How to Trim a Jade Plant

Jade Plants are a fun houseplant, it's no wonder that they're so popular. Jade plants are relatively easy to grow as long as you have a spot with adequate sunlight. I have a big Jade Plant and I have been letting it fill in for several years. I bought it as a two-foot-long rooted cutting, probably from an outdoor Jade Plant. It was a mostly bare trunk, so I have spent several years letting it go wild so it could fill out. Now it needs a trim. Follow along with the rest of this post to learn how to trim a Jade Plant.

When to Trim a Jade Plant

It’s Too Crowded

A Jade Plant is crowded when a lot of branches are growing close together. Another example of crowding is if branches are crossing or growing inward toward the trunk. If branches are crowded that will prevent them from growing well because they won’t receive enough light and they also block other branches from receiving adequate light. In addition, overcrowded branches can be a breeding ground for disease, especially if you spray your plants with water. Crowding blocks good airflow, which you need to keep your plant healthy.

To Reshape

It's perfectly fine to trim your Jade Plant if you don't like the shape. I’m personally going for a tree-like appearance for my Jade Plant. There’s a branch that’s growing downward that I don’t like. It’s one of many targets for this trim. You may have a branch or branches that are growing unevenly that you would like to trim. There’s no right or wrong aesthetic. You can trim your Jade Plant to look however you like. However, just a note for the future that if there is uneven growth, it could mean that one side or area is getting better light. To prevent this in the future rotate your plant a quarter of a turn every week to get more even growth.

To Force Branching

Somewhat similar to reshaping, you can trim a Jade to promote branching. If you trim a Jade Plant at a node, often two branches sprout from that cut. So if you have a long single-trunk Jade, you can trim it so it will branch out. I’ve done this successfully with a variegated Jade that I grew from a single leaf.

When is the Best Time of Year to Trim

It's best to trim a Jade Plant while it's dormant. Jade Plants go dormant when the days are short in winter-time. Trimming during dormancy gives your Jade time to heal the wound while not competing for resources when it's actively growing.

How to Trim a Jade Plant

Tools

All you really need is a sharp knife or pruning shears. Use alcohol or soap and water to sterilize your cutting tool before you start trimming. Dirty tools can introduce bacteria or fungus to the new wound, which you obviously want to avoid.

Where to Trim a Jade Plant

Always trim just above a node. If you want to remove a whole branch, you should trim it back to the connecting branch. Plan out your cuts ahead of time so you know what you’re doing. Don't get caught up in the moment and cut too much. It’s helpful to take a step back and look at your plant after each cut. You don’t want to step away at the end and regret it. See some example cuts below.

I have one branch that is growing down and out, and I just want to remove that branch completely. I'll cut it off close to the connecting branch. The red line in the picture below illustrates where I will cut.

Trimming Crowded Branches

Up next I have four small vertical branches, denoted by the vertical red lines, emerging from a bigger branch. They are very too crowded together. Allowing them all to grow will result in unhealthy growth and none of them looking good. Three of the four little branches will be removed. I plan on leaving one of the middle two. I will eliminate the one closest to the trunk because it’s most likely to grow towards the trunk or cross other branches. I also want to eliminate the small branch closest to the tip of the branch to balance the weight. There’s already a lot of leafy growth on that end of the branch. I had a lot of clustered branches like this, and most of my trimming was to take care of small branches like the example below.

Trimming an Inward Growing Branch

One branch is growing toward the trunk, and it's so close it's rubbing against the trunk. You can tell it’s not getting much light because the leaves are curled down and it’s reaching for some light. I will trim this one down to the connecting branch, because of the direction it's growing.

What to do with Jade Plant Trimmings

I ended up with two decent-sized branches, eleven small branches, and five leaves. Jade Plants are extremely easy to propagate so that's what I'll be doing with these. First, I'll need to let them dry for several days to let the wounds heal over. The two bigger branches have woody, or lignified, stems. These stems typically take a longer time to propagate and have a lower success rate. However, I think the woody stems look cool, so it's always worth the wait.

Before and After Jade Plant Trimming

Below are the before and after pictures. It's a bit hard to tell from this angle but there is a lot more room for airflow after removing some crowding caused by all those little branches. The downward-facing branch is removed, and I like the shape much better.

 

After Trimming Your Jade Plant

Trimming Wounds

Watch the branches that have wounds for the next several days. You want to make sure that the wounds callous over. Avoid spraying your plant with anything while the wound is open. Obviously, keep the wounds free of soil and other debris as they heal as well.

Watering

Keep in mind that your Jade Plant may require less water if you trimmed a lot off. Always check the soil moisture before you plan to water your newly trimmed Jade. The soil may not dry out as quickly as it had prior to the trim. A smaller plant will consume less water.

Avoid Shock

Right after you have trimmed your Jade Plant, you should avoid doing any other things that might shock the plant. For example, moving your Jade to a different spot with a significant light or temperature differences can cause shock. In addition, repotting can cause shock.

What are your Jade Plant trimming tips?