How To Turn A Simple Jade Tree Into A Beautiful & Sculpted Statement Piece

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Have you ever watched someone do something skillful and wondered how it would feel to do it yourself? Whether it's needlepoint or playing a musical instrument, we often admire other people for their creative achievements without considering that we could learn to do the same thing. One hobby that many people think is the strict purview of truly masterful gardeners is bonsai. However, in recent years, a growing number of Gen Zs and Millennials are taking up this artistic horticultural practice. In fact, bonsai is having a bit of a global moment. If you want to give it a try, jade plants (Crassula ovata) are a good species to start with — if somewhat unconventional. They're easy to find and one of the simplest plants to sculpt.

Jade plants are a very forgiving succulent where mildly intrusive bonsai techniques are concerned. They're hard to kill and can take a lot of hard pruning. If you want to make your long and leggy jade plant look full and healthy again, turning it into a bonsai will do it. If you don't already have a jade plant, ask around your houseplant-loving friends for a cutting to cultivate or get a Succulent Cult Jade Plant in a 4-inch pot for about $7. Once you have the plant in your home, you can choose to shape it almost any classical bonsai style you prefer: informal upright, slanting, root over rock, cascade, and many more. You can prune as much or as little as you want, and use wire to shape the jade plant's branches.

Before you start shaping your jade plant, you need to pick your preferred bonsai style. There's no rule that says you have to use wire. If you employ the best ways to prune a bonsai tree for a strong and healthy plant, wire may not be required. However, if you want to force the plant into a particularly dramatic shape, such as cascade, leaning, or literati, you'll need it.

To sculpt a jade plant, use annealed copper or anodized aluminum wire. You can pick up a Bonsai Training Wire Five-Size Starter Set for about $18 that has more than enough wire for a beginner bonsai project. The wire will hold the jade plant in whatever shape you want, but it takes a few weeks to several months before the plant will hold shape on its own. Bend branches very gradually over time, and avoid watering your plant before shaping its branches. A jade plant that's a little thirsty is more flexible. Wrap the wire gently around individual branches — erring on the side of a little loose over very tight — so as not to damage this succulent's notoriously soft bark. If you're pruning your plant, do it during its active growth period to give the wounds time to heal.

Don't get too caught up in perfection — a bonsai tree is living art and Crassula ovata is a hardy little plant that survives in jars and needs almost nothing. With the right pruning and wiring techniques and a lot of patience, your jade plant bonsai will develop a thick trunk and an interesting shape. Place it in a prominent spot near a south-facing window where you can admire your handiwork and the plant's dramatic forms.