Jade Bonsai
The art of bonsai sculpting is ancient throughout all of Japan. The jade bonsai, which is originally from South Africa, is an evergreen succulent, which means it looks a little like a glossy cactus without any spines.
These bonsai need to have regulated temperatures since they are basically a cactus-type plant, so they should be grown indoors, but it can be beneficial for your plant to be placed outdoors during the summer in warmer areas. When your jade bonsai is kept indoors, it needs to be near a natural light source, such as a sunny windowsill; although they can live in low-light conditions, this will result in stunted growth and larger leaves.
A jade bonsai is naturally able to capture and hold quite a bit of water in its leaves. As a result, unlike some other types of bonsai, the jade bonsai should be watered lightly to avoid root rot and fungi. You should allow the soil to dry between each watering, or the plant may develop a shallow, unhealthy root system.
Along with the right watering habits, your jade bonsai can benefit from fertilizer. With the jade bonsai particularly, strong light can be just as beneficial as any fertilizer, but you still should give fertilizer about once a month from around the middle of spring to the fall will give your jade bonsai an added advantage.
Finally, the bonsai should be relocated to larger pots about every two to three years, and requires a combination of gritty soil and compost, which allows an excellent mixture of good drainage and the ability to retain just the right amount of water.
Sculpting Your New Bonsai
The bonsai needs to be pruned regularly using a kit of specialized tools to promote growth on the lower part of the trunk. Pinching off new growth also makes the leaves smaller in size, which is usually desirable for enthusiasts.
The plant also responds very well to being manipulated into new positions, especially when wired into the new arrangement. Within a month, your jade bonsai should be holding its new position. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the jade bonsai has rather soft bark and if you do wire the branches into new positions, you have to do it slowly and carefully. The surface has a tendency to develop grooves and the branches may break if bent too far.