Any pointers? Jade plant

[LuckyLuke]

Hi all... again looking for some pointers on how to progress with my jade. Supposedly these are fairly idiot proof?

Keep getting trigger happy with the pruning - any further suggestions?

 

[LuckyLuke]

Oh boy it looks so much worse in the photo.. wife keeps telling me to stop destroying the plants in the house :-/

 

[just.wing.it]

Welcome to the nuthouse!

That is actually not a jade.
It's called Portulacaria Afra, or Elephant Bush, or Spekboom.
Sometimes sold as Baby Jade or Mini Jade.

Jade is called Crassula, and it is a different plant.

Best advice on your Spekboom, they like to dry out between waterings...
The roots won't grow if they're always wet or damp.
When the soil completely dries out, the roots grow, searching for water.
I use my leaves as indicators as to when to water.
The leaves are plump, smooth and shiny when they are full of water.
When the plant is ready for water, the leaves look more flat, dull and you can actually see tiny lines begin to appear, as the leaves begin to shrivel.
When I water I flood the pot several times, and I use water soluble fertilizer frequently.
Be careful though, if they get too dry, you'll lose your leaves....but it will grow back...as long as you don't totally neglect it.

 

[LuckyLuke]

Thanks for the advice on the watering I’ll be sure to adjust to what you have suggested.

Based on what you have said I would guess cuttings places in very lightly moistened soil would easily produce new plants?

 

[LuckyLuke]

And wondering if anyone has any advice on getting the canopy nice and bushy

 

[Carol 83]

Thanks for the advice on the watering I’ll be sure to adjust to what you have suggested.

Based on what you have said I would guess cuttings places in very lightly moistened soil would easily produce new plants?

Put the cuttings in dry soil to start. When you see some new growth, water then.

 

[just.wing.it]

Put the cuttings in dry soil to start. When you see some new growth, water then.

Thanks for the advice on the watering I’ll be sure to adjust to what you have suggested.

Based on what you have said I would guess cuttings places in very lightly moistened soil would easily produce new plants?

What Carol said, yes.

 

[just.wing.it]

And wondering if anyone has any advice on getting the canopy nice and bushy

This will take time.
Let it grow out then cut it back...

Yours is already leggy ...
I would wait until it's summertime, wherever you are, then cut it back hard...at least back to the first pair of leaves on each branch, and hope for some back budding.
You can make hard cuts back to nothing, but it can be risky, especially if the plant is not healthy.