Prune your jade plant like this for dense foliage and a beautiful shape

The jade plant (Crassula ovata) has emerald, delicate and unique leaves that many people love to grow. So how do you prune a jade plant? Let's take a look below!

Jade plant pruning methods

1. Shaping pruning

(1). To keep the jade plant in a beautiful shape, pruning is necessary. Generally, you should cut off leggy branches and thin out densely growing branches.

(2). This makes the shape more ornamental and also opens up the whole space.

(3). Prune according to how it grows to achieve the effect you want; many people prune it into a bonsai, which looks excellent!

2. Pruning after flowering

(1). The jade plant can bloom, and it is very elegant in late spring and early summer. After the flowering period, it needs to be cut back promptly.

(2). Do this within 2 weeks after the flowers fall, keeping 4~10 buds. Weak branches and overly dense branches should also be removed.

3. Pruning during the dormant period

(1). The jade plant's dormant period is from December to January, and at this time it needs to be cut back, with the retained branches about 10~25cm long.

(2). Weak, dead and diseased branches should all be cut off too, which lets the plant grow vigorously.

(3). When pruning, also pay attention to the overall shape; prune the branch lengths to match the whole shape, which keeps a good plant form.

4. Winter pruning

(1). In low temperatures the jade plant's growth is inhibited, and it grows more slowly in winter.

(2). You need to cut back and thin out branches that have grown too long.

(3). Cut off weak, dead, diseased and damaged branches, and keep the healthy branches, so the whole plant will grow healthily and the shape will also be achieved.