Elephant Bush - Next steps?

[LittleDingus]

Fortunately I already know the part on succulent vs. tree and no convincing needed

Great! That's a big step in understanding how to grow these guys! You can make convincing tree shapes out of them but some of the bonsai techniches have limited results. For example, internode length is controlled better by lighting conditions. Higher light = shorter internode. Cutting back will help make them bushy but never really changes leaf size. Wiring breaks branches easily if not careful.

Sorce's advice isn't as drastic as it sounds. Don't toss branches you trim no matter how small. Stick them in a pot. No special care and most of them will root. In a couple of years you will have a forest. I've got jade plants all over the house and still pitch half the plant mass every year or two.

Even with the conditions you describe, there are deciduous trees that should do fine. You can have a lot of fun with the false jade though

 

[LittleDingus]

Broad vision is that I liked the shape of the trunk and I believed I could work with it to create a natural looking tree. When I purchased the tree online, what was clear to me in the original photos was the middle of the canopy was missing and so over time I was hoping to fill that part of the tree out (hence that is part of my original question). But, after receiving the tree in person what has become apparent to me is that many of the lower branches have side branches that stick straight up rather than branch horizontally and so I guess I need to fix that too if I want the tree to look natural in person. The canopy on the right I was not planning to do anything significant with other than potentially ramification to make it thicker while I waited for the left side of the tree to thicken up.

As this is my first real tree and it was not very expensive (albeit I may have still overpaid now that the structural issues have become clear), I do not mind taking risks with structurally styling and see where it goes.

I wanted to play hooky from work for a bit and get out of the house so I took a trip to a local nursery I frequent. They have a display near the bonsai section that I enjoy quite a bit. Not really "bonsai" but shows what you can do with the species.

I believe these are all crussala of one form or another. I'm used to portulacaria having thinner leaves more like yours looks to be but honestly can't tell the difference sometimes given all the variants in the two species. The growth habits and horticulture are similar between the species. In fact, I know portulacaria as "false jade" or "dwarf jade" more than by some of the other common names like "elephant bush" or "spekboom".