Portulacaria Afra trimming

[lieuz]

I like what you did, often times, they are better to wire with all that mess out of the way. Nice going!

 

[Lobaeux]

I like what you did, often times, they are better to wire with all that mess out of the way. Nice going!

Thanks, it's not much to look at, but this little tree has sentimental value.

 

[Forrestford]

Old thread I’m gonna hijack. I got a nice sized P.afra the base is about a 7” around. I wanna turn this into a Jim smith style tree with layers of pads. I need help picking a front and a new apex. I just reported it in a 14” container. Any tips?
I’m thinking this guy as the new leader. Or should I pick the biggest branch to lead? Should I chop all the rest? It could make a cool broom style but... Jim Smith...



How are all your trees doing? Thanks!!

 

[MrWunderful]

Old thread I’m gonna hijack. I got a nice sized P.afra the base is about a 7” around. I wanna turn this into a Jim smith style tree with layers of pads. I need help picking a front and a new apex. I just reported it in a 14” container. Any tips? View attachment 242404View attachment 242406View attachment 242408
View attachment 242410I’m thinking this guy as the new leader. Or should I pick the biggest branch to lead? Should I chop all the rest? It could make a cool broom style but... Jim Smith...

View attachment 242406View attachment 242409
View attachment 242413
How are all your trees doing? Thanks!!

Its going to be a lot of work and time to make that an informal upright. I would keep it as a broom and clean up the structure first.

Leave the leggy growth on the branches you dont remove until you get back budding. Once you get a decent amount of back budding, cut the leggy stuff back.

Start maint. Pruning back to two nodes to develop ramification. I fertilize heavy with miracle grow every week as well as slow release on the soil. I also water mine quite a bit. I have an informal upright porty that I have been slowly cutting back I got a few months ago, if you would like to see it.

 

[just.wing.it]

Should start your own thread dude.
This one isn't that old anyway.
People post a tree and update it 5 years later, sometimes.

 

[Forrestford]

Should start your own thread dude.
This one isn't that old anyway.
People post a tree and update it 5 years later, sometimes.

Yeah, good point. I guess your right, pardon the hijack. I’ll start a new thread

 

[Sundra]

You can cut and root any size, any thickness. Not just the wee ones. Just let the cut portions dry for about a week before planting, then don't water until there's significant shrivelage on the leaves. I root my cuttings in pure growstones, but have also done it in other inorganic substrates.

From my experience jades and ports don't fuse. I've have a couple bound already for about 3 years with no fusion unlike my ficus' which will fuse np.

Yea I did some research and as they are succulents they do not fuse, although there maybe succulents that do fuse.