How to Pot Dwarf Jade Bonsai Tree
The dwarf jade plant (Portulacaria afra) is a relatively new variety in the jade plant family. The small leaves makes dwarf jade plants attractive for bonsai growing treatment, while their hardiness and ability to withstand irregular watering schedules make them ideal specimens for bonsai beginners. Pot dwarf bonsai jade trees in spring, allowing the plant to dry out before planting in well-drained potting mix. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Dwarf jade bonsai plant or plant cutting
- Peat moss
- Shredded fir bark
- Coarse sand
- Compost
- Bowl
- Gravel
- Rectangular bonsai planter
Instructions
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1
Place a 1/2-inch deep layer of gravel in the bottom of rectangular bonsai planter.
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2
Combine equal volumes of peat moss, shredded fir bark, sand, and compost in a bowl. Stir the bowl contents well with your hands to mix thoroughly.
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3
Press a thin layer of potting mixture over the gravel firmly, then loosely fill rectangular planter to within 1/2 inch of its rim with mixture.
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4
Place the cutting vertically in potting mixture (if you are potting your jade plant from a fresh cutting), and fill around it with additional potting mixture, Water the soil around the cutting lightly. Arrange the jade plant roots over the potting mixture if you are re-potting a grown plant; hold the dwarf jade stem vertically in one hand, gently cover the roots with potting mixture with the other hand and tamp it down to secure the plant. Do not water if you are transplanting a grown plant.
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5
Create a 1/4-inch wide trench in the potting mixture just along the inside rim of the rectangular pot with your fingertips to create a channel for future watering.
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6
Place the recently potted dwarf jade bonsai plant in a shady location and delay watering until fresh growth sprouts from the plant. Then water until the potting mixture is moist and move the plant gradually to full sun.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your dwarf jade tree bonsai plant warm; they prefer daytime temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The dwarf jade bonsai tree will bloom with tiny, star-like blossoms if you conscientiously allow it to dry out thoroughly between waterings. Water only until the potting medium is moist, and keep the plant in a full-sun window or a sunny, sheltered outdoor location.
