Sooo..... are Jade trees really trees?
- Thread starter KCS2015
- Start date
Woodland Spirit
Chumono
Catapult it to the sun.
It will burn.
It will burn.
aml1014
Masterpiece
I'd imagine most people don't have a catapult that powerful, I'd just use a rocket, way more expensive yet it'll get it there. lol
Aaron
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Here ya go... Craigslist in Yorba Linda asking $159. These things would weigh a TON... they are more or less solid water.
View attachment 92881
By the way, that is a 6' block wall
I was seriously just looking at these. I like to look at the Craigslist in CA and FL for cheap Ficus that I can't obtain. Just because.
fredman
Masterpiece
LoL...Jades are fireproof. Lots of wild fires has tried that...
Tentakelaertje
Omono
Not if you catapult it at night!
Woodland Spirit
Chumono
Then you just send it into sub orbit and let it burn on its way back.
Or use the rainbow power of a certain bonsai pot to cast a spell of tenthousand itches on everyone in Washington DC (USA)
It won't burn the jade plant but it will be fun.
Woodland Spirit
Chumono
Can't be. You can burn water easier.
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Likely because everybody figured the poster was a dope addict and an idiot.
Tentakelaertje
Omono
Likely because everybody figured the poster was a dope addict and an idiot.
Haven't read the marihuana thread, but weed bonsai sounds like a pretty dope idea.
Woodland Spirit
Chumono
I posted a picture of one in another thread. Nobody seemed to notice.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I was at the Huntington Gardens Bonsai-a-thon today, and I had a chance to talk to Frank Yee about the history of this cultivar. It is actually somewhat funny/amusing.
Apparently about 50 years ago, Frank had some of these Portulacaria afra growing in his landscaping/garden. He was spraying for bugs, and sprayed the area with DDT (back in the day when DDT was still legal). Some time later, Frank noticed that one of his plants had developed corky bark... which he feels is a result of a random genetic mutation caused by the DDT. He started cultivating cuttings off this one tree, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he has cultivated over 1000 cuttings from this one plant.
50 years ago, there wasn't a single bonsai enthusiast in Southern California interested in growing succulents as bonsai. Frank would take these plants to conventions and shows and they would never sell. However with the passing of decades, he noticed that they started to move and that one or two people would come and buy up all his stock. He finally asked "why", and the buyer said "because yours are the only jade trees with corky bark". Frank started to become curious about whether there was something special about the plant, so he called one of the staff at the Huntington Gardens (I think Jim Folsom) and asked if he could bring over an interesting Portulacaria afra to be looked at.... The rest is history.
I picked up a couple for fun. I still don't think they make convincing bonsai, but they look cool
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fredman
Masterpiece
I have seen some cork bark ones back in South Africa though its rare. Have seen it on the prostrate one to. I agree its a reaction to chemical pesticides...
JoeR
Masterpiece
Very interesting, thanks for sharing!I was at the Huntington Gardens Bonsai-a-thon today, and I had a chance to talk to Frank Yee about the history of this cultivar. It is actually somewhat funny/amusing.
Apparently about 50 years ago, Frank had some of these Portulacaria afra growing in his landscaping/garden. He was spraying for bugs, and sprayed the area with DDT (back in the day when DDT was still legal). Some time later, Frank noticed that one of his plants had developed corky bark... which he feels is a result of a random genetic mutation caused by the DDT. He started cultivating cuttings off this one tree, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he has cultivated over 1000 cuttings from this one plant.
50 years ago, there wasn't a single bonsai enthusiast in Southern California interested in growing succulents as bonsai. Frank would take these plants to conventions and shows and they would never sell. However with the passing of decades, he noticed that they started to move and that one or two people would come and buy up all his stock. He finally asked "why", and the buyer said "because yours are the only jade trees with corky bark". Frank started to become curious about whether there was something special about the plant, so he called one of the staff at the Huntington Gardens (I think Jim Folsom) and asked if he could bring over an interesting Portulacaria afra to be looked at.... The rest is history.
I picked up a couple for fun. I still don't think they make convincing bonsai, but they look cool
justBonsai
Omono
I bought one from Frank today too. From what I understood when I talked to him it takes anywhere from 3-6 years to start corking. I stuck in the ground and plan to let it bulk up a lot. Jades in general seem to grow pretty fast so I should be able to build something nice with exclusively clip and grow.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I bought one that was corking and one that hadn't started. The corking one I'm going to pot up, the other one I'm going to put into my landscape. According to Frank, if your cutting is already corking, it will continue corking once established.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
It really doesn't matter whether it is a tree or not if in the end, it is perceived as a bonsai. I can't believe I am saying this, but the older I get and the more I learn the more accepting of material I become. However; that material must look like a bonsai as I understand it. I think it boils down to a stage where I am not so stogie in what I believe about bonsai having accepted in my own mind and heart what I believe it to be. Let me give you guys a challenge. If it is determined that it cannot be a bonsai what do you base that judgement upon?
fourteener
Omono
WOW, so much debate about jade plants! It must be spring frustration, sometimes it's hard to believe what will stir up so much debate. We didn't even talk about soil!! I have one I keep in the house all winter, it's a baby jade. It will win no awards, but I like it.
eferguson1974
Chumono
Ok, tell us what kinda soil is best for jades. Everyone. And if you dont have one, what would you use?
There, thats better.... I keep mine in gravel with succulant mix I can get...maybe two thirds gravel.
There, thats better.... I keep mine in gravel with succulant mix I can get...maybe two thirds gravel.
Geo
Chumono
Mor than you ever wanted to know! Portulacaria afra Monograph, the Elephant's Food or Spekboom, Part I
