20 year old jade plant repotting and light pruning: The start of a big jade plant bonsai

[@mochigirl444]

OMG I am on here because I am trying to take care of my mother's 20 year old jade plant. My mom just passed away too and this is how I am carrying on her legacy. I wanted to share because our stories are so similar. All my grandparents have also passed away. Plants are so cool how they can live on with others and grow with them. I have many of my mom's plants and they are so special to me.

[@OddBonsai]

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. Plants passed on from your dear ones are different than inanimate keepsake objects. You can put an object in a drawer and forget about it but you will see the plant every day. You'll have to care for it to keep it alive and it will always remind you of the special person you got it from. Jades are very easy to care for. As long as it's in free draining soil and you don't overwater it, it will most likely live to be passed on to your children Thank you for sharing your story!

[@Reservation4Dorsia]

Same

[@mreza84]

RIP 🌹❤️🌹 I too have lost my mother 😢😢😢

[@emilmelich6769]

@@OddBonsai could have you separated 2 main truncks into 2 separate plants? asking if it is possible or it will do too much damage to a plant?

[@elliotjames5172]

Jades are such low risk/high reward plants. They're beautiful and super easy to propagate, and they are so customizable. Anyone with a very old Jade plant in their possession likely considers it a point of pride.

[@OddBonsai]

True, and you feel even more rewarded if you manage to make them flower (still working on this). 😊

[@SailingSquib]

​@@OddBonsai My Jade Plants flower every year for nearly two months. In Summer they are in our garden on a very sunny place, end of october theyare moved in our glasshouse for the winter. The temperature there is between 0 and 20°C, most time around 5-15°C . They start blooming around christmas.

[@OddBonsai]

@@SailingSquib Overwintering at indoor temperatures might be my problem. I don't have a place to keep them during winter where they are protected from frost and still kept at a lower temperature. I'm thinking of using a heater in the basement to keep temperatures above freezing.

[@jfrederickmiles6671]

A period of no water into that cool period is also needed to trigger flowering, a good month or two as the temps get down towards the 50s

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you for the tip! I will try it this year.

[@scharliem]

Everything done skilfully and lovingly……just what a wonderful way to treat an old plant. Wished we elderlies getting care like that…

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Everyone deserves the same amount of respect regardless of their age. Many young people are just too selfish to think about their elderlies.

[@brocktoon8]

I love how much loving care you treat this venerable plant with.

[@OddBonsai]

You will probably not feel the same way when I'm going to prune it. 😊On a more serious note, jade plants are not very sensitive plants but since this one was pretty neglected and dehydrated , leaves and small branches were breaking off very easily. I tried to manipulate it as gently as possible to avoid doing too much damage. I intend to provide the best care I can to this jade tree so that I can pass it on to my children someday.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice work, the Jade is going to love that new soil!!! Good idea taking your time with the tree and letting it recover!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Nigel! I was tempted to do a hard pruning as well but this is one I don't want to risk loosing so I didn't do it even though I know that jades could generally take such aggressive interventions.

[@arnoldmmbb]

Hi nigel ✌

[@stevesmith9221]

No. That new soil is too inorganic imo. that plant was already kept too dry as it had air roots. Jade does great with normal cactus mix.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks @@stevesmith9221! Other people have said the same. I'll see how it does in this soil and I will consider adding some organics next time I repot.

[@stevesmith9221]

@@OddBonsai even using a cactus mix, after 2-3 years all the organics are gone, leaving just perlite n pumice. So, even regular potting soil is usually fine.

[@dianakrigelman6831]

Thank you so much for this very clear and informative video. I learned so much from it. and I'll soon be 80 years old. It's never too late to learn new things.

[@OddBonsai]

Glad you found it useful! You are perfectly right. I'm constantly learning new things about plants, even about species that I've been growing for many years. I'm particularly fascinated about drought resistant plants and the mechanisms they use to withstand long periods of drought.

[@adrianmillard6598]

I smiled when you want to change the natural branch structure to make it look more... natural looking.

[@OddBonsai]

Well, it's true that this plant grew naturally but not in an environment similar to it's natural environment. So with conditions being less than ideal, it kind of grew more leggy than it would normally do in ideal conditions. So this is what I had in mind when I mentioned the natural look.

[@j.g.2934]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.. I have two very old jades..(older than me) Every time I prune them, I donate the prunings to the senior center in town..

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! It's a very nice thought to donate the cuttings and it's great that you found a place to donate them to. I find it hard to find people that want jade cuttings since most people already have a jade plant.

[@TreeVibes]

I think it's fantastic that memory of our loved one can continue with the plants we have.

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, it's not like having an inanimate keepsake that you just look at once in a while. With plants you have to provide constant care and this brings back happy memories more often.

[@TreeVibes]

@@OddBonsai it definitely does. I have 3 big plants that we got from family that passed away.. and hopefully my daughter will take care about it in the future.

[@OddBonsai]

@@TreeVibes Nice, what kind of plants are they? I also wish at least one of my daughters inherits my love for plants.

[@TreeVibes]

@@OddBonsai 1 Christmas cactus. 1 crassula. 1 zz plant. Hope I can start the bonsai training on the crassula soon. It really needs a repotting. One of the first words my daughter said was flower in Persian 😁 you can imagine how happy I was 🥰😂🥰

[@OddBonsai]

@@TreeVibes All 3 are great plants. Good luck with the training of your jade plant. I can imagine how proud you were of your daughter. 😊

[@kellym9301]

This is a perfect video of instructions on how to prune and repot the jade plant. Please do a follow-up video of future pruning!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I am planning on making a video dedicated to pruning later this year. I'll probably prune it in late spring and by autumn I should be able to make a video showing the results of pruning.

[@brandi5229]

Nice! Thank you for the video. I've struggled with my jade since i got her. I've been watching a lot of video's to help me take better care of her. That's how i stumbled upon your video. Can we have a update of how your jade is doing?

[@heatherhui938]

Thanks for the great video!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful.

[@barryauguste9734]

I too have a Jade which was my grandmother's who died in 1977. Unfortunately its not as thick as yours Steffan as there have been times in life when I've had to resort to taking a cutting back to europe in my suitcase and starting again. But I still feel that its part of the same tree and so holds that sentimental value. Can't wait to see you prune.....

[@OddBonsai]

Sounds like you and your Jade have been through a lot together. Being a part of the original tree I would also feel like it's the same plant so this doesn't decrease it's sentimental value. I noticed that the jade is starting to grow again so I will definitely prune it this year, either in late spring or sometime during the summer.

[@yogalite]

Will you be posting a video in the Spring of 2023 to show how you prune the rest of the branches?

[@OddBonsai]

I wanted to do the pruning this spring (2022) but I did not managed to find the time. So I let it grow freely and it now looks nice and healthy. I will be doing a pruning video, I just have to decide if I'm going to prune it now or in spring.

[@kathybartz4095]

You're doing a beautiful job and your grandparents would be so happy that you're taking care of their plan for them. Good job and thanks for the great video!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you so much! I hope both the jade and me live long enough to pass it down to my grandkids.

[@teacherzak6080]

This is some rare top quality gem of a video! Thank you for this.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jadylady86]

This was my fav Jade video by far! Such useful tips in this gem 🤩

[@barbarachandler4430]

That was very helpful. I have acquired a giant Jade, 12 inch around one trunk and a pretty full top. I will be tackling a repotting in a few months. Glad I found your video.

[@OddBonsai]

Sounds like a really big one. Do you know how old it is? Good luck with repotting it!

[@barbarachandler4430]

I will need luck! I have no idea of the age, I rescued them from a property vacated, the people had put, the Jade, a crown of thorns and a snake plant, there was a Hibiscus that I took cuttings from, happily growing. All of these plants are 5’ tall, the snake plant 4’. Very healthy, I wish I knew the age. I’m thinking the plants were given at the start of their business. Lucky me to have rescued them, the crown of thorns has flowers all the time! Thank you for your videos!

[@OddBonsai]

And lucky for the plants they ended up in good hands! I have a one year old crown of thorns that I started from a cutting and it already flowered this winter. Snake plants are another favorite of mine.

[@BonsaiJCan]

Nice job, it's already a big improvement. I like the way your temporarily holding the tree down.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks J! Tying the tree to the pot on the outside is not used very often in bonsai, but it's a good alternative when there is no way of wiring the root ball of the tree inside the pot. The only difference from what I did is that the traditional approach would use wire instead of string.

[@slimpickins3425]

Thank you for this amazing story and reporting technique! Its such a honor to have plants be passed down from generation to generation. I have a Jade plant from my Dad, and cherish it I have already passed on babies to my daughter, I have propagated all my heirloom plants from my Dad and Nana, and given them to my daughter! She love that there so old and have such family history. Thank you for sharing your techniques with me, I think its time for some pruning!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who cares so much about heirloom plants and wants to pass them on for future generations. Spring is finally here so I will probably prune it soon. I'm just waiting for night time temperatures to get a bit higher so I can move it outside. And of course I also have to find some time to do this. :)

[@CarmencitaTiradoJayandme21]

@@OddBonsai I’m looking forward to watching you prune it!!!!

[@OddBonsai]

Tanks, I'm also looking forward to pruning it.

[@MultiKwolf]

Your Grandparents is always watching, and i guarantee they are smiling.

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you for your kind words! I hope this tree will live a long life so that it can always remind me of them.

[@Overly_nourished_entity]

Awe! How amazing it belonged to your grandparents! My parents just bought me one, I’m trying to learn all I can about this plant so it can last for years 😌

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, this is a plant that can live for generations. It doesn't need too much care. Just don't overwater it.

[@tanjam.286]

I have mine huuuge and its just 2y old. Just dont water it too much and you can have it outside untill it get's too cold.

[@TropicalBonsai]

Nice monster size jade! Good work, I’m sure it will continue to thrive.

[@OddBonsai]

I'm sure it will do well. I've seen jades thrive in what we could consider to be poor conditions for most plants. I've always wondered how do they make it with such small root systems.

[@qaphqa]

I watched this a little while ago, and have let it percolate in my mind. Giving it a rewatch now, I see just how many useful ideas it has given me for a number of the plants in my care. Thank you for your super videos!

[@OddBonsai]

It's always nice to hear when ideas in my videos are found to be helpful! Thanks!

[@liev_x]

What a beautiful jade - can't wait to see the follow-up video! This has so much potential, and you've already done such a great job with it!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you so much! It will be a while until I'm going to post an update video but when I do it will most probably cover pruning the jade to a create a realistic looking tree like structure and the effects of pruning (i.e., recovery after pruning).

[@liev_x]

@@OddBonsai Excited to see it! I'm getting into bonsai, and videos like this are encouraging. Pruning a significant amount of mass can be daunting, but you show how worth it all that pruning can be! Your latest ginseng ficus video in particular is a great example of that.

[@OddBonsai]

Things might seem difficult when getting into bonsai but you slowly get the hang of it. Every operation, whether it's pruning or repotting, has it's uses and rewards. But it's important to understand the effects each can have to use them correctly. I'm glad you find my videos are helpful and I hope you can apply some of the things I show to your bonsai trees.

[@patteegee9506]

I have a couple of jade plants that started from clippings from my great grandmother. My grandmother grew a jade plant from a clipping from my great grandmother. My father grew a jade plant from a clipping from my grandmother. I grew plants from clippings from my father. I hope my children and grandchildren will keep it going. Imagine my plants originated from a plant over 100 years ago!

[@OddBonsai]

Nice! That's a long lasting tradition of propagating offspring from the same mother plant. But what happened to the original jade plant? Is it still alive? Should be a pretty big one.

[@patteegee9506]

@@OddBonsai I don't know what happened to my great grandmother's original plant as well as my grandmother's 2nd generation plant. Sadly, I had to leave my dad's 3rd generation plant at his home after he died and the house was sold. It was probably around 50 years old and too big and heavy to move. It broke my heart to leave it behind. The trunk circumference was big. But at least I have 4th generation plants!

[@OddBonsai]

Too bad you couldn't take the one your dad owned but having a clone started from a cutting of that plant is the next best thing. How old/large is your plant now?

[@patteegee9506]

@@OddBonsai The plant is around 10 years old. It's in a pot and is over 2 feet tall/wide. The main trunk is around 4 inches diameter with several additional trunks. This plant developed from probably a 5 inch long clipping on a tiny branch! I try to imagine the new owners of my dad's house are enjoying his jade plant and beautiful landscaping. Thank you for your wonderful videos.

[@OddBonsai]

@@patteegee9506 Sounds like your jade is getting pretty big. I hope your father's jade is in good hands with the new owners. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@baldyeti]

What a fantastic tree, Steffan! Plus the sentimental value giving it something special for you. Great education on the repot; how, why, when, etc. I liked your use of hemp twine/rope to secure it, and using common cinnamon as a cut healing aid. Thank you for sharing with us, brother. I sure do appreciate you. Oh, and hats off to your growing video making skill set. You keep growing in leaps and bounds!!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks Yeti! I try to use things that are readily available and cinnamon is something that most people have in their kitchen. It's great for prevention, but if I had to deal with an actual fungal or bacterial infection I would probably use a synthetic product for the tree's sake. I used hemp twine because that's what I had, but any string/thin rope would do fine since it has some elasticity as opposed to wire. And I hate wire marks :) I appreciate all your feedback! Cheers!

[@sliz8213]

This was an absolute pleasure to watch, start to finish 😌

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Filiaris1]

I did it. I got a jade tree from Fb for free and now I'm following your steps 😊

[@OddBonsai]

Great! I'm sure it will like it's new home. 👍

[@benjibaucom605]

All I can think about is how many babies you got from this pruning!!! So many plants

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, there were a lot of cuttings. Some of them I gave away. I put all the remaining ones in a pot and it grew into a nice bushy plant.

[@BeTheCREATOR]

Good job Stephen! I love the way you presented your work in such detail and logical way.

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I try to present what I do as clear as possible as I would like to see it as a viewer.

[@pookiefilms433]

Awesome! My buddy has a 12 year old jade I got a cut from and it's currently about 2 months old and growing faster than I thought it would! So happy

[@OddBonsai]

When given the right conditions jade plants will grow fast. I'm sure youre jade will grow up to be a great plant.

[@shiftycarmack8019]

Good job at honoring your grandparents. ❤

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! I'm happy I have this great jade plant to always remember me of them.

[@gaeangardensbyizabela]

Another generation carrying for the tree, may it grow well. Your video is well done and organized

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I will sure do my best to keep it happy.

[@Tula_Bear]

Looking forward to the pruning video!

[@OddBonsai]

Me too! 😊 I will let it gain vigor for the duration of spring and I'll probably prune it in early summer.

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Nice repot. Cinnamon, nice idea. I just use lipstick for the wounds on my trees when I cut them. Helps to keep the water out of the wound. Glad I found your channel.

[@OddBonsai]

Hi Tom and welcome to my channel! I'm glad to have you here and to hear you liked the video, I've also been enjoying your videos for some time even if I had less time for KZbin lately. I remember the lipstick trick from your videos. Is it a special kind or will any kind of lipstick work?

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

@@OddBonsai Any lipstick works as long as women can put it on their lips, it is safe to use. My niece always finds great buys, along with my sister. The black lipstick she found looks just like cut paste and $0.50 at a garage sale (unopened). I know that I miss some videos also. So hard to catch up at times, that is why Saturday, I rest and don't do anything else but catch up. Sunday through Friday, straight work on fish, trees, etc. Give a tube a try. Just don't buy any of those glittery ones, just plain lipstick.

[@OddBonsai]

I will give it a try but I'll have to consult with my wife first 😋. One more question Tom: Does the lipstick harden over time after you apply it to the cut points or does it keep its usual consistency? Thanks!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

@@OddBonsai Just checked the lipstick on my roses from over wintering. Forms a hard skin on the top. If, though, you press your finger into it, soft underneath. Still working. Outside from the weather it starts to fade, winter does that. Summer still good. That is the only thing I use to seal my cuts to keep water from getting inside. On my Poinsettias that I cut in the last video on them, forms a skin. When I rubbed my thumb over it, Lipstick on the Thumb. So it does last really nice. After all, I don't think that they would sell it to women if it did not work. Just don't buy the expensive kind. Just plain lipstick. Wide variety of colors to match your tree. After Halloween, my niece gets me the glow in the dark lipstick. I put that on the roses sometimes to give it a nice look at night. Hope this helps. Why pay all that money on cut paste, when you have something just as good and cheaper. Sure it does wear off after a while. Then if you have to use more, you have it with out it getting hard. Hope this helps you out. Have a great day with a nice hot cup of tea. Tom

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

@@OddBonsai Just a thought. Don't steal it from your wife. Better to give your wife a $1 and let her get one for you. She can see if they have black for you or whatever color she would like. Safer that way. Tom

[@Queerpunx]

We would love a update on how your jade has adapted, and grown in it's new pot. Thank you

[@OddBonsai]

I have some footage of it flowering this winter. Just have to find the time to put the video together.

[@Queerpunx]

​@@OddBonsai Thank you. I look forward to your update video. I'm about to do the same this week on my 40 year old jade... It will be a task, but I'm looking forward. Also red edges on the leaves are a sign of a happy jade. So long as you don't expose your jade to high light levels suddenly, it will happily adapt to strong light. I'm glad you got to enjoy flowers on yours this year; It's always magical.

[@OddBonsai]

There were only a few flower clusters but it's the first time I ever saw jade plant flowers so it really was something special for me.

[@angie_getsfit22]

I would love to have some cuttings from that jade plant! So amazing!

[@OddBonsai]

I'm happy to give away extra cuttings but overseas shipping is usually a problem when it comes to plant material. Do you live in the US?

[@jenniferperez946]

Thank you so much for this video! I have 5 very old jade plants, 3 in pots and 2 in the ground. 1 that's in the ground is very sad looking and this is the tutorial I needed to fix it. I can't wait for your pruning video!

[@OddBonsai]

Glad to hear my video inspired you. Do you plan on pulling out the jade that's growing in the ground and moving it in a pot?

[@zitamones1072]

Love it! I wish my jade plant will grow like that! I am learning how to grow because I love jade but they always died. Now I have 3 , hope they won’t die again.

[@OddBonsai]

I'm sure your jade plants can grow to be large too. It's very easy to care for. Just don't overwater it. If you are not sure when to water wait until you see the leaves starting to get wrinkly. I only water when the soil is completely dry.

[@zitamones1072]

@@OddBonsai thanx!

[@aamb454]

Hope to see updates in the future! Love this plant, thank you for sharing

[@OddBonsai]

Tank you! It will surely be featured in future videos. I intend to document it's progress through the years.

[@traceysouth1047]

I learned a lot from you. Some of my favorite parts was the cinnamon as an antifungal and also how you use the string. thank you

[@rr7firefly]

The amazing thing is how resilient this plant is. I saw how many precision cuts were made off of the plant. Drastic pruning, although there was so much to begin with.

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, jades are very resilient. I wouldn't call what I did "drastic pruning". I've seen many large jades being chopped back really hard. I just made one large cut and let most of everything else in place.

[@rr7firefly]

@@OddBonsai I guess "drastic" is to some extent a matter of opinion. I only have small plants so taking out 3 or 4 branches on one plant seems like a lot.

[@OddBonsai]

If you do the amount of pruning I did on this large specimen on a smaller plant you would could clearly consider it as being drastic. With each plant I consider the percentage of total leaf mass/branch structure that I remove. So in my case I maybe removed 10-15%, which I don't consider as being something drastic.

[@kanthvickram4490]

i am proud to say that i have a jade plant of 40 year old exactly !!! in 1982 i got a 6 inches tall single stem from a friend, and it is not a plant but jade tree !! they call it Money Plant. i never pruned it and when the stems fall of naturally i pot them or give to friends; for 40 years, i repotted only once !!! this jade tree that i have has just one big trunk and 34 inch tall, and is fan shaped. i only turned the plant around twice towards the Sun. i just water a little when i see the leaves become dehydrated, and i don't water for 2 or 3 months during winter time !! i remove the leaves and stems when they dry and fall naturally, and i never pruned it manually. next year, i am thinking to repot it from 7 inch pot ( which it is in now) to 8 inch pot.

[@OddBonsai]

That really is something to be proud of! I imagine it must be a beauty. Does it flower regularly? Repotting it will probably not be an easy task with a jade tree that size but it should go faster with some help from a second pair of hands. May it bring you joy for many more years!

[@kanthvickram4490]

@@OddBonsai thank you sir for your kind reply. yes, it flowers regularly with small white flowers in a thin long stem. you are absolutely right that i am afraid of breaking the tall stems if i try to handle it to repot !!! every one saw the plant and admire it when i say it is 40 year old jade tree. thank you for your well wishes.

[@OddBonsai]

@@kanthvickram4490 You are very welcome! Large stems are less likely to break than small branches. With a tree that big you will probably inadvertently break a few leaves and small branches.

[@sunnywithahigh75]

Thanks so much for the information! There are two huge jade plants at work that need some serious TLC. I'll see if I can help it out any.

[@OddBonsai]

The bigger they are the harder the repot process, but I'm sure they will be happy to get some attention.

[@Vector_Ze]

Jades are resilient plants. Good thing. The 'soil' you provided looks a lot more like gravel than soil. Once acclimated, my jades love full summer sunlight. I can't imagine them being sunburned by grow lights. It's been a couple of years since this video was posted. I hope the jade is doing well.

[@joyjordan4226]

Thanks for the wonderful video. I have several jade plants (different varieties) and am always wanting to learn new techniques and tweaks to help them flourish. Keep up the great work!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you for your kind comment! I also love jade plants. At the moment I only have the plain variety and the gollum jade.

[@bonsaibuenobyalexb]

That's a huge and beautiful jade plant...It looked more like a tree after pruning and repotting...😍👍👍

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Alex! Yes, this is a big one. 😊

[@mayarada2059]

You’ve done such a great job with your money Jade plant , absolutely nice one .

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks so much! I hope I can get it to look as lush and healthy as your jades.

[@nicholasPigmon-g7s]

Can you do a video on an update with everything please? These are the only plants i love and i currently have two that ive had for 8 years.

[@andersnrregren9087]

Ppl say jades dont need alot of soil but old big trunk jades will love more room and will use it

[@OddBonsai]

I also thought that jades always have a poor root system but I recently saw a video with the repotting of a jade which had an amazingly big root system. So I guess the right soil type and amount matters much for jades. Now if I can only figure out what was that guy using. :)

[@ChristineZangari]

Beautiful living remembrance of your loved one's. 💕 Thank you, I've learned quite about on reporting. ☺

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, it a great way to remember someony by. Glad to share my work.

[@kathymiddlicott4573]

We inherited a huge plant, about 50 years old! Unfortunately since we’ve had it, it looks more and more poorly. We have now repotted but your video has given me the confidence to make a better job of it and hopefully pull it back from the brink. Have you done a follow up video yet of your pruning?

[@OddBonsai]

Wow, that sounds like a very large plant. I really hope it recovers well after repotting. I haven't done the pruning yet. But that video will surely come this year.

[@jxmai7687]

don't just repot, you need to have a much bigger pot, or plant it into the ground. I have one so overgrown in my front yard, end up I have to drug it out.

[@kathymiddlicott4573]

@@jxmai7687 I’m afraid it didn’t make it 😢

[@jxmai7687]

@@kathymiddlicott4573 can you tell me where you are from or how is the weather there and where you keep the plant, try to put it in half sun area. and add hydrogen peroxide into the water if you need it water it, but never over water it.

[@kathymiddlicott4573]

@@jxmai7687 it died I’m afraid. It was an indoor plant as we’re in UK. I didn’t over water it. I think it must have got stressed being moved from the previous owner (who had passed away) to ours. It was in good light and not too hot. I took some cuttings which are doing well though.

[@debbiefox6846]

This video made me cry. I had a Jade plant that has been passed down for about the same amount of time as this plant. A neighbor we barely knew got inebriated chopped it to pieces & threw it call over our apt complex simply because he was high.I cried off & on for days not understanding how someone could do such a thing.Had police come out to file a report & they acted like I was silly. It was so hurtful & infuriating. None of the family that passed the plant down is still with us. My sister thinks she may have some of my original plant.🤞🤞🤞💜🌵🌿☘️🌱I hope your plant becomes even happier with its repotting.

[@OddBonsai]

Your story made me sad and mad at the same time. It's unbelievable what alcohol and drugs make some people do and then the lack of empathy on the policemen side... I guess people just don't understand what it means to have something of sentimental value. I am very sorry about your loss and I really hope you can get a cutting from the original plant. Wasn't there any part of the damaged plant that could be salvaged as a cutting? My jade is putting out new growth all over so it's probably happy in it's new pot.

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Awesome video, and great jade Stefan! I needed this trick with the string - thank you!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks Jay! What do you intend to tie down using the string approach?

[@BlueJayBonsai]

@@OddBonsai E V E R Y T H I N G ! 🤣

[@jarheadbonsai]

This tree has great history. Thanks for sharing your story. Nice work. 😎🍺🍺

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Jered! I hope its history will continue for many years. Cheers!

[@jarheadbonsai]

@@OddBonsai me too Stefan!!! (Hope I spelled it correctly)

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! Yes, the spelling is correct. :)

[@nickgillespie8234]

I can't wait to see what you do with it in the spring.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! I hope it will respond well to the hard pruning I have planned for it.

[@junndave505]

propagate it and giving it as a gift. Sharing prosperity as what jade plant simbolizes. Sharing the legacy of your loved ones

[@OddBonsai]

That's what I usually do with cuttings from all my plants. I cannot just throw them away. The only problem is that jades are very common plants, so many people already have one and don't need another one. So I end up with maaaany many plants. :)

[@junndave505]

jade plants are auspicious to the reciever when being gifted.

[@OddBonsai]

In Romania, where I live, people don't seem to havw such a strong belief in this. Anyway I'm glad when I find someone happy to receive a jade plant or cutting.

[@savneetsinghrairai6823]

You got exlent bonsai repotting skils i would be very nervous cutting n repoting 20 years of hardwork....growing jade

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! There's no particular skill required for these operations. You just have to take your time and try your best to avoid rot. Most of the time, people loose jade trees after repotting or pruning because they water them too soon and too often.

[@marygonzales2373]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I will watch this video often to remember. Ty

[@bearded-cat]

I never thought of using cinnamon on cuts, that's such a great idea. Is the soil mixture not too dry? It looks almost like just stones and grit. Could have used terracotta pot too, it's better for plants and you can find some pretty ones too. Unless this pot is temporary? Bit weird to use plastic pot for sentimental plant The plant has a lot of potential, the red edges were completely normal and it doesn't mean it is bad for the plant unless they have appeared really fast. Nothing wrong with jades turning a lil red

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, cinnamon is a natural fungicide. Not as strong as synthetic ones but still good enough for preventive action. All the soil components are able to absorb and maintain water. The granular nature of the soil helps with aeration. Yes a terracotta pot would have been nice but I couldn't find one that is big enough and still shallow. All the pots I found were either too small or too tall. I'm still looking for a suitable one and will replant the jade once I find one.

[@sharonlanza6654]

Thank you for such an informative video. I have a similar plant and you give me courage and excellent guidance!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you so much! Jade plants are very resilient. Mine has already started growing so i'll be able to prune it in late spring early summer.

[@AmourEtLiberte888]

THank you so much!!! I have the same issue but I have 3 trees in the same pot pushing on each other! I will be careful when repotting...I do not think mine are from the same branches ...it was given to me and I want to rescue it....

[@grobonsai]

Amazing Jade and lovely video sir

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Darren! There's still lots of work to do on this one. I've been missing your videos, hope everything is ok.

[@rubinaclarke3617]

It would be great to see a follow up of how this is doing now. I got a 15 year old jade that someone didn’t want because it was too big… trimmed it repotted it and it’s amazing… can you remind me of the potting soil you used. Great job😊

[@OddBonsai]

Jade plants are awesome! Will do a follow up. I used a completely inorganic mix for potting: lava rock, perlite and pumice.

[@mukuzabethjenner]

Wow your channel is great! I watched a repotting video of your for an ill yucca, it helped me a lot! I have also a jade at home, so this video will guide me somehow for a new adventure (: thank you

[@OddBonsai]

Glad you found my videos useful and thanks for the feedback! Good luck with your plants!

[@AlexBraunton]

That's awesome mate! Such a beautiful keepsake and one I'm sure you'll be able to keep growing for many years. I'm not sure what their lifespan is like but perhaps this tree may find its way to your grandchildren one day.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks Alex! It is a beautiful old jade plant but it was a bit neglected in the past years since my grandmother wasn't able to care for it as she once did. I intend to take good care of it and that's why I'm taking it slow even though I know jades can take a hard pruning even if they're dehydrated. It would be nice to find out how long these plants can live.

[@vuedanto8576]

@@OddBonsai i guess no one found out how long jade plants live because they sure didn't live long enough to report that.

[@OddBonsai]

@@vuedanto8576 Good point! 😋. I'm sure there must be some studies regarding their lifeepan in the wild.

[@xroyalbloodx]

@@OddBonsai apparently they can live up to a hundred years! Which is pretty cool in my opinion.

[@OddBonsai]

@@xroyalbloodx Well I can only hope I can get to make a video about a 100 year old jade plant. :) I doubt I'll live that long but it would be cool.

[@TheWonderfield]

This is such a nifty video! Will you do a follow up when you prune in Spring? Would love to see the progress of this unique jade!

[@OddBonsai]

Will do a follow-up video, but it will probably be somewhere toward the end of this year. I haven't had time to prune it yet and I would like to show both the pruning and the recovery in the same video. Hope I manage to do it this year.

[@TheWonderfield]

@@OddBonsai Thanks for letting us know your plan. I think that's a great idea. Will be staying tuned for your update.

[@WahanaTaniBonsai]

Old Jade ,its nice material of bonsai,thank you for your sharing sir

[@OddBonsai]

I hope it will become a nice jade bonsai someday. Thank you!

[@DrChanAi]

Thanks for shareing I have a Sam plan I don’t know how to repot. Now I’m going to charge 😀❤️👍

[@OddBonsai]

Glad to share! I'm sure you can do it. It is not that difficult.

[@ethanolson5761]

Plant looks healthy and happy now

[@cwtoetag]

Nice work my friend!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@MaybeBonsai]

It's amazing how little roots these big jades have! I see lot of big cuttings in the future for you Stefan lol

[@OddBonsai]

I though the same until I saw this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5jde5aNaKtpiqM I guess it depends on how much they like the soil. I would love to find what exactly triggers better root growth in jade plants. I already have a bunch of little ones, and yes, there will be more cuttings 😁.

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@OddBonsai interesting, I guess we wil find out soon enough

[@andrewsalhany5665]

@@OddBonsai wow that jade had all the roots😀. I think it stole them from everyone else.

[@OddBonsai]

Yep, amazing set of roots.

[@pavlinakocisova9803]

Hello Steffan! You inherited really nice tree, and it really needed some care. I suggest to rething the soil components as you left out humous component. Jade trees are succulent so they need soil that can be quickly drained of the excess water but they also need nutrients. Crassulas shouldn´t be treated with artificial fertilisers, they should gain its nutrients from soil (and hence repotted to fresh one regularly). I think you should add around 1/3 or bit more of humus to your mix so your tree could thrive (not peat tho, it hates sour soil). If you use pre-made soil mix from garden shop, mix 40% of house plant mix with 60% of cacti mix or so. And btw if your tree colours its leaves with red, it is good sign that it gets right ammout of light (in south Africa where it is from it is normal coloration of crassula). If you allow it to grow outside of your flat during the warm season, it will show you, how red and yellow it can be! (and growing outside is good for plant health and proper growth as well). I wish your tree and you all the best!

[@OddBonsai]

Dear Pavlina, I really appreciate your comment. My reason for using this mix is that I had bad experience in the past with using organic components in the mix for jade plants as the fine particles tend to clog up the granular soil and considerably reduce drainage. And this happened to me in less than 1 year from replanting. What do you do to counteract this? I even tried to sift out the fines from the soil but it just seems to keep breaking down. I would really like to provide it with more organic matter but I don't want to risk loosing it from root rot. So could you tell me more about how you prepare your soil? Could you please tell me why is it bad to use fertilizers with Crassula? I'm not contradicting you, just want to understand what are the potential problems that could develop in this case. From my experience, a little red coloring of the leaves during summer seems ok, but when they get too much red is when the jade tree stops growing which, from what I read, is an indicative of stress. Not an expert in this area so any information is welcome. Thank you!

[@pavlinakocisova9803]

@@OddBonsai I have number of jade trees, some planted in common plant pot mix from garden shop and I think that key is to not overwater the plant. I water it moderately once a week or once in two weeks max in growing season (april to september), it is dependent on weather and temperature. When I forget to water them, they are happy anyway. I always check if plant drink water fast and soil is wet max to next day, not soaked. I never have any excess water in underpot too. Then in summer there is period of "summer sleep" when plant stops to drink at all. It is when three days or more weather hits tropical temperatures at day and at night temperatures do not drop under 20°C. Then I do not water my jade plants (and any other succulents) at all. It can last for three to four weeks when it is important to let the plant rest. So it is not about red leaves, colored by sun, but about temperature. it is different, when you have your succulent outside, then it can manage more water, because it has more sun and gets more resistent. For my newer jade trees I use pre-made potting mix for cacti and succulents with low share of organic matter which I compense by adding humous part from garden mix without peat. Sadly, I do not have the room for storaging different components for my own mix so I have to buy it. It works well. I think that over time every soil mix starts to clog as it fills with minerals and salts from water. Even if it is "fluffy" at first. I was adviced to not use fertilisers as they encourage the plant to grow quickly regardles the light (which is in Europe very low in comparison to south Africa and Mexico where crassulas are from), which ends with very long and thin branches and weak plant tissues. Jade plant should be compact in shape of tree top and with thick stem. Overall I am not super experienced gardener but I find common crassula species very forgiving to any gardeners errors. They are very tough so it is almost impossible to kill them for good. Sorry for long post and hope you find it helpful. :)

[@nn843]

@@pavlinakocisova9803 i use almost the same mix for my succulenta and i use solid granular fertilizer, with slow release. It works like a charm for me

[@OddBonsai]

Pavlina, thanks for the wealth of information you shared. Tips like these, given by people with first hand experience are the best. I will try to experiment with a mix that is more rich in organics this year and see what a difference it makes. I am used to give all my plants a good soaking, until the water comes out the drainage holes, whenever I water them as this is the only way I can be sure the water manages to reach all the soil. I never let water sit in the pot tray.

[@pavlinakocisova9803]

@@nn843 if it works for you and plants are in good shape, then why not. My experiences are bit different, and that is ok too. :) My aim is to grow crassulas in as similar conditions they have in their natural habitats as possible, so I try to not fertilise them. I would use fertiliser just in case of large damage of plant or in case I would need to encourage it to grow after really invasive pruning.

[@bonniegierach5027]

I just repotted my Jade of 21 years. Very small pot, I actually had to break the clay pot to get it out. Fingers crossed it survives. It had flowered twice in 21 years.

[@OddBonsai]

I'm sure it will be fine. Jades are tough plants. It wil deffinetly like it's new home. I hope I can see my jade flowering too.

[@ignesz]

Hello Stefan, did the pruning go well? I am looking for an update :)))

[@OddBonsai]

Hi Ignesz! I did not prune it last year. I just let it grow freely. But it really needs a pruning so I will have to do that soon and when I do I'll surely post a video.

[@ignesz]

@@OddBonsai thank you! I will be on the lookout for that :)

[@Bonsaifly]

A beautiful, special plant! Great set up for future Bonsai training. This has great potential :)

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you David! Those trunks are awesome, but there's a lot of work to be done for developing the branch structure. Hope I can make it into a nice bonsai.

[@Bonsaifly]

@@OddBonsai a lot of work means a lot of potential and possibilities too :)

[@OddBonsai]

@@Bonsaifly Good point! Every new cut has a potential to bring new possibilities for future development. 😋

[@aluette1]

I can't wait for the next video.

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! I will update on this jade later this year, after I prune it.

[@gardenings4588]

Good job and professional look, guy !

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Greenayes-o3h]

I’m waiting for update 🥰

[@zirconia2024]

Me too... I have the same jade plant from my mom who had passed 6 yrs ago... I believe it's at least 20 yrs old. It has survived well but it's gotten big and heavy and its soil looks compacted and needs pruning. When I got it, I didn't pay attention to it as I wasn't into succulents but I started this hobby last yr and I realized it needs to be pruned and repotted. I plan to do it soon but I was surprised you didn't repot yours in cactus & succulent soil or coir mixed with pumice, perlite or gravel. May I ask why? Why pumice and rocks? Will it survive? And why did you plant it in your new planter that is too shallow? I thought it needs to be repotted in a planter with a bit depth so the roots would have enough room to grow into?

[@OddBonsai]

I had bad experience in the past with root rot when using organic components in the soil mix for jades and I didn't want to risk this happening to this one. The inorganic mix I'm using is one that I'm comfortable with when it comes to the risk of the soil holding too much water. So it's not necessarily the best soil for jades. This and other jades I have are growing well in this kind of soil so there's no risk of it not surviving. I intentionally selected a shallow pot since I want to grow this as a bonsai. Hope I managed to answer your questions. Good luck with the repotting. I'm sure the jade will be happy.

[@ginnytimmerman9907]

The

[@miar2283]

What a wonderful video! Thanks for sharing ❤

[@Sebastian-nx5iv]

Nice work. Be aware, that a long time neglected jade plant can explode in growth with good care. Although that sounds nice, on mine it lead to big cracks in the "bark" near the nebari. That's not a joke, trust me :-) I would recommend not to go "all in" with fertilizer and water in the first year, so the tree can adapt to the new situation more slowly.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks for the heads-up! Currently I water it maybe once every 3 weeks and sometime I add a bit of fertilizer when watering. It started growing all over but I don't think it's an explosive growth. But with spring temperatures I'll take it outside and I expect it to grow even better.

[@Sebastian-nx5iv]

Yep, it will. For me it sounds you're doing it totally right. The tree will adapt quickly to the new situation, but it is very nice that you allow the tree to take the time it needs. :-)

[@dianas514]

I was given a large leggy jade plant with several very think branches. Came across your video while searching for tips on how to trim it. Never thought about turning it into a bonsai. Love this idea. Curious what your bonsai looks like today. Thank you for the great video!

[@EATINGZONE]

Absolutely stunning….............I wonder, how creative you are……..great effort, dear friend……I am feeling very happy to stay beside you as your permanent follower……..take care n keep in touch…….

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your support!

[@pakindrawan4057]

Amazing bonsai🙏😍😍🙏 Pemula bonsai Indonesia🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! It is not yet a bonsai but I hope it will be someday.

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

IMO it isn't needed to prune super close to the trunk because it isn't going to callus over, But a short stub will dry out and shrink so the "bark" from the stub pulls inward and looks a little like a callus. Looks good imo. Cutting close to the trunk or ground has a small risk of dying back into the trunk or soil. Only a small risk because these plants are very good at dealing with this type of issue. IMO Portulacaria afra is even better for bonsai. I grow them outside here in Phoenix (also when in CA) so only prune in bonsai style. No reason to root prune when in the ground.

[@OddBonsai]

You are right about the callus part. I was just trying to obtain a smoother transition in the cut area. The point on the main trunk where the secondary branch was growing from grew a bit thicker to support the branch. As part of the plant segment below the cut point that area would have looked like a bump on the trunk. I don't know if what I'm saying makes sense but, I was trying to remove that bump. The cut points look like they healed nicely. Only the bottom cut where the large branch was removed from got a bit of dieback ( into the trunk exactly as you said) probably due to being in contact with the soil. Portulacaria afra is definitely a better candidate for bonsai. I recently bought some but I didn't had time to do any work on them yet.

[@jackieprescott5262]

Thank you for your informative videos on jade plants. I have a 38 year old plant that flowered for the first time in January this year ! I understand they have to be very old before they flower ? Anyhow .. I'm so nervous on pruning but believe it would look better being able to see the thick main trunk which is approx 3" across I would also like to repot it as it has been over 15 years ... should I go wide and shallow or wide & deep ? The current pot is 12" high and 13" across the top. There is so much new healthy growth I hate the thought of pruning :( When is the best time of year for repotting ? As it's so large should I use cactus / succulent soil with extra perlite ? It's about 36" across & 30" high

[@OddBonsai]

Wow, it must be a big plant! I haven't seen mine flower yet but it is my understanding that they do not have to be that old to flower. It has something to do with them entering a dormant period in winter when it is colder. If they skip this they will not flower. I'll try to experiment this year. Since it is a tropical plant you can repot it pretty much anytime. Cactus or succulent soil is perfect. If you think it doesn't provide enough drainage you can also add some perlite to the mix.

[@Manduhai.....]

@@OddBonsai Mine flower almost every winter/spring. Delicate little white flowers. Pretty. Mine is now 3 foot high and have more growing from new pottings. I use soil and when they are cut, I keep them in water. They grow roots and then I plant. Never had problem using water. You do not use water, I was surprised. Thanks.

[@OddBonsai]

@@Manduhai..... That sounds very encouraging. I'll keep mine outdoors as long as possible this year until frost comes and hope for some flowers. I also propagate succulents in water sometime but I find it easier to plant them in soil directly. I do water my jade plants when the soil gets dry.

[@Hamish_Whitehaven]

i love Jade Plants :)

[@OddBonsai]

Me too! They are lovely plants and so easy to care for.

[@annwood6659]

Thank you for sharing the story of precious jade plant Update on the clippings from jade. Are you growing babies from plant?✌🌍

[@OddBonsai]

Due to lack of space I just "threw" all the small cuttings in one pot and I'm growing them as a bush :) Eventually I also planted the largest cutting after misplacing it... I will probably make videos with both. I just have to find the time.

[@udun84]

Hi Stefan, Great video's and history behind it. Question, how does the plant gain nutrients from such poor soil ? Can you teach me ? ❤

[@candrikaguslucky]

Nice plant my friend Very good job

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much!🙏 Cheers!

[@jawoend]

i like it mate. this is great for me and my tree collection. Thank you buddy

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks, glad you like it! Cheers!

[@mollyxie4026]

Thank you for sharing your video, what type and brand of soil were used? I couldn’t find it. Thank you.

[@OddBonsai]

I mixed my own soil. I bought lava rock, perlite and pumice separately and just mixed them together (1/3 each).

[@CreativeLifeMisfits]

could you post an update on this tree? I have so many jades, I am curious to see how it can be transformed and how well it tolerates it. thanks!

[@OddBonsai]

Will do! I didn't get around to prune it in spring so no major transformation yet other than the jade recovering. I will be making a video with the pruning and it's effects once I manage to find some time to do it. :)

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

It’s amazing what these jades can survive and/or thrive in. And was that self adhesive drywall mesh you used for the drainage holes?? Absolutely brilliant. Cheers man!

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, it's an amazing species. The only way in which you can kill them is by paying them too much attention. Good eye! That's exactly what I'm using as drainage screen. You don't need to wire them in place and it's a pretty cheap alternative to buying dedicated bonsai mesh. One roll will last many, many years (unles you own a bonsai nursery 😁) Cheers!

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

@@OddBonsai such a good idea. I’ll be picking up a roll the next time I’m at the store for sure!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! Always glad to see someone find my odd ideas useful😁.

[@littlewigglemonster7691]

Thanks for noticing that. Great idea

[@jerrybatac7323]

Could you tell me sir the proper caring and watering of jade plant? Coz i have now smaller one. Thank you and God bless.

[@OddBonsai]

I can tell you how I take care of mine. I check the soil regularly and I only water when the soil is completely dry, not only at the surface. Some say it is better to water only when the leaves start to get wrinkles. Good luck with your jade plant!

[@utahflyd]

Would love to see a follow up video!

[@maggyencina1125]

Yo quiero hacer mí bonsai de jade ,voy a esperar que crezca un poco más y empezaré a probar ,gracias por tu vídeo

[@OddBonsai]

Parece un buen plan. Con la paciencia y el tiempo suficientes seguro que será un bonsái genial.

[@Filiaris1]

This is gorgeous

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much!