🌿 Mini Green Jade & Variegated Jade Bonsai Care Guide

📖 About the Mini Jade Bonsai

The Mini Jade (Portulacaria afra), also called Elephant Bush or Small Leaf Jade, is a succulent shrub native to South Africa. It’s a favorite in bonsai because of its tiny round leaves, fast growth, and extreme drought tolerance.

The Variegated Mini Jade adds a rare twist, with leaves patterned in soft cream and green tones, making it a stunning choice for collectors. Both are hardy, forgiving plants—perfect for beginners yet versatile enough for advanced bonsai training.

☀️ Light

Thrives in bright, indirect light.

Can tolerate full sun, but protect from scorching in very hot climates.

Indoors: place near a sunny south- or west-facing window for 4–6 hours of light daily.

💧 Watering

Being a succulent, Mini Jade stores water in its leaves and does best with infrequent watering.

Water deeply only when the soil is fully dry—typically once every 1–2 weeks.

🚫 Avoid overwatering, as it can quickly lead to root rot.

Reduce watering in winter when growth slows.

🌡️ Temperature & Climate

Prefers 65–85°F (18–29°C).

Protect from frost—bring indoors when temps drop below 50°F (10°C).

Enjoys dry air, no special humidity required.

✂️ Pruning & Styling

Pruning: Responds very well—clip to encourage dense branching.

Excellent for informal upright, broom, and cascade styles.

Trunk and branches thicken quickly, making them rewarding to shape.

Leaves are small and naturally reduce in size, making them perfect for bonsai.

🌱 Fertilizing

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during spring and summer.

Stop or reduce feeding in winter.

📦 Post-Shipping Care

Leaves may wrinkle slightly after shipping but plump up once watered.

Acclimate gradually if moving from indoors to outdoors, to avoid sunburn.

✅ Quick Care Recap

🌞 Bright light, can handle full sun

💧 Water only when soil is fully dry

🌡️ Protect from temps under 50°F

✂️ Easy to prune, fast growth, great for shaping

🌱 Fertilize monthly in growing season

Animal Planter

  • Ceramic elephant-shaped vase with a white background

    Green Elephant Hex

    SKU - AT52
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic planter with a cat design on a white background

    Green Elephant Heart

    SKU - AT50
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Green ceramic elephant on a white background

    Green Large Elephant

    SKU - ZN127
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo, Fern and Money Tree.

  • Green ceramic mug with a turtle design on a white background

    Green Turtle and Bamboo

    SKU - 835-205
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Lion - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M96-1
    Large SKU - M96
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Giraffe - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M99-1
    Large SKU - M99
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Hippo - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M98-1
    Large SKU - M98
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two black elephant-shaped ceramic pots on a white background

    Elephant - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M97-1
    Large SKU - M97
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two black ceramic pots with beige accents on a white background

    Blowfish Small or Large

    Small SKU - M25B-1
    Large SKU - M25B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two ceramic pots with fish design on a white background

    Blowfish Small or Large

    Small SKU - M25-1
    Large SKU - M25
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Octupus

    Brown SKU - M114
    Black SKU - M114B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two ceramic rooster-shaped containers on a white background

    Chicken

    Right SKU - M26R
    Left SKU - M26L
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic sheep-shaped planter on a white background

    Sheep Front

    SKU - M102
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Sheep Male

    SKU - M102A
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic sheep-shaped planter on a white background

    Sheep Femmale

    SKU - M102B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Beige dog-shaped planter on a white background

    Sheepdog

    SKU - ???
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Dog-shaped planter on a white background

    Dachshund Black

    SKU - M32B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic dog-shaped planter on a white background

    Dachshund Brown

    SKU - M32
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic owl-shaped container on a white background

    New Owl

    SKU - M117
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two black owl-shaped planters with beige circular patterns on a white background

    Owl - Black - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M100B
    Large SKU - M100B-1
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Owl - Brown - Small or Large

    Small SKU - M100
    Large SKU - M100-1
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Pig Male

    SKU - M30
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • A beige wooden planter in the shape of a pig with a smiling face.

    Pig Female

    SKU - M30-1
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic jar with fish design on a white background

    Blowfish Painted

    SKU - M71
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Decorative brown rectangular planter with gold accents on a white background

    Fish Handmade S Style

    Brown SKU - M16F
    Black SKU - M16FB
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.
Button label

Chinese Planter

  • Chinese Treasure Urn Bowl

    Large SKU - W-03LTB
    Medium SKU - W-03MTB
    Small SKU - W-03STB
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo, Fern and Money Tree.

  • Chinese Red Plain

    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Column

    SKU - M77
    Promotion, Great Lucky, Prosperity, Health, Friendship, Peace & Happiness and Wisdom.
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Coin Chinese Oriental

    Brown SKU - M13-9
    Black SKU - M13-9B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Good Luck & Prosperity

    Brown SKU - M13-11
    Black SKU - M13-11B
    Good Luck & Prosperity
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Attracting Fortune & Treasures - Good Luck & Prosperity

    Brown SKU - M13-13
    Black SKU - M13-13B
    Promotion, Great Lucky, Prosperity, Health, Friendship, Peace & Happiness and Wisdom.
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic incense burner with a textured design on a white background

    Money Bag

    SKU - M40
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Decorative ceramic vase with intricate designs on a white background

    Chinese Bag

    SKU -
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.
Button label

Mosaic Planter

  • Two decorative planters with geometric patterns on a white background

    Mosaic Half Moon Brown

    Brown SKU - M13-6
    Black SKU - M13-6B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern

  • Two decorative boxes with spider web patterns on a white background

    Mosaic Wave

    Brown SKU - M13-5
    Black SKU - M13-5B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern

  • Two brown ceramic planters with textured surface and geometric patterns on a white background

    Mosaic Window

    Brown SKU - M13-7
    Black SKU - M13-7B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern

  • Two decorative items with intricate patterns on a white background

    Mosaic Sun

    Brown SKU - M13-3
    Black SKU - M13-3B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern

  • Two woven rectangular containers with zebra pattern on a white background

    Mosaic Zebra

    Brown SKU - M75
    Black SKU - M75B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern

  • Two woven baskets with a geometric pattern on a white background

    Mosaic Scales

    Brown SKU - M105
    Black SKU - M105B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic planter with geometric design on a white background

    Mosaic Handmade S Style

    Brown SKU - M16M
    Black SKU - M16MB
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Two woven bracelets, one black and one brown with a decorative clasp, on a white background.

    Mosaic Sun Handmade S Style

    Brown SKU - M16C
    Black SKU - M16CB
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo and Fern.

  • Ceramic bowl with wavy pattern on a white background

    Mosaic Medium Bowl

    Brown SKU - M3
    Black SKU - M3B
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo, Fern and Money Tree.

  • Wooden planter with a textured surface on a white background

    Mosaic Large Bowl

    SKU - M4
    Plants - Polka Dot Plant, Palm Tree, Lucky Bamboo, Fern and Money Tree.
Button label