So, all but 10 of these clippings are from my variegated jade.




I didn't realize how bad it was until I was looking at it yesterday and then thinking about the succulents I beheaded recently, and then I knew I had to do something with her. I'm letting them callous over first before I make any moves. What should I do to make sure she grows back stronger/healthier/bushier? What should I do once the clipping have calloused?

Before clipping


After clipping



P.S. - I hope I didn't make a mistake by cutting her up so much.

The clipped plant may or may not throw new shoots. It's a wait and see. Personally I would take the cuttings and use 3-5 in a new pot and have a few bushy plants. Or you could pot them individually and have many single-stemmed plants.

quercusnut said:The clipped plant may or may not throw new shoots. It's a wait and see. Personally I would take the cuttings and use 3-5 in a new pot and have a few bushy plants. Or you could pot them individually and have many single-stemmed plants.

I hope it does sprout new shoots. What is the best mixture for jades? I want to buy some peat moss for sure, but what else?

The succulent experts can probably give you the best advice on potting soil. But any soil would probably be good as long as you don't overwater. But I don't think peat moss is recommended for succulents. Also very important to give as much light as possible indoors.

Etiolation is a product of lower light, an exceptionally large distance between nodes. To change that, the exposure must increase. Etiolation and loss of older leaves due to lignification of the trunk or drought are not the same thing. I can't tell from the pics if your plant was truly etiolated or had just lost the older foliage due to age or drought.

Peat is the one thing I would not want in a pot with a Jade of mine. BUT, I also live in a swampy, soupy-with-humidity climate, not a dry one. Were you having trouble with it drying too often? If so, peat could help in that regard, but will still cause difficulty for roots to get enough oxygen. For a plant that is drying too often, I would always choose a bigger pot over a more moisture-retentive, less oxygenated soil.

purpleinopp said:Etiolation is a product of lower light, an exceptionally large distance between nodes. To change that, the exposure must increase. Etiolation and loss of older leaves due to lignification of the trunk or drought are not the same thing. I can't tell from the pics if your plant was truly etiolated or had just lost the older foliage due to age or drought.

Peat is the one thing I would not want in a pot with a Jade of mine. BUT, I also live in a swampy, soupy-with-humidity climate, not a dry one. Were you having trouble with it drying too often? If so, peat could help in that regard, but will still cause difficulty for roots to get enough oxygen. For a plant that is drying too often, I would always choose a bigger pot over a more moisture-retentive, less oxygenated soil.

Well this Jade was given to me by someone who didn't want it anymore. Most of all my plants have been given to me. I was not sure how long she had the Jade, but it looks maybe 3-4? Not sure. It definitely looked dry and like it was reaching for light.

Yes, the only way to fix Etiolation is with brighter light. Pruning won't help a bit if you don't fix the light situation.

Your pruned Jade will sprout new branches but it may take half the summer. The new branches will grow at the nodes just below where you cut. That is a HUGE pot! You could put all your cuttings in there. No, now is not the time to repot - just be extremely mindful of overwatering. Stick your finger in the soil and don't water until its dry at the level you estimate if the bottom of the root ball.

When you get ready to plant your 'infant' jades, use cactus soil or regular potting soil (not moisture control) with added perlite (ration 1:1)

DaisyI said:Yes, the only way to fix Etiolation is with brighter light. Pruning won't help a bit if you don't fix the light situation.

Your pruned Jade will sprout new branches but it may take half the summer. The new branches will grow at the nodes just below where you cut. That is a HUGE pot! You could put all your cuttings in there. No, now is not the time to repot - just be extremely mindful of overwatering. Stick your finger in the soil and don't water until its dry at the level you estimate if the bottom of the root ball.

When you get ready to plant your 'infant' jades, use cactus soil or regular potting soil (not moisture control) with added perlite (ration 1:1)

Thank you! :)))

Your jade will grow back !
I'm sad though. 😭 She would have been perfect structure by just trimming off about 3 or 4 inches off each of the branches, from the "before trimming" photo you showed on this thread.

I would plant the cuttings, in seperate small pots. Using equal parts Cati mix to perlite. As greene mentioned.

Slowly introduce all, to as much direct sunlite as possible, when you can.

Ttfn 👍😀
😎😎😎