Thinking about how to prune your Crassula ovata into a Penzai look? Here are the best pruning tricks to shape a jade bonsai naturally.
You could choose to leave your jade plant as it is, or you could transform it into a beautiful bonsai that you’re proud to display. But bonsai, right off the bat, may sound tough to achieve if you’ve never tried it before. So, for all the beginners out there, we bring to you the best pruning tricks to shape a jade bonsai naturally!
Best Pruning Tricks to Shape a Jade Bonsai Naturally
1. Start ‘Em Young
If you are planning to create a jade bonsai, you would be better off starting with a younger succulent. A younger succulent is more “malleable”, in a sense, and you can train its stems quicker to grow thick in a bonsai-like fashion.
Just make sure it’s not too young. A good rule of thumb is to pick one with at least 10 healthy leaves and enough foliage to trim. Before you start pruning, wash your hands and gently remove a couple of the lower leaves.
Let the plant grow taller and monitor it regularly. The key is to keep the plant growing upright with plenty of branches and new leaf growth.
Use small sticks or skewers to help guide your jade to grow straight. Also, make sure it’s getting bright, indirect sunlight at this stage—it encourages strong stems and compact, healthy foliage, which are key for bonsai success.
2. Pinch off the Top Leaves
Building on the last tip—if your plant isn’t branching out or putting out new leaves as you’d like, this one’s for you.
Try pinching off the top leaves. Without the top growth soaking up all the nutrients, your jade will start pushing out new growth in other spots—especially in those sparse areas.
Another great trick is to watch the nodes—the little bumps where leaves grow. Prune between two nodes, and you’ll likely see a new branch pop up right in that spot. That’s a great way to shape your jade into a fuller bonsai.
For beginners, don’t prune more than one-third of the plant at a time—it’s easy to go overboard in the excitement.
If you notice leggy stems, especially after winter, don’t hesitate to trim them back—it helps the plant redirect energy and bounce back faster during spring.
3. Prune at the Right Time
Timing is everything when it comes to pruning. You’ll want to do this during the plant’s active growing season—spring through summer. This is when your jade is in its growth mode, giving you the best shot at shaping it.
Plus, if you are using sharp tools at this point and happen to give your plant a few nicks and cuts by accident, your plant will have ample time to heal while also shooting up new growth.
Pro tip: Weekly pruning during this time can help you gradually shape your bonsai just right. Avoid pruning in winter, though—your jade’s asleep, and it won’t appreciate the disturbance. If your plant seems sluggish, wait until it perks up with warmer weather.
4. Using the Right Technique
Now, if you are totally lost, you would want a proper guideline on how to manage your jade plant and turn it into a jade bonsai.
Set your jade on a table and get eye-level with it. Start by snipping off any dead or damaged branches. Have a rough bonsai design in mind, then check which branches need to go to make that vision happen.
Making a bonsai is often less about “rules” and more about creativity! But you can’t go cutting thick branches using regular pruning shears that can injure your plant. So, choose special concave cutters to reduce scarring effects significantly! In case of large wounds, use cut paste available generally in bonsai shops.
And here’s a tip—step back every now and then as you prune. It helps you stay balanced and avoid trimming too much from one side.
5. Be Regular
You’ve probably heard this one before—don’t prune more than 1/3rd of your jade’s foliage at once, and only do one major pruning session a year. So if you gave your jade a big shaping trim in spring, skip any heavy cutting or repotting until the next year.
This is the best advice to follow and is backed by experts too. But that does not mean you let your jade overgrow. In fact, you must regularly monitor your plant every 2-3 months and pinch off dead or dying leaves whenever required.
Keep your tools clean too—wipe them with rubbing alcohol between cuts to prevent infections and help your plant heal faster.
6. Try Wire Training to Shape the Branches
Pruning is great for keeping your jade bonsai compact, but if you really want to shape those branches just the way you like—give wire training a shot!
It’s pretty simple. Take some soft aluminum or copper bonsai wire (you can find it online or at garden stores) and gently wrap it around the branch you want to bend. Then, slowly and carefully move the branch into the position you like—just a little at a time. Jade branches can be a bit delicate, so don’t rush it or force too much bend in one go.
Important tip: Only do this during the growing season—spring through early summer—so your jade has time to adjust and heal. And don’t forget to check the wire every week. If it starts pressing into the stem, remove it right away to avoid scarring.
Follow the above tips and tricks carefully and you will get the jade bonsai of your dreams! Try them out and let us know how it goes for you in the comments below!
