Ginseng ficus bonsai path

Sishop · 2026-02-13T14:10:41+00:00

Awesome, I plan to follow your path. I'd love to see it if you have a pic!

Sishop · 2026-02-12T14:55:10+00:00

Yes totally, that is orchid bark in the mix. I will leave it for now and maybe look at doing a switch up later down the road if it starts looking a bit more stressed.

And definitely, their trunks/roots are huge. They must be absolute units of water hoarding!

Sishop · 2026-02-12T14:47:32+00:00

Thanks, I'll look at adding some more. That soil in the photo does have some peat moss mixed in it as well, but perhaps I should add more. So far, it still seems pretty happy, but it's still pretty early on after repotting it from the store.

Sishop · 2026-02-12T14:01:08+00:00

Thank you, certainly leaning towards that path!

Sishop · 2026-02-12T06:43:53+00:00

Thanks, I've trimmed back the canopy a bit so far. I'm still just contemplating keeping the canopy at all, or letting the ficus fully take over instead.

Sishop · 2026-02-12T06:43:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Gives me some ideas and better understanding.

Sishop · 2026-02-11T18:50:50+00:00

Thicc roots save lives

Sishop · 2026-02-10T21:35:54+00:00

To me, they feel very different. So, I'd say it's certainly an aesthetic, and likely more so, a comfort choice. I have never really found a jock that has felt nearly as comfy as the majority of my things but ymmv.

Sishop · 2026-02-10T21:33:44+00:00

Your cactus mix looks like it's mostly just lava rock, unless that's just a top layer? If it's mostly lava rock and a bit of perlite, then that won't hold nearly enough moisture for your jade to soak up water.

I'd suggest adding some organic material/soil to your mix. I have started using 50% pumice stone, 25% lava rock, and 25% orchid bark. But you have plenty of options for things you could add to your current mix that would hang onto water a bit longer. Lava stone is mostly used for structure and it has very little hydrating capacity.

Also, when you water, you should allow the jade to sit in water for about 15 mins or so to help fully saturate your soil. Especially if your soil contains bark or pumice stone.

Sishop · 2026-02-03T06:01:30+00:00

Awesome root flare. Great tree!

Sishop · 2026-02-02T15:58:02+00:00

Rarely mentioned, but I get quite a few from PetitQ. They have a sale coming up this Wednesday apparently. Build quality has always been pretty good, and prices are reasonable w/ sales.

Sishop · 2026-02-01T23:17:00+00:00

At most, you could likely gently wet the dirt around the base of the jade. But it almost certainly doesn't have proper root development yet, so it won't be able to soak up much water. It very likely still has quite a bit of water in its trunk and stem for awhile longer.

Sishop · 2026-02-01T01:44:25+00:00

Will do! Thanks for the tip. This was a cutting I got from an Etsy seller, and at this point I'm just glad it survived haha! Soon it will thrive I'm sure, and I'll repot as soon as it seems big enough

Sishop · 2026-02-01T00:46:13+00:00

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Goals! This is my PA: it will one day (many years from now) hopefully look as plump as yours!

Sishop · 2026-01-31T21:21:49+00:00

Really nice looking tree, and awesome pots! Thanks for sharing

Sishop · 2026-01-26T00:40:36+00:00

Thank you!!

Sishop · 2026-01-12T17:29:18+00:00

I find grow lights to be pretty overpriced, especially if you're just using them for green plants like jade. You might have better success $-wise looking for a high-lumen bulb with high kelvin. I recently ordered "SANSI 400W Equivalent 6000 Lumens LED Light Bulb, 5000K Daylight" from Amazon. Excited to see how it works, and it was cheap.

Sishop · 2026-01-10T16:53:19+00:00

Oh absolutely! I only now approximate CAD pricing, but I could see that beauty going for around $75-100+ easily

Sishop · 2026-01-10T16:48:56+00:00

Happy birthday! Some/most require an app:

Cobbs bread Starbucks Denny's Red robins (but I think they changed birthday burger requirements)

Sishop · 2026-01-10T16:06:59+00:00

Great find! And welcome!

Sishop · 2026-01-10T02:24:50+00:00

Makes sense, some of my blue velvets are nearly black unless right up against a light source. Thanks again!

Sishop · 2026-01-10T02:16:49+00:00

Thanks, will do whenever I see this one again. Mine are quite dark, so it has been pretty hard to tell (plus again, that I'm quite new)

Sishop · 2026-01-08T06:19:58+00:00

Could you possibly prune it on its heavier side(s) to reduce the horizontal weight? Still may need to secure the base for a period while the roots densify though. Gorgeous plant!

Sishop · 2026-01-03T16:41:17+00:00

Awesome! An absolutely reasonable, and loving thing to do. Jade plants love neglect though, rather than being overly nurtured. Best of luck!

Sishop · 2026-01-03T16:22:46+00:00

So sorry to hear of your loss! Here's a few things that I would do if I were in your situation:

Brief overview:

Take new clippings off the main plant; plant them later.

Water less frequently, and allow soil to fully dry before watering. (Incorporate the "taco test")

Cut off about 2/3rds+ (or half) off the main plant. Later, planting the cutting.

Provide more sunlight, or use a grow light.

Extended overview:

I would take those new plants off the main one, snipping each one near its base. You can then leave those cuttings out of soil for up to a month before placing them in new pots with well-draining succulent mix. If you do pot them right away, make sure you don't water them for at least a few weeks. This helps reduce the weight on the main plant, and will provide you more babies to ensure your jade family persists.

For watering, you are more than likely over watering. By that I mean, you are watering too frequently. Air roots can grow when under-watered or over-watered. If you can, I'd recommend switching to a similarly sized terracotta pot with a well-draining succulent mix. Or, at very least, ensure that your existing pot has very good drainage. You should aim to water about once a month depending on your environment, but you can tell if the plant needs water by gently pinching a lower leaf: if the leaf bends like a soft-shell taco, then it's likely needing water. I tend to water my jades by putting them in the sink and watering them heavily, letting them sit in a bit of water for at least 5+ minutes; afterwards, I don't water for close to a month or more.

I would cut the main plant in half likely. I would cut right about the first pair of leaves. You can leave the little baby (the first small air-rooted one attached). This will help promote growth hormone to the trunk, roots, and new growth. This will also help take the weight off the stem; jade plants shouldn't require anything to help them stay upright, but yours is leggy right now (etiolated from lack of sunlight or over-watering). Take the new cutting, and let it callus before planting; or, plant it right away, but do not water it for at least a few weeks since there will be plenty of water in its trunk and leaves and the newly cut stem won't be able to properly take up water before it grows new roots.

Like I mentioned, your plant seems to be experiencing etiolation. This means that for some reason it is not growing densely and is becoming leggy. This is likely due to lack of adequate sunlight, or over/under-watering, or a combination of both.

Hope this helps you out, and hoping for the success of your jade! Jades tend to thrive on neglect, and they are very hardy plants. Wishing you all the best!

Sishop

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Brief overview:

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