Pruning of new buds is done throughout the growing season. Recently took a cutting from a beautiful 3m x 3m x 3m Spekboom plant in the Karoo. Allow the cleanly cut edges of the cuttings to dry out for a few days before planting it in well-drained river sand. I water my bonsai every two days. Even leaves that are knocked off while pruning or doing other activities may root on their own. Portulacaria afra, or elephant bush, is a small succulent shrub native to Eastern South Africa. Do not water the dwarf jade before cutting, since the trunk, branches and leaves will fill with moisture and leak when sliced open. Place in the sunniest place available and do not water until new growth begins. It's also known as elephant food, elephant plant, spekboom, and by its scientific name Portulacaria afra.The plant grows in the wild in Africa, where it serves as a food source for elephants. How and when do I trim my 5 year old juniper bonsai tree? This latex is a defense mechanism shared by many plant species. Negative: On Jun 14, 2013, cactusmother from Scottsdale, AZ wrote: Help! Your site informed me that, "It does help. However, we, as bonsai lovers, would love to read more in detail about the pruning and trimming of a, "Trimming branches and roots is species specific and environment must be very carefully considered to be successful. Pruning a Ficus Bonsai Part 1: Bonsai maintenance pruning . If you decide to trim roots, trim the air roots. Just use a sterile blade and trim into the shape you desire. Spekboom also responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy hedge. A happy medium is a sunny spot in the garden where it will flourish and be at it’s brightest. What is the best way to prune? Outdoor Spekboom can be pruned into an evergreen hedge. Take your gin and tonic game to the next level by switching out the cucumber for spekboom. Cut them slanted so the plant can receive lots of nutrition and water. I didn't know what to do with it untill I saw your post. In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. It’s almost all trailing now. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I'm kinda looking to do the same. How to Propagate Plants from Cuttings Cut a 4- to 5-inch-long (10 to 12 cm) stem (or side shoot) just below a leaf, and remove all but two or three leaves at the top. Why does my bonsai bleed white when trimmed? Remove all but two to four of the leaves near the top of the cutting. Thanks. Portulacaria (Port-yoo-luh-CARE-ee-ah) is a small genus of upright, semi-woody succulents indigenous to South Africa.The stems are thick, succulent and brown to burgundy, with small, round jade green leaves. Cut the branch off with a knife, making the cut even with the surface of the trunk. Spekboom is indigenous to South Africa. Just want to clarify that ''Spekboom'' is not used by the native africans and is actually an Afrikaans word . ). Insert the cutting into a box or container, filled with about 3 inches (8 cm) of moistened pure builder's sand, vermiculite, or perlite. Give it a little water every few days, and you’ll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own to help the environment and climate change! 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. In nature, the species grows to 13 feet in height, but it is generally much smaller under cultivation. Before and … % of people told us that this article helped them. In late winter and spring, this plant flowers bloom in beautiful pink. If a plant bleeds white, then the substance being released is latex. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The spekboom can be found in various habitats from rocky slopes, thicket and bushveld to dry river valleys in the eastern parts of South Africa and parts of Mozambique. The ancient practice of bonsai lifts pruning to an art form. Spekboom can be propagated from cuttings, which must be kept dry to prevent rotting. I'm experienced with different types of plants. Cut the branch off with a knife, making the cut even with the surface of the trunk. Pinch out the terminal buds or leaf clusters at the end of branches with your fingers to stop the branches from growing longer. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 110,815 times. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Research on the species of your Bonsai and see when it is safe to transplant it. Am I missing something? Do not make a concave cut, but keep the cut flush with the branch surface. Trim your spekboom bonsai into a tree shape by removing branches and leaves that clutter the style you desire. ", "Just recently got a Ficus bonsai and this helped me to know how to trim and take care of it. In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. Karen Carter spent three years as a technology specialist in the public school system and her writing has appeared in the "Willapa Harbor Herald" and the "Rogue College Byline." Let the cutting dry out and callous for a couple of days and then plant the cutting in damp gritty soil in a small pot. Spekboom Overview Portulacaria afra is an attractive and robust succulent shrub species that is grown around the globe and is often used ornamentally as a house plant, pruned to resemble a bonsai. ", "Shows what I need to do with my tree. Major branches should be trimmed with pruners or sharp scissors, but very small growths can be pinched cleanly away with your fingers. References It’s water wise. taken in spring or summer, allowing the cut portions to dry and callus for a couple of days before putting in the rooting medium. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Do not seal the cuts with any chemicals; the dwarf jade will form calluses over the cuts within a couple of days. The practice used for pruning juniper bonsai trees is known as finger pinching. Learn more... Bonsai is the Japanese practice of growing miniature trees in small containers. However, the flowers are not why we grow the spekboom. Elephant bush is well suited to growing in a hanging or elevated container. Positive: On Jul 17, 2014, stevelvv from San Diego, CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Plant is in full bloom in San Diego. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone. Do not dig into the trunk when taking the cutting. Help! No time to water your garden? Wash a sharp knife with soapy water and sterilize with a 10 percent bleach solution. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. By using our site, you agree to our. Dwarf jade cuttings root quickly without callusing or using root hormone. ", "Exactly what I was looking for. You did a great job taking pics to show it's progresion. Deep cuts leave unsightly scars and sometimes cause branch death. Trim the bonsai tree's roots accordingly. Make sure that you occasionally trim back the root system of the tree to prevent it from growing too vigorously. Prune away any extra long or misplaced branches to shape the plant. It is a resilient plant found predominantly in the … Spekboom is a really versatile plant Whether you are looking for a plant that can be turned into a hedge or a bonsai, or used as groundcover or a large bush, spekboom can do it all. Don't cut the lower branches or clear leaves from the ground beneath: this hinders successful … For structural reasons, you want to leave branches intact that will increase growth in weak areas. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Juniper and ficus are 2 of the most popular types of trees for use in bonsai, but there are dozens more that can be adapted as well. Remove large leaves to open the plant and allow light to reach inner stems where you want new, smaller leaves to grow. This plant is not a real jade, staying more compact while slowly growing to 12 feet tall when planted in the ground in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. I received a p. Afra from a older guy that passed. Pruning: It’s really easy to prune your Spekboom when the stems get particularly long to keep it looking neat. The Spekboom or Pork Bush (Portulacaria Afra) is a versatile, evergreen plant with numerous health benefits, especially to the environment. Approved. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Trim-a-Bonsai-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Trim-a-Bonsai-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Trim-a-Bonsai-Step-1.jpg\/aid1914258-v4-728px-Trim-a-Bonsai-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"