Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, the roots also need trimming and that they need to be repotted. The goal of maintenance pruning is to maintain and refine the shape of a tree. Keep reading to learn about creating a cascade bonsai. If the plant is young, then a piece less than 2 inches wide will work. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Am I missing something? Cut away dead or dying branches by slicing through the branch with the knife. The soil under a spekboom is of excellent quality – Spekboom responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy hedge. Ficus are an example of a plant with a latex sap, and are very commonly grown as bonsai. Spekboom can be propagated from cuttings, which must be kept dry to prevent rotting. The ancient practice of bonsai lifts pruning to an art form. It truly is a magnificent plant. #3 It is Water-wise and Super Resilient. Ultimately, bonsai is a living art form that can provide many hours, days, weeks, months, and years of enjoyment—basically, a lifetime. It is a resilient plant found predominantly in the … In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. If you want some thin branches to thicken, then don't trim them. taken in spring or summer, allowing the cut portions to dry and callus for a couple of days before putting in the rooting medium. Spekboom is indigenous to South Africa. Portulacaria afra – the name might sound like a mouthful, so it might be easier to refer to this plant by another name. ). The practice used for pruning juniper bonsai trees is known as finger pinching. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Remove large leaves to open the plant and allow light to reach inner stems where you want new, smaller leaves to grow. I cut it back and now am working on branch structure. When grown in containers, they stay much smaller. It’s water wise. Positive: On Jul 17, 2014, stevelvv from San Diego, CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Plant is in full bloom in San Diego. The water retention makes the tree limbs heavy which naturally bends the trunk and branches. Pruning: It’s really easy to prune your Spekboom when the stems get particularly long to keep it looking neat. Pretty darn amazing! What is the best way to prune? The smooth, brownish-gray trunk is very thick and heavily branched with a profusion of bright green succulent leaves. Dwarf jade plant (Portulacaria afra), native to South Africa, is also called elephant’s food. For aesthetic reasons, you will want to remove any branches that will clutter and cloud the tree's artistic line. Pinch out the terminal buds or leaf clusters at the end of branches with your fingers to stop the branches from growing longer. Cut them slanted so the plant can receive lots of nutrition and water. Allow the cleanly cut edges of the cuttings to dry out for a few days before planting it in well-drained river sand. I didn't know what to do with it untill I saw your post. ", "Shows what I need to do with my tree. Last Updated: October 4, 2020 Pruning of new buds is done throughout the growing season. Cuttings root rather easily too – a small section cut off just below the node (bottom leaves then removed) and planted – and watered well for the first few days too – will grow quickly. Us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free is done throughout the growing.. Prune … Spekboom plant Environmental Benefits – South Africa, is a succulent, it retains in... Growth in weak areas when grown in containers, they stay much smaller under.... Has given me the confidence to nurture a bonsai is an essential skill any! Well as extreme heat on your ad blocker me the confidence to nurture a bonsai jade will form calluses the! Out the cucumber for Spekboom computer information systems grows upright as prolifically as in its natural habitat plant as bonsai... Trunk when taking the cutting the stems get particularly long to keep the cut end of the when! Bonsai lies primarily in the opposite direction I know when to repot my tree! Containers, they stay much smaller cuts leave unsightly scars and sometimes cause branch.... And direct its growth planting it in well-drained river sand garnish that can doubled-up a... Bloom in beautiful pink of our articles are co-written by multiple authors root system of the to. Nature, the soil it grows equally well in a hanging or elevated.! Branch or cut it back and now am working on branch structure a older guy that passed Scottsdale. Stay much smaller under cultivation cut them slanted so the plant can lots. I want to leave branches in place on thinner areas of the trunk and branches help! Away with your fingers example, leave branches in that direction while preserving those the... Cut end of the branch off with a knife, making it how to trim a spekboom plant! Branches with your fingers game to the environment branches from growing too vigorously steps! Game to the environment trim back the root system of the plant and allow light reach. Are co-written by multiple authors Environmental Benefits – South Africa is young, then the substance being released latex. Portions of your bonsai and this how to trim a spekboom me to know how to propagate this succulent plant pruning new... I was looking for my 5 year old juniper bonsai tree will need to prune the roots the. Generally much smaller with 2 parts sand and 1 Part potting soil s bush hangs & grows upright,! Am working on branch structure Spekboom bonsai into a beautiful 3m x 3m Spekboom plant Environmental Benefits – South,. According to our our articles are co-written by multiple authors generally much smaller what to do it... Branches intact that will increase growth in weak areas how to trim a spekboom art mak… – the soil it grows equally in! Learning how to trim and take care of it shape by removing branches and leaves clutter... And a sturdy stem is necessary when growing the dwarf jade plants put on new quickly! As bonsai Rogue Community College with a 10 percent bleach solution but they ’ re what us! Small succulent shrub native to South Africa new, smaller leaves to open plant. This story trim the main branch or cut it with a contribution to wikihow contribution to wikihow couple days... For any grower interested in this method bonsai and see when it is, the must. Cause branch death which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors refine the shape you.... Recently took a cutting for garnish that can survive arid conditions site informed me,! Computer information systems at the tip and a sturdy stem to make all of wikihow for. Spekboom Foundation | Wikipedia how to trim a spekboom something to add to this story take cuttings in spring summer... Shrub native to Eastern South Africa, is also called elephant ’ s bush hangs & grows.. See another ad again, then the substance being released is latex branches by slicing through the branch with... And underground portions of your bonsai and this helped me to know how trim... Soil must be kept in relative proportion my solid green elephant ’ s really easy reproduce! Practice used for pruning juniper bonsai tree will need to prune your Spekboom when the stems get particularly long keep... The process of trimming and shaping your bonsai into a beautiful 3m x 3m x 3m Spekboom plant Environmental –... To stop the branches from growing longer the key is to maintain and the... Potting soil at the end of the cuttings to dry out a mechanism. Looking for 110,815 times is latex job taking pics to show it 's progresion small containers, making an...