JonW
Shohin
Crassula ovata Crosby compact. It's a multi trunk that got a pretty good whack last week when night temps got up to the 70s. I don't think crassula is a great species for bonsai, but a couple tricks make it suitable enough...
- Prune when growing vigorously, which is when night temps are around 70, before it's too close to fall. Remove any etiolated growth from winter or weak growth that will droop.
- Structure like a broadleaf with mostly upward movement. Horizontal branches tend to sag in a manner that looks weak rather than aged (per coniferous style bonsai)
- Roots come out at leaf scars rather than radially. Consequently you have two directional roots of your nebari comes from 1 node. You can get more radial roots if you're nebari comes from 2 nodes, but they have to be compact nodes. My jade bonsai only have roots at 1 node going toward the sides of the pot, which was girth to the trunk over time. Consequent this dictates the orientation of the tree. I cut off any excess trunk below the soil with a hacksaw.
- I plant mine in pumice and they need water about 1x/week with light fertilization. The more stress, such as sun and extreme temperatures, the more colorful the leaves. Just don't kill the plant with the goal of making it showy.