Mega Crassula

[dk07]

I picked up this monster jade (see pic 1) in 2021 on a whim while I was killing time visiting my brother. The trunk is probably 4 inches across or so. The nursery charged me $100, which seemed odd since it was in the same section as significantly smaller (but still larger than your average jade) cuttings for the same price. My guess is they were even from this plant and somebody made a mistake selling the store's mother plant

Anyway, pic 2 is when I got the plant home and did an amateurish job wiring it, which achieved nothing as I was early in my bonsai journey and thought Crassula was a primo species to learn on. Gimme a break, I didn't have a yard yet for "real" trees. I knew I needed to try to compact the foliage to make it more believable, but I didn't trust that it would grow from a hard cut back.

Pic 3 is the tree on my first cinder block bench in spring of '22 after finally achieving the coveted yard status. It was tall and gangly and bizarre.

 

[dk07]

Here's the tree as of yesterday. I did a pretty hard cut back some time last year, which if course I didn't document, and compacted the foliage a little more nicely. I also added a drawing showing the eventual look and pot I'd like to have for this tree. After 3 years, there's still basically no nebari to speak of. In fact, I find difficulty in how to strap this thing down with no real roots to wire into a pot. Does anybody know any good techniques?

 

[Arizona bonsai]

I have killed a few large jades. Mine didn’t have many roots either & all died from root rot. Be very careful with water.

 

[Weta]

I use big rocks then pack in the pumice.
This one I used flexible tie down as well.

 

[dk07]

I use big rocks then pack in the pumice.
This one I used flexible tie down as well.
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Thanks for the reply. Oh that tie down is clever. Impressive flowers on yours! I've never gotten mine to bloom before.