Tips for wiring a jade?

[jpaulhamus]

I was wondering about wiring a jade. Everyone I have talked to don't wire them and treat them as a clip and grow tree, but I've seen pics online of jades that are wired. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are, tips, etc. If you wire them when is the best time, how long should they stay wired, and does the new shape really hold? I'm assuming you have to be careful with them so that you don't bend them too far or they will break. Thanks!

[centaura]

I've done some wiring on a large portulacaria, I definitely recommend aluminum verses copper, and going very slowly. I've never done extreme wiring, because I do consider them mainly a clip & grow specie. But I have had success in slowing working some branches into more horizontal positions. Like any other tree, when the wire is off it will try to revert to vertical growth, but a few wirings can help. I don't think you'll ever success in getting really twisted branches through wiring, I've mainly concentrated on lowering vertical branches. Let them dry out a bit - that will help relieve some of the turgidity and slightly decrease the 'snap' factor, though they will still be very easy to break.

-Cat

[jpaulhamus]

Thanks for the response Cat, really appreciate it.