I bought a miniature jade bonsai about three weeks ago, and I'd really like to repot it. I would like to encourage growth and wellness in my tree (and I seriously doubt the nursery it came from planted it in the right kind of soil--it does not look very "nourished" at all). Can you please tell me what sort of soil is appropriate for a miniature jade? Also...I was told to simply water it (the conventional way) once every 5 days or so (by watering it with a cup until the water begins to leak out of the bottom of the pot, and then stopping). A few online sites recommend watering by immersing the tree, in one manner or another--should I be doing this instead, or will it rot if I do?
Hi, I would do absolutely nothing yet to your tree until you have a better idea of how it's adjusting to your space - and 3 wks is not enough time. Do not, under any circumstances, water by immersion unless you go away for 6 months, your SO forgets to water AT ALL in that time, and you come home to a tired looking tree. Do water from above, slowly, so it sinks in rather than running down the sides. Do it more when just about all the soil in the pot is dry, which could mean every two wks or monthly, or possibly weekly, but only for the next month or two, then start backing off again and in November through April, only do it ~ twice unless it looks like its obviously expiring for lack of water, rather than too much of it (hard to tell the diff.). Repotting is often needed for other trees such as juniper, pines, etc., when they're in soggy, peaty stuff that never drains, but you'd risk more upset with yours I think by doing it now (unless it's truly outgrown the pot and there are more roots than soil in there... tip it out carefully to check) than by leaving it. Resist the urge to do 'something' with it, except give it very good light all day, and if you need to do something, go get some more trees that may want more action :-)!
Hello Ivy here are a couple of links that has info. http://www.bonsaiconcepts.ca/miva/m...e=BC&Product_Code=TREE-JD3&Category_Code=TREE http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/portulacarafra.htm Because this plant is a succulent it really does not do well with frequent waterings. From the info above it grows naturally in gravelly soil so a gritty type of soil would probably be your best bet in repotting it. I would suggest keeping the same pot size or even smaller. I would think that this plant could handle almost a potbound condition well. Definitely do more browsing through google for more info. If in a gritty soil, I water my bonsai until I see as much water as I am pouring onto the surface coming out of the bottom that way I know the soil is saturated (hopefully) then lift the pot and get a feel of the heft of it when saturated and use that as a guide in determining when to water again. This plant does not appear to wilt but it will drop leaves if totally dried out. Because other environmental/cultural conditions are at play watering on a prescribed schedule may not be the best option for the plant as its water needs will change depending upon its normal metabolic cycles so remember or even use a bathroom scale and keep track of the weight as an aide in watering!
A kitchen scale maybe, any bathroom scales I've ever seen don't give fine enough increments for this use.
Goodness me, jade plants must be more tender than a new born babe the way you care for it. Perhaps we are referring to a different specie here. I have tons of jades in my garden, multiply like crazy after a friend dumped 2 potted plants on me cause it had overgrown. I believe my specie is Crassula ovata, with gray stems and white flowers. Most of them are in 1-gallon pots and had overgrown with girths around an inch, the soil medium is Sunshine No 4 soiless mix, not a pebble added. In summer I just give them a complete drenching with a running tap for 10 minutes, even they are in deep shade. Had never lost a single plant from root rot except to frost. I had some rooted cuttings growing in my pot of Hibiscus which is in full sun and south facing. On hot days I watered them twice a day. Initially they had to adjust to the bright sunlight, the tender leaves getting scorched and showing white spots. Know what, I have never seen jades growing better than this lot, they just grew and swamped out the Hibiscus. I thought they are the hardiest plants, like my hostas, in the world. What fascinates me is that succulents have the tendancy to spring back or unwind themselves from the imposed form when the tension is removed. Wonder how best to make bonsai out of them?
Crassula Ovata are a pain in various parts of the anatomy. They take over any garden if not strictly controlled. Every trimmed leaf grows, even without any soil. I thew out a few plants from their pot and they are growing where thrown without any soil except what is sticking to the exposed roots.. The leaves are dark green in the shade. The coldest winter night temperature in Bangalore is about +15 deg C. Day temperatures even in late Nov runs as high as 30 deg C. In direct Sun, the leaves turn a yellowish green with a beautiful red rim. I never water these. bioramani
bioarmani We both had practically the same results with jades, your case without watering and mine of overwatering. Succulent plants can withstand long periods of drought as the tissues are water storing elements. That doesn't imply that you cannot water too much. Plants invariably respond to a watering regiment by adaptation. Again I say it is not the volume of water per given time that counts but the constancy of the moisture in your soil. If it remains constant then your plant is able to adapt to its enviroment without the apparent high stress. By heavy watering I am not implying that it reaches the stage where the roots are waterlogged, a sure welcome to root rot. The way some of us meticulously tend to our plants sometimes sounds comical to me. But then I respect their preference for a sense of better care for your plants, a case of 'judge not lest you will be judged'.
