No plant is more attractive as an indoor bonsai than the Baby Jade. One of the newer bonsai varieties, the stunning Baby Jade bonsai is becoming a fast favorite of gardeners looking for an indoor bonsai. An African native, this is a tropical, succulent plant.

The Baby Jade, also known as the Elephant Bush, has a fleshy trunk, branches and leaves that are used to store water. The leaves are pale green in color, almost round in shape, and about a third of the leaves of a normal jade plant. In its natural environment, the Baby Jade will grow to six feet in height.

Baby Jade Watering, Nutrition, and Maintenance

The Baby Jade makes the perfect indoor bonsai tree. Proper lighting is essential for food production. The Baby Jade bonsai can go long periods of time without needing to be watered. It is over watering you will need to avoid with this plant!

The dryness of the soil your tree is potted in is the best gauge to determine watering needs. You will want to monitor the soil and water your Baby Jade bonsai when the soil is dry. Even though the Baby Jade can go long periods of time without a watering, care should be taken to never go too long!

Baby Jade bonsais are very fast growers. Plan accordingly for the shaping of your tree. Your preferences will play a large role in how much time you spend shaping. At the end of the day your Baby Jade bonsai will reward you. This is a beautiful bonsai tree, especially when flowering.

The Baby Jade's bark will progress from green, to deep red, and finally to a natural gray when full bark maturity has been reached. Its flowers are purple with pink borders and shaped like stars.

There are some more traditional bonsai gardeners who will try to tell you that the Baby Jade bonsai is not a real bonsai. I say they are wrong. There are thousands of bonsai gardeners who proudly display their Baby Jade bonsai and will tell you loud and clear that the Baby Jade is here to stay!