rot too. No matter what I try or don’t try.

[@ericshingles]

The cuttings in water will rot, it's a succulent, and needs the wound to dry, once it does the cutting will put out roots regardless.

[@9daywonda]

Unusual specimen for a bonsai.

[@jsnstamper]

I did wire it with a rubber coated aluminum wire for a couple of years with minimal marks left when I removed it yesterday

[@3sechsund80er]

Don’t fully agree on the minimum viable temperature. I keep them outside until temperatures drop below 5 C at night. They are doing fine.

[@arunshetty6406]

Is there a follow up video of this ? As the video was posted a year ago I am curious what all the pruning had done to the plant ?

[@rsa420]

They are so awesome I have recently added some to my collection. I have always wanted one. We call them jade or money trees, they are treated with alot of respect and mysticism. I was told its bad luck to buy one for ones self hence why it took so long till I got one gifted too me. I have grown loads of clones from the leaves alone

[@rsa420]

I am in South Africa and mine look just the same as the one in the video, I might be getting a few other species later in the year.

[@toebiter69]

Can someone answer does anything have to be put on the wound on the jade after like a powder? Or does it heal itself

[@astounded]

Mr. Chan- Thank you for sharing the value and beauty of an "ordinary" plant. Even something as common as C. ovata, when tended throughout the years, can become something extraordinary. The story of its journey only makes its presence all the more beautiful and inspiring. Can there really be such a thing as a "common" plant?

[@peterchan3100]

Yes - weeds are common plants.

[@johnpugh5867]

You can wire if yo let dry out so it limps and use heavy wire you can shape even large branches give it a try

[@barbarafazio549]

Do you put a sealer on the cut?

[@kittyiam2206]

Is this the same as a jade plant? It looks like it. Thank you for the video!

[@nickgillespie8234]

Any updates?

[@naphom]

I believe it is Crasula Sarcocaulis you are referring to. I have two growing in the soil in my garden.