A few years ago I inherited a well aged Jade plant. There are what appears to be three of them in a single pot (I've attached a photo) ranging from size. This year I'm thinking it would do better if they were separated into individual pots. I have a few concerns. Since I've had it, it has never flowered. That is because I keep it indoors during the colder months. But this year it endured a few good weeks of 45-30f. If it was secretly thinking about blooming, would disturbing its roots hinder that act?
During a web search, I came across a good tutorial about separating the plants from each other but the examplatory plant was three inches tall. Mine is, well, close to two feet. I don't know what to expect when I cut the plastic pot off.
It's the two larger pieces I'm interested in saving. The smallest will be tossed into a succulent pile in the yard to fend for itself.
Last year the entire thing was repotted into a pot five inches larger than its previous.
Will separating the two impair its growth? Or put it under any stress? I've fought bugs, diseases and other problems off and away from this beauty since it's been in my care. I don't want to hurt it. What would be the best way to approach this? Should I just let it be? I could accept that yet, I would really like to see them stand upright and proud individually.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hello DaisyRyder,

Looking at the photo, sure, you can divide into two..though a third one, the one that is fallen down, can still be planted on its own too. Jade plants have rather shallow root systems, and as with any repotting disturbance, it will always affect the plants a bit, but it should bounce back.

Important thing is to make your media very well draining, use containers with drainage holes and plant it in same level as it was, and don't overpot, so the rootzone will not soak too wet for a long time.

I don't always get blooms on my jade plants here..sometimes like this season, it will only give me one set in a particular branch, for whatever reason..but I take what it can give me. I am more concerned with its overall growth. It prefers to receive more light even direct sun, but if it was growing indoors for a long time, you have to do the exposure very gradually. It also undergoes a natural cycle of leaf dropping, I notice that when the season change, but I am reassured it is doing okay, since it will eventually show new leaf growth from the center of the rosettes or anywhere up and down the branches and trunk.

Personally, I wouldn't split it up. Its a beautiful plant just the way it is. I have always grown Jades in shallow but wide pots. I think they are really attractive that way.

Let it live outside for as long as the temps stay above the mid-30's. Find a bright indoor spot for it to spend the winter. Cut back on water in the fall when nights are starting to get cool but days are still warm.

BTW, my Jades have always bloomed in December.

Well those two answers are keeping me on the fence. IF I were to separate the three. Would I cut through the roots with a sharp knife or try to untangle them?
Does the trio of them in one pot inhibit their growth? Daisy, why would you prefer leaving it as is? Rather not stress the plant?
This bunch has been in and out all year. I'm in N. Fl. the weather has been good all year. Only 20f twice. It was brought in during those times and a few times when it got down to 30. It's really heavy. Because it's filled with CA sand (where it came from) So it might be best to go ahead and repot because the soil is so dense and not considered "good drainage". If one says its a hardy fellow and will bounce back with ease then I'm tempted to separate them ... we'll see. Thank you.

Hello DaisyRyder, it is at times a matter of preference..some like to keep them very tightly growing like that...while some like me, prefer to have one good specimen per container as I have them here too and they do grow into a good sizable tree with lots of branching, so it is really going to be a tighter growth if kept too crowded.

So while it is still easier to separate them, I would do it now. So if it were mine, I would just separate them carefully, some roots will be disturbed/damagedfor sure, such happens during repot time, but it will just grow new ones eventually, and put it in better well draining media, mixing in lots of pumice or perlite with the soil, so it can stay much longer in the container safely, making sure container has drainage holes. You may have to stake the plant for awhile as it acclimates to the new set-up.

I leave my Jades outdoors year round here, and we also get the occasional 20F but it endures. It will get some cold damage but it bounces back well once warm weather returns. I always find early Spring or early Fall a good time to repot it, it actively grows more on my side when temps are cooler.

Thank you tarev. You've really put my thoughts at ease. I think I'll repot today. Don't know what exactly these acorns are or how many to give to say thanks but I gave some. Thanks again.

Oh..thanks! That is a lot of acorns! Good luck on your repot!

Just to be on the safe side, do your repot when it is at least 50F to 60F in your local forecast.

It's 88f today. Lol. Feels like 90. So much for spring. Pay it forward and keep helping others. I'll keep you posted.

Yes, preference. If you repot (sounds like you are. ), make the pot only large enough to hold the plant up. Dump the plants out of the pot and gently pull them apart. Be careful when watering. Over-watering will quickly become a serious problem with less demands on the water supply.

I always repot in spring before the weather gets too hot but after active growth starts. Less chance of rot setting in before the roots start to grow again.

Don't fertilize again until the plant has recovered from the transplant and is actively growing.

Oh! Lovely temps you have there DaisyRyder! We just dropped back to somewhat like early winter temps and some rains..

Looking forward to the photo updates!

I'd like to see how it does, also. I think it's impressive and nice as is, but when the whole thing is too big and heavy to move, of course, you just may not be able to keep it that way. Good luck!

In your area, you may be able to leave it outside year 'round, with a little protection.

Finally got up the nerve to go for it. I came back and read all the comments again before I did. Thanks guys, for giving me incentive and hope. I think they turned out okay and will be just fine. It's very dry weather so I don't think over-watering will be an issue. It was all one plant. Only used a knife to cut the stems/trunks apart. Surprisingly, it didn't have much of a root system. Still was careful and used a garden hose to loosen the roots. Thanks again.

They look good! Thanks for the update

Hello Sasha! Looks a-okay! Yes, it is amazing how shallow and small their root system are, and yet manage to make such steady growth. That is why, just cannot overemphasize the need for a very good drainage and open media, so those delicate roots do not soak too long when it gets wet.

Hoping to see further updates later!

Not to be the curmudgeon but I hope they do okay. Burying a fresh cut on a cactus or succulent is risky.

I would worry about that if the outside conditions are still rather rainy and cold, but Sasha's area seems quite warm and drier , so the plant will just callus that fresh cut.

Just hold back on watering those with no roots yet, Sasha, it has enough moisture in the branches and leaves, so give it time to develop roots. Watch the leaves, it may drop the lower ones, as it adjusts to the new set-up, it is quite a normal thing it does when it is acclimating again.

It IS really dry and really warm. The soil in the pots are already drying out. When I repotted, I also added some thrive alive (b vitamins for roots). I've never had anything not survive after giving it some thrive alive. I have a good feeling about them making it. We'll see.

Thank you for the tip about the leaves dropping tarev. If you hadn't of told me that I could have mistaken it for something much worse. And I think that thinking it wouldn't make it would also make it true. Here's to the power of positive thoughts and helpful gardeners online.

It took me awhile too, to understand that leaf drop thing. So expect that to happen when seasons change too. That is just their way of acclimating.

This was helpful. I have a big guy too that is falling over an I want to separate them. It is too late since it is summer already?