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Originally from South Africa, the jade bonsai is an evergreen
succulent which looks like a glossy, spine-less cactus.
Temperature
Because they are a cactus-type plant, temperature regulation is very
important. They must be grown indoors, however during the summer
months it can be beneficial for the plants to be placed outdoors. If
you don't want your jade bonsai to have stunted growth, you should
place the plant near a natural light source, such as a sunny
windowsill.
Water
A jade bonsai is naturally able to capture and hold quite a bit of
water in its leaves. As a result, unlike some other types of bonsai,
the jade bonsai should be watered lightly to avoid root rot and
fungi. You should allow the soil to dry between each watering, or
the plant may develop a shallow, unhealthy root system.
Food
Along with the right watering habits, your jade bonsai can benefit
from fertilizer. With the jade bonsai particularly, strong light can
be just as beneficial as any fertilizer, but you still should give
fertilizer about once a month from around the middle of spring to
the fall will give your jade bonsai an added advantage.
Pots and Soil
If you want to keep your bonsai tree looking good for years to come,
place you bonsai tree in a larger pot every two to three years.
Also, make sure you you use a mixture of gritty soil and compost,
this allows good drainage and the ability to retain just the right
amount of water.
Sculpting and Pruning
The bonsai needs to be pruned regularly using a kit of specialized
tools to promote growth on the lower part of the trunk. Pinching off
new growth also makes the leaves smaller in size, which is usually
desirable for enthusiasts.
If you like to change the position of your bonsai, you can use wire
to make a new arrangement. Within a month, your jade bonsai should
be holding its new position. One thing to keep in mind, however, is
that the jade bonsai has rather soft bark and if you do wire the
branches into new positions, you have to do it slowly and carefully.
The branches may break if bent too far because the surface has a
tendency to develop grooves.
If you find that your jade bonsai's leaves
are falling off, make sure that you are doing all of the above
correctly. Also check that you have not potted the bonsai too
high in the pot as it can dry out too quickly.
If caring for a jade bonsai isn't your thing, why not have a look
at our info on a Japanese Maple Bonsai Automatic Social Bookmarking
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