Is the Baby Jade Bonsai Right for You
No plant is more attractive as an indoor bonsai than the Baby Jade. One of the newer bonsai varieties, the stunning Baby Jade bonsai is becoming a fast favorite of gardeners looking for an indoor bonsai. An African native, this is a tropical, succulent plant.
The Baby Jade has fleshy branches and leaves that store water. In nature this plant will grow to close to 6 feet tall. As a bonsai you can expect its leaves to be roughly a third of the size of a wild Baby Jade.
How to Take Care of Your Baby Jade
The Baby Jade makes the perfect indoor bonsai tree. Proper lighting is essential for food production. The Baby Jade bonsai can go long periods of time without needing to be watered. It is over watering you will need to avoid with this plant!
Judge watering needs of the Baby Jade bonsai by the dryness of the soil in its pot. When the soil has become dry, it is time to water your tree. Remember that even though the Baby Jade can go a long time without watering, care must be taken to not avoid watering at all!
Shaping of your tree is a personal preference. It is important to remember that the Baby Jade bonsai is a fast growing tree. You will need to modify your shaping schedule accordingly. Regardless of how you shape, the Baby Jade bonsai is a beautiful plant, absolutely remarkable when flowering.
The Baby Jade's bark will progress from green, to deep red, and finally to a natural gray when full bark maturity has been reached. Its flowers are purple with pink borders and shaped like stars.
There are some more traditional bonsai gardeners who will try to tell you that the Baby Jade bonsai is not a real bonsai. I say they are wrong. There are thousands of bonsai gardeners who proudly display their Baby Jade bonsai and will tell you loud and clear that the Baby Jade is here to stay!