Portulacaria Afra Care & Bonsai Propagation~ Dwarf Jade ~Elephant Bush ~ Project No.1
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- Portulacaria Afra Variegatea -
Get Yours Here: geni.us/Portulacaria-Afra
Also called: Dwarf Jade OR Elephant Bush
From: South Africa - Kwazulu Natal
Happy in full sun or part sun
Succulent so drought tolerant
Toxicity: Non-toxic to animals and humans
Fast-growing
I don’t often do long term projects but when I saw this dwarf jade variety I really wanted to try and make an old looking bonsai tree from it, the dwarf variety makes for small leaves which helps with the scale of the tree, there is no point using a plant to make a bonsai if the leaves are too big, it will never look right, that’s why you couldn’t use a normal jade unless it would be a very large style bonsai. The leaves would just be too big, they are quite easy to keep being a succulent so I thought why not give it a try - I’ll give it a go, but this will probably be a 7-year project if I can keep it alive so it’s quite an investment in time and energy, it will need repotting, re-shaping, trimming and training from time to time but I think it will be interesting to document on the channel and if you are still watching in 7 years you will be able to see the final result, I will put a playlist together to chart the progress and so those coming along later will be able to look back at where it all started and that my friend is right here, a shabby looking plant without many benefits, or shape or anything, but over time we can change this and I will show you every step of the way! If you are interested to keep track of this project be sure to subscribe with that bell icon checked so you get notified every time I post a new update.
This is the most relaxing video I've seen all month
Thanks Max! Glad you enjoyed it! :-)
I've been searching RUclips since July last year for someone to bonsai one of these! I had one gifted to me, the last one in homebargains! More than happy to do some cuttings and Bonsai along!! 😁
That's great! Another one on the team! I'm looking forward to seeing everyones progress, hopefully we can post some photos on instagram or something to see how they are coming along! Thanks for joining in the project. :-)
Try Little Jade Bonsai!
@@greasylimpet3323 I appreciate your comment but I was looking for someone in the UK as well as the same variation of portulacaria I have. Still great to watch them grow on the channel you suggested 🙂 thank you anyway, just wanted someone UK based and it's been great watching Andy on this channel 😁
@@PenGooiin no worries! I'm in Australia, so I guess our climate is a lot hotter than yours. I think Little Jade is in Texas, probably different to each of us. Best of luck with your trees 🌳
I just picked one up today! I spotted it and thought how beautiful it was but had no knowledge of it, so this is great!
Glad I could help! I hope you enjoy it. :-)
I got one of these cuttings form a Bonsai class I recently took so am anxious to follow along!
I bought one of these from Wilko a couple months back. Excited to turn it into a bonsai with you! 😄
That's great! Welcome to the team! :-)
I’m located in the US, and have three varieties. They grow effortlessly so I’ve got loads of it, it is my go to plant when gifting cuttings.
I’m excited to try a new project thanks to your video.
Glad to have you onboard! Keep us posted on how you get on. Andy
Thanks for adding the plant link in the description too man!!
Sure no problem! I hope you can join in on the Portulacaria Bonsai project.
I need one of these in the variegated variety! I never knew they existed in this variation. I just found my first dwarf jade bonsai in a local home improvement store, unfortunately it was the only one.
Now I'm going to need to scope out the other areas for this!
Hope your long term project will success!!😀👍🏼 cant wait to see next video of jade-bonsai-project 🤩😍
I hope so too! thanks for your support! :-)
Beautiful Pafra trees!
I found you on Instagram and I'm following you now. I bought a P. Afra Variegated today, and got a start on a bonsai project. I'll be watching your project!
That's great! Glad to have you on board! It should be a fun project. :-)
I would love to follow along with you!!! Can you make an update videos? This is a project i would LOVE to start!!
Sorry! Yes I have more updates planned!
If you lay the discarded leaves on soil and mist occasionally, they will root and create more plants. Such a great plant species, I've noticed it requires a bit more waterings than most succulents, at least here in Florida (US).
Thank you for such an informative video.
Thank you and a great tip, yes mine seem to be quite thirsty too!
That tiny jade plant I commented about in your Frank video? This is what it is!! So excited! If it lives I will try this with you, though I may be a bit behind... ;)
That's great! They are pretty tough plants so there is a good chance it will come back with a good water and some time, maybe give it a while out of the sun for a week to let it recover. You're not too late as my cuttings are still very small, it's a long project! :-)
I got me one!!! Let’s go!
Lets Gooooo! :-)
Thanks for the video. I've been starting quite a few of these, just the ordinary green variety. They should be a good species for any style, and they grow very fast, at least they do in Australia!
Good luck with them , yes with a bit of sun and water they will grow very fast!
@@HouseplantHacks the other thing that's so good about them is the size of the leaves.
I've got some other type of trees as bonsai, but the leaf size is a bit out of proportion to the tree!
Thanks for your reply.
I just saved one of these elephant bushes from a nursery store. I'm excited to join you all!😃
That's wonderful! Glad to have you on the team! :-) Be sure to send pics via my Instagram @HouseplantHacks so we can all see eachothers progress!
Very interesting! 👍 🙂
Thank you! Cheers!
You can do the regular Crassula Ovata if you prune the large leaves and leave the new leaves when you are displaying it. That, or just appreciate the profile rather than the leaf size.
Got myself this lil guy..cant wait to take care of him
Great! Be sure to keep us poted on how he's getting on. :-)
I sure will ;)
Just checked out your video and saw your plant, it looks very healthy, there are some nice long branches that you can cut back a bit to make a more compact looking plant if you wish, you can then put the cuttings into some dirt and you will have some more plants to give to your vrienden! ;-)
@@HouseplantHacks wow thank you, I'll make sure to make a video about it..thanks for the advice. XD
Hello I came across your video because I love the Portulacaria Afra.
I have made the acquisition of several varieties I do not see project 2 it is or your plant for 1 year?
I’d like to see what happens.
I hope you have a good day.
Sincerely.
Nice
Thanks!
Two weeks ago I bought a Portulacaria Afra Variegatea in a big shop (O'Green). It has the size of your tree. I'm from Belgium so I don't know if you also have these shops over the channel. Anyway I wish you luck and I let you know how my little tree will do in the future. Nice video!!! Kind regards.
We don't have that store here but I'm glad you managed to get one, send me some photos on how its getting on if you have Instagram. HouseplantHacks :-)
Totally down. I have a crassula ovata variegata bonsai working now. I have been debating on portulcaria afra. Let's do this!
Alright! You’re the first on the team! 👊
I would love to follow along with my newly purchased portulacaria afra. Or at least give it a try 😊 Subscribing ✅
I have found that the regular green species of Portulacaria grow much more vigorously than the variegated species does. Maybe because the variegated came from genetic manipulation? Whatever the reason my Portulacaria afra just shot up like crazy. I had to trim it constantly during the and summer months. When you are trying to
It is best to do any trimming or propagating during the growing season although you may have some success during the fall and winter. They are a very vigorous growing species. If you are going to dry the stem out it is best to wait for at least three days. If you use rooting powder you really do not need to dry the end of the stem. Just dip it in the rooting powder and plant it.
Do not use regular sand! You want a course sand that you would get at the garden center. Sandbox sand and beach sand has salt in it that will kill your plants. I would skip the sand. Use your commercial cactus and succulent mix and mix in at least an equal part of perlite. You can add some small stones that are meant to amend soil. When you are trying to grow roots you do need to water it a bit more than you would otherwise. It needs that extra moisture to grow roots. Check the leaves. If they start to droop or feel weak then the plant needs water.
good video realy no need to clickbait it
I bought a tiny one that came in a container of 8 succulents at Lowe’s 1.5 yrs ago but it has not grown at all in that amount of time. But it’s still healthy looking. It just looks exactly the same. I fertilize it every so often but zero growth. What am i doing wrong?!? I want it to get bushier and grow. I would love to be able to cut a piece off to propagate but there’s no way I can cut a piece off at the size it is now. I’d have little to no plant left. Help.
hello! I'm new to this channel and new to having indoor plants. I need your help with clearing my doubts about the baby elephant Bush that I have. I dont know if it needs direct or indirect sun. I also dont know if it needs some moisture or dry soil. because some sources recommend direct sun whereas others say indirect sunlight.
Most plants can tolerate a range of environments thats why osme people say different things, they will be happy with indirect sun but full sun would be preferred. You need to water well and then let it dry out for a while, I have a video about how to water coming up soon so keep an eye out and I will explain how to get it right every time. :-)
New sub :)
Welcome aboard! Thanks for joing our community! :-)
super interesting...I was wondering can you use standard succulent potting soil (so fast drainage) and normal pots to create a bonsai in? or do you need the low pots?
Yes, absolutely, fast draining bonsai soil is fine but these plants do drink a little more water than most so if you have fast draining soil you will need to be watering a lot more to keep them hydrated. You can use any pots you like, the bonsai pots just help with the scale in the final design but it's your onw choice.
@@HouseplantHacks thanks for the response :)
How does it look now?
Hey was just curious. Is it possible to do leaf propagation with the portulacaria Afra? I know it's a lot easier to just do stem propagation, but was just curious if leaf propagation was even possible.
Yes I believe you can leaf propagate, I have not tried it but I think it's possible.
Hard to find in my area too. I want to follow but where is this bell you speak of?
When you click the subscribe button there will be a bell icon that you can click that will give you a notification when I upload a video. 👍
Update afters plz
It's going to take probably 6 weeks before the new cutting takes root so not much will be changing before then, as it grows in the coming months I will do several updates, if you want to follow along and grow one too you can send some photos via my Instagram page. I hope you can join in, it should be a lot of fun!
The variegated portulcaria neve grow tall even with a straight cutting they are flat prostraight 😊
That's very interesting, I didn't know that, I look forward to observing this growing habbit. Thanks for your comment. :-)
Interested to join
Great! Grab yourself a Portulacaria Afra and join the adventure! We've only just got started so it's the prfect time. :-)
How could this be part of the jade plant species and not be toxic? Jade plant is toxic, but elephants use this plant for food.
Portulacaria afra has no relation to Crassula ovata (jade and its fellows.) This guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
rop
stating that a 4 or 5' tree isn't a bonsai couldn't be further from the truth
I would call it a garden tree at 5 feet tall, you can still style them and shape them but I wouldn’t class them as bonsai at that size, but I’m always happy to learn so please feel free to educate me. What height does a tree become a bonsai?
@@HouseplantHacks there really isn't a limit. Just look at some of the giants in both China and Japan! Anyways, looking forward to my own portulacaria afra. Might develop a forest with some cuttings. Nice vid 🤙🏻
Sorry buddy it is not in the same family crasula ovata this is miss information respects chap 😊
You're right of course, my bad, I'll be sure to correct this on the next video.
You can create a bonsai from a weed. To think they you can only make bonsai from traditional trees is being closed minded. It can take 30 years to bring a tree to being a beautiful bonsai. You can find these all over the US. I find the European people have a different take on bonsai. And why can’t a five foot tree in a pot be. Bonsai? Bonsai means tree in a pot.
Every culture will have a different take on Bonsai, Chinese and Japanee bonsai has a lot of aesthetic rules for shape and scale, but as long as you enjoy the hobby it doesn't matter at all.
Stop with the fake thumbnail..smdh waisted 2 min of my life
Thanks for watching!
You take a thousand years to start talking about something useful
and yet no fucks were given..
Maybe you should give one or two every now and then 🥰