Portulacaria Bonsai Care

Hello i am new to the bonsai world and to bonsai nut.
Portulacaria bonsai care. Young branches and trunk are reddish brown when they mature they become grayish in color. However if you re lucky enough to live in a frost free area you can even use portulacaria afra in your outdoor landscaping. The most common mistake made in succulent plants is watering. Here s what you need to know.
If planted outdoors in warm climates dig in 3 inches of sand or gritty material to provide well drained soil. Training deals with the art of bonsai and should be thoroughly understood before undertaking or left to a professional. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants. The stems are thick succulent and brown to burgundy with small round jade green leaves.
I have been researching some care instructions and i have read about not overwatering it however i have a few more questions that i either researched conflicting information on or could not find any info at all. The dwarf jade portulacaria afra looks very similar to the jade crassula ovata and the care guidelines below apply to both species. The leaves are close together opposite and just under 1cm long when grown in the sun. I have recently gotten a portulacaira bonsai tree.
Planted in the ground and allowed to grow to its full height portulacaria will tower up to 15 feet high. See the photos below to see the difference between their leaves. Portulacaria afra can tolerate mild frost and freezing temperatures as long as they are not for long periods of time. Training this brief explanation of basic care does not cover training.
When you talk about portulacaria afra care the house is an excellent place to grow portulacaria afra because there is a controlled climate. Watch for pests like whitefly spider mites and mealybugs. Portulacaria afra is much easier to develop as a good bonsai than the larger leaf jade plant crassula. The dwarf jade with its smaller leaves is the most suitable of both species for bonsai cultivation.
If you live in usda hardiness zones 9 11 you can leave the plant outdoors all year long and they can even be planted in ground. Most gardeners will choose to grow this plant as a bonsai specimen though. After the dominant of the winter period the bush forms small pink flowers which are grouped together at the end of every branch. Its roots are very adaptable and thrive in shallow bonsai containers.
Your bonsai will also respond well to foliar feeding with a water soluble fertilizer applied every other month as a spray. Caring for this plant requires intense light and warm temperatures.