Crassula Ovata Trunk

CelloBonsai

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20210112_212220.jpg20210112_212128.jpg
Hello All. Looking forward to learning from/with you all. I have a question about thickening the circled part of the trunk. Should I let the top continue to grow until the desired thickness is reached and then start trimming back for ramification? Just wondering how a succulent like this should be treated. The second picture shows my desired end shape. Thanks in advance!
 
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View attachment 349171View attachment 349172
Hello All. Looking forward to learning from/with you all. I have a question about thickening the circled part of the trunk. Should I let the top continue to grow until the desired thickness is reached and then start trimming back for ramification? Just wondering how a succulent like this should be treated. The second picture shows my desired end shape. Thanks in advance!
Looks like a Portulacaria afra to me.
 

MrWunderful

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Looks like a Portulacaria afra to me.
Pretty sure thats a crassula. Portys tend to have more defined colored “stems”. And I too would lose the left part.

To get it to thicken you would have to let it run quite a bit and if it did, it would still be an awkward design.
 
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Pretty sure thats a crassula. Portys tend to have more defined colored “stems”. And I too would lose the left part.

To get it to thicken you would have to let it run quite a bit and if it did, it would still be an awkward design.
you are correct that most ports have those colored stems. But I happen to have one port like Cellobonsai's.
But I am no port expert.

Agree with your all suggestion regarding the design above. My comment to Cellobonsai design is, it's hard to fit a tree into a predefined design style (looks like you're going for a broom style), even if you can do it, it would take much longer time.
 

canoeguide

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I think OP is correct, that's a Crassula that just happens to have small leaves about the size of P. afra. I have some that are very similar. The leaves have a Crassula shape and thickness and the bark says Crassula.

To the original question: yes, if you want to thicken a branch, let it grow and then cut it back when it's the thickness that you want. This will behave like any other tree in that regard: thickness is a function of how many leaves are being supported by the trunk/branch. They reliably sprout new leaves on old "wood" when cut back.
 

CelloBonsai

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Thank you for the helpful advice everyone! This is my first pre-bonsai with which to experiment. My only negative experience with cutting back has been that it seems to die back quite a bit from the cut area (2-3 rings on the bark) so that I have lost a lot of what I started with. Is that typical?
 

lehigh4me

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Looks like a Crassula Argentea Compacta to me, they have the smaller leaves. I have a few of them. Treat it like a regular Jade and it will be happy.
 
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CelloBonsai

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Looks like a Crassula Argentea Compacta to me, they have the smaller leaves. I have a few of them. Treat it like a regular Jade and it will be happy.
Thank you for the id!
 

CelloBonsai

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So C. Argentena Compacta and C. Ovata Minima are two names for the same thing?
 

CelloBonsai

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Welcome to Crazy!

Do you Play?

Strings are my thing! I love the Cello!

Sorce
Yes, cello is my profession. Bonsai is my hobby.

I've started a blog teaching cello technique, etc. at mycello1.blogspot.com.
 

sorce

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Wonderful! I didn't expect you to be so young!

I love how the First thing I found is about breaking rules!

Breaking a Branch, or making any other wrong move, is quite like breaking a string. Even if you can't replace it, something beautiful can still be had!

Sorce
 

CelloBonsai

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Wonderful! I didn't expect you to be so young!

I love how the First thing I found is about breaking rules!

Breaking a Branch, or making any other wrong move, is quite like breaking a string. Even if you can't replace it, something beautiful can still be had!

Sorce
Thanks for checking it out. I am sure I will break my fair share of branches, as well as rules!

I am a bit older than I look. I'll use that to my advantage some day, I'm sure. :)
 
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