So this is my little portulacaria afra.
First pic is right after my cutting developed roots.
The rest of the pics are now.
I’m thinking about this plant growing more and having to repot it eventually.
If it keeps growing like it is I’m thinking I might have some difficulty getting it to be stable in a new pot; so, should I maybe cut the lower branches and one of the upper branches and then use some wire to straighten it up?
by Dizzy_Panda_5724
5 Comments
You’ll hear a lot about soil. I like this stuff.
https://preview.redd.it/dy89o6ghccog1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=168cee1cc2286aebab5265ddd157a1898437daba
https://preview.redd.it/ws9mi838dcog1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cea5bd3a969576e802d73bf98749231b8b06dc21
Here’s a shot of mine. I just don’t trim both major branches. I’d do one, wait for some bud growth then do the other
https://preview.redd.it/tbhx0yd4gcog1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2fb6cb5ad3ffac68565ed38b65e9284922ce8bfe
Well its already starting to branch so you could cut by the blue marks and the new growth circled in red will become the new branches. All those small new leaves will eventually become new branches so just choose how you want it to grow and cut from there.
It all depends on what you want its appearance later on to be like. P. afra can actually be trained similar to a bonsai with wiring to direct the branches how you want them. You can also borrow a trick from bonsai to keep the plant more stable regardless of what you do with it by wiring the root ball directly to the pot through its drainage holes.
Here are the three options I’d ponder:
Option A: bonsai/treelike style with an exposed trunk, twin trunk style: keep both the main branches, prune off the lower branches and leaves, use wire to direct both branches upwards
Option B: bonsai, single trunk: cut off one of the main branches and all the lower branches/leaves. Repot so that the main branch is upright or use wire to create ‘movement’ in an asymmetrical bonsai style
Option C: bushy style, hidden trunk: keep all branches, but prune the two main branches about halfway up (at the first side leaves on each respective branch) to encourage more branch formation and bushier growth
https://preview.redd.it/3gxk8e4svcog1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=089fd27713c11bd14115b161195afc7a413d6823
Here’s one I’ve trained as a four leader bonsai. It’s only a couple of years old from a little cutting. That photo was a few weeks ago; it’s much nicer now. You can do almost any design with them, and they grow extremely fast if you feed them freely. Everything you cut off will grow into a new plant in no time. Good luck and have fun with it!