Portulacaria Bonsai Care

Portulacaria port yoo luh care ee ah is a small genus of upright semi woody succulents indigenous to south africa.

Portulacaria bonsai care. The stems are thick succulent and brown to burgundy with small round jade green leaves. I have been researching some care instructions and i have read about not overwatering it however i have a few more questions that i either researched conflicting information on or could not find any info at all. Portulacaria afra can tolerate mild frost and freezing temperatures as long as they are not for long periods of time. Portulacaria afra is much easier to develop as a good bonsai than the larger leaf jade plant crassula.

I have recently gotten a portulacaira bonsai tree. Its roots are very adaptable and thrive in shallow bonsai containers. Caring for this plant requires intense light and warm temperatures. However if you re lucky enough to live in a frost free area you can even use portulacaria afra in your outdoor landscaping.

The leaves are close together opposite and just under 1cm long when grown in the sun. Planted in the ground and allowed to grow to its full height portulacaria will tower up to 15 feet high. Your bonsai will also respond well to foliar feeding with a water soluble fertilizer applied every other month as a spray. When you talk about portulacaria afra care the house is an excellent place to grow portulacaria afra because there is a controlled climate.

The most common mistake made in succulent plants is watering. See the photos below to see the difference between their leaves. Hello i am new to the bonsai world and to bonsai nut. Watch for pests like whitefly spider mites and mealybugs.

The dwarf jade with its smaller leaves is the most suitable of both species for bonsai cultivation. An easy to care for plant it is often used in bonsai cultivation. The dwarf jade portulacaria afra looks very similar to the jade crassula ovata and the care guidelines below apply to both species. Here s what you need to know.

If planted outdoors in warm climates dig in 3 inches of sand or gritty material to provide well drained soil. Training deals with the art of bonsai and should be thoroughly understood before undertaking or left to a professional. After the dominant of the winter period the bush forms small pink flowers which are grouped together at the end of every branch. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants.

Portulacaria afra is a versatile succulent that can be grown as a bonsai specimen as part of an indoor or outdoor succulent garden or in a hanging basket. Training this brief explanation of basic care does not cover training.