Do you have little time? With 3 targeted cuts and pruning every 2 months your jade tree changes its face: it grows compact, thick and harmonious. Well sharp scissors are enough, a little patience and you will also see results from neglected plants.
The jade tree, also known as Crassula Ovata, is one of the most loved fatty plants: it grows slowly, requires few care and gives an elegant, almost sculptural appearance. But to keep it beautiful over time you need a little trick: learn to Cut the right leaves and at the right time. Just like for a bonsai, controlled pruning stimulates growth, strengthens the stem and maintains the compact shape. And after all, who has never wanted a green corner that seem to be edited by a nurseryman?
Many think that it is enough to let it grow free, but in doing so you often find yourself with a unbalanced, tall and bare plant at the base. The secret lies in knowing how to intervene in a targeted way, eliminating the weak branches and enhancing the strong ones. Just like in a well -trained team.
How to prune well to get a full and harmonious crassula
To make your Crassula grow luxuriant, pruning must not be random. There are a firm hand and some careful observation. The falling or shocking leaves, for example, are not only ugly to see: they are often a clear signal that the plant is suffering. Proping properly helps to re -able the crown, stimulate the birth of new shoots and strengthen the main stem, making it more often and resistant. Not only that: it also allows you to prevent the yellowing of older leaves and to encourage compact and tidy branch.
An old specimen may also seem unrecoverable, but with a well -made cut it can be reborn in a few weeks. And the amazement of seeing new branches sprout where before there was only naked wood is priceless.
The best moments to cut and how to do it without stressing the plant
Timing is everything. Poding in the wrong periods can block growth or worsen the state of the plant. A bit like waking up suddenly in the middle of the night: plants also have their rhythms. And those who saw a crassula cut in December staying in months, know it well. But then, when intervene?
The ideal periods are:
- Early springwhen the plant awakens and has more energy.
- Fine estateto eliminate dried or bad branches grown after the intense heat.
Instead, avoid late autumn and winter: with low light and cold temperatures, Crassula tends to stop. And the cuts may not scar well.
To perform pruning:
- Usa Clean and well sharp scissors.
- Cut just on a knot, where you can see the attack of a leaf.
- Eliminates the branches that grow in the inside of the hair.
- Remove the crooked, broken or too long ones.
- Never overdo it: it is better to remove little and often than too much at once.
A trick tested by the florovivaists: pinching the tips of the younger branches with your fingers stimulates the bifurcation and makes the plant fuller.
Necessary for safe and precise pruning
Before starting, make sure you have everything you need. Even for a simple plant like Crassula, the right tools make the difference. It takes little, but it must be suitable.
Here’s what to keep at hand:
- Small pruning scissorswith thin and sharp blade.
- Gardening glovesif the skin is sensitive (the Crassula does not sting, but it can irritate).
- Denatured alcohol or flame to disinfect the blades.
- Sprayer with waterto refresh the plant after cutting.
- Waste containerso as not to leave debris in the pot.
A basic kit that is in a drawer, but makes you work as an expert. Whoever tried, knows.
Quick steps: 5 moves for perfect pruning
Sometimes you need a simple guide, step by step. Who has never found themselves with the scissors in the hands of asking where to start? Here is a tested sequence to prune without errors:
- Observe the plant from all sides and identify the unbalanced branches.
- Disinfect the scissors with alcohol to avoid infections.
- Cut the internal branches who are shaded and remove the air from the crown.
- Shortens the long branchescutting on a knot.
- Check the final formlooking for symmetry and harmony.
After cutting, you don’t need to water immediately. Better to wait a couple of days to avoid rot. An old “grandmother” makeup always valid.
Errors to avoid in order not to compromise growth
Crassula is resistant, but not invincible. Some errors, if repeated, may slow down or compromise growth. And often these are banal mistakes.
Watch out for these:
- Cut in the middle of winter.
- Prune too much at one time.
- Use dirty or rusty tools.
- Leave dry stumps.
- Remove all low leaves.
Better to do less, but well. How do you say? “Little pruning, but made with head”.
When and where to make the jade tree better grow
It is not just enough to cut: the environment also does its part. Crassula grows well if it has light and space. But he cannot stand the excess of water or the intense cold. A bit like certain people: he needs balance.
The ideal place?
- Near a light windowbut without direct sun for too many hours.
- In dry environmentswith temperatures between 18 and 25 ° C.
- In pots with drainageto avoid stagnation.
- On repaired balconiesin the half seasons.
Attention also to the wind: if too strong, break the young branches. Better to protect it with other vases or a natural barrier. A small trick that avoids serious damage.
Expert advice and curiosity about the cutting of the leaves
Not everyone knows it, but also the leaves can be prunedespecially if too large or deformed. By cutting the old leaves, the production of new, smaller and more compact is stimulated.
An experiment done by enthusiasts showed that:
- Cut the excess leaves slows down the evaporation of the water.
- It makes the plant more “bonsai”, compact and decorative.
- Improves the aesthetic aspect in the internal vessels.
- It helps to control growth in too large plants.
But be careful not to overdo it: maximum 3–4 leaves at a time, always on different branches. Crassula has memory … and if you stress, it takes months to recover.
After all, treating a plant is a bit like modeling a small living sculpture: it requires patience, eye and that extra touch that only the experience can give.
Have you ever tried to prune in the shape of a round with rounded hair?
The result is surprising and transforms your Crassula into a real green jewel. To show off with pride.
Photo © Stock.adobe
FOLLOW CASTLI NEWS ON
