How to prune a jade plant

How to prune a jade plant

1. 01

   Choose what to remove

   Cut selected stems back to a lateral branch. The stem, rather than individual healthy leaves, is the main shaping target for a jade plant.

   Spring pruning can keep Crassula ovata compact, encourage a trunk able to support heavy leaves and stems, and help form a miniature-tree or bonsai-like shape.

2. 02

   Prune at the right time

   Plan structural pruning for spring, when the plant is entering active growth. Remove a damaged stem when needed instead of waiting for spring shaping.

3. 03

   Make one clean cut

   Choose a stem that is too long or poorly placed and cut it back to a lateral branch. Preserve enough branching to carry the remaining foliage instead of making a blanket cut through the canopy.

4. 04

   When pruning will not help

   Healthy jade plants do not require routine pruning. Avoid severe cuts into old woody structure, and do not prune a stressed, wet, or rotting plant.

5. 05

   Care for the plant after pruning

   Pruning cuts close over in a few days, and new growth can appear within a few weeks. Keep to the plant’s usual dry-side succulent watering rather than adding water on a fixed schedule.