ok Well i just got home from a weekend in hamilton ontario, were we moved a friend. He has a nice size jade that ended up falling in the move n falling apart now i have a few pieces 1 being a nice size branch. ok my questions are: #1 the branch at the thick end looks like it has been healed for a while but is mushy for a bout 2 inches up from cut, should i cut that part off or leave it. and #2 is that my roots that i have on it are small and midway on a branch not on the fat stump. should i use these roots or start new ones. I have never owned a jade so any info would b helpful. and do i have 2 dry it out b4 planting it like ive read in different posts. Thank you dupuis1980 i have put a pic up so u can c. ty
Yes, cut the mushy end up into the healthy tissue, as it will continue to rot. All the cuttings you want to root shouldn't be too long, 5"-7" cuttings is pretty much all you want letting the cut stems heel over for a day or two before planting. Individuals leaves will root and make new plants when placed down into the soil far enough, but not too deep, just down enough so they will stand up. Use a small clay pot if you have it with a drain hole and a good cactus soil and some Perlite added for good drainage. Put them in bright light but not direct sun until they are well rooted, then move into direct sun from a south window if you have one. Let the soil dry between waterings.
I wouldn't try rooting the big branch because as jades are moderate to slow growers i think that the roots won't grow to match the size of the plant before the plant starts growing again, resulting in a top heavy plant. Try 3-5 inch cuttings to root, the cuttings won't be so top heavy if you start with smaller pieces.
once you cut off the rotted area, that larger piece won't be so large, so i think the top-heavy issue won't be an issue. and, if it does turn out to be, you can trim back the existing branches and root them. whatever is left will bud out and you'll end up with a nice plant. the pieces in the center of the pic, i'd leave as is for the moment - there are roots already started and the form looks good. the piece on the right - i'd trim back the stems right where they start to bend and root those smaller pieces. you'll be left with a nice trunk that will root well and you'll have multiple horizontal branches that will put out new buds - again, you'll have a nicely shaped bush. edit: let the cut ends heal over for about a week. then, put them in the soil (as described earlier) and DON'T water!! let the pieces get situated in the soil for 10-14 days and THEN water thoroughly. after that, water as needed after the soil dries out. best to use unglazed clay pots that have drainage holes. you can put them in larger nicely painted glazed pots to cover up the ugly orange...
Oh yes, I agree with koi about the fatter part of the branches, you want "tip" cuttings, the more greener thinner stems can be rooted without problems, not big branches.
