How to grow your own money tree
The jade plant is an evergreen commonly known as a lucky plant or a money tree. Who doesn’t want a beautiful plant at home that makes you feel lucky and believe in prosperity? Apart from spreading positive energy around the house, jade may give you the uplifting experience of easy gardening seeing your plant growing fast and beautifully.
Article by Bella Trost
During the lockdown I started two things. The very magazine that you’re reading now and a mini garden.
I’m not sure where the second idea came from but one day I started putting aside the seeds of whichever fruit or vegetable I was eating and I browsed YouTube to learn how to germinate them. I had nothing at home needed for a basic garden, so I made pots from plastic yogurt cups and aluminium tins and I ordered a pack of potting soil from Target. My quarantine garden project was on.
Walking was my primary lockdown exercise. Pretty much every day I went for a walk and, like a good gardening student, I started to notice all the plants on the street that I hadn’t noticed before. That’s how the jade tree came about. The trees, which look more like bushes, drop many broken branches and leaf clusters around the main plant. I picked a few of these up, took them home and put them in water. The little plants were so grateful! After a few days the dry leaves regained their fullness and bright green color and I could not believe how quickly they started to form roots. Collecting jade leaves and branches became part of my walks and today I have a mini jade nursery at home. (For a long time I didn’t even know the name of the plant - I figured it out when I saw a potted version at the store.) I love these plants! They really want to live and grow and seeing that provides such positive energy and happiness.
Check out the YouTube video below on how to grow your plants at home and then keep reading more detailed gardening and feng shui tips below!
How do you take care of a jade plant?
Jade plants can be grown indoors and outdoors. The plant has thick branches with beautiful, bright and shiny green leaves. Under the right conditions, they may produce small white or pink star-like flowers in early spring. (I can’t wait for that – BWG note:)
Light: The plant needs full sun in order to grow properly but if kept in an apartment it will tolerate light shade.
Water: There’s no watering schedule. Water your plant when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Don’t overwater the as the succulent leaves (which means they hold water in their leaves) soon become yellow and start to rot. Also, if you see blisters forming on the leaves, the plants are getting too much water. Ease up on the frequency and amount.
Soil: lightweight, well-draining potting soil or a cactus, palm & citrus potting mix.
Where should you place the jade plant in your apartment according to feng shui?
According to feng shui, jade attracts prosperity and money. (I'll get back to you to confirm :)) In Asia it is a popular good luck charm, a symbol of growth and renewal said to give nourishing chi - positive energy. It is a traditional gift for businesses and business owners, whence it is placed close to the entrance of the restaurant or store. If you keep jade in your apartment look to these directions:
South-East: monetary luck, good business, more income
East: family harmony, health, initiation of projects
West: creativity
North-west: luck of mentors, teachers and helpful people
Do not place your jade plant in the bedroom or bathroom.
