Healthy new growths on a jade tree. - Photos by rita elliott

Many Jade trees (not to be confuse with the vine of the same name!) owners claim the plant has a miraculous ability to attract income to whatever house it graces. If the tree grows well, has big, round leaves - financial affairs will surely take a favourable turn.

Of course, you should start with planting. Jade tree has a striking ability for reproduction, you can grow a new tree from a small leaf quite quickly. As for sprouts, they often take roots in thin air!

Well, if you decided to grow not just a home plant, but a magic talisman, consider another peculiarity - it's desirable to tear off a cutting or leaf secretly (simply put: to steal!) Before planting any cutting, allow it to dry for several hours. For more striking results, cover pots holding cuttings, using caps of transparent film or a usual glass, but don't forget to air regularly.

There are several more tricks which can strengthen your material situation. Bury a coin, for example, in a pot in which a jade tree is growing would be a good idea.

Peculiarities of Care

The main requirement of jade tree is plenty of sunlight. It hails from African savannahs and that's why it stands well even in the dry air of apartments and direct sun beams. In summer you can bring it to fresh air.

From time to time (twice a month) turn the pot by two cm to the left, so that crown won't become lopsided.

Water more generously during active growth period without letting the soil get soggy. In winter be very careful and water only when soil becomes dry. Water stagnation is very dangerous, it leads to decay of roots and inevitable death of a plant.

Don't forget: it's very easy to save a plant that is fading because of drought; a drizzle of water will revive it. However, if you over-water it, at best you will be able to take a cutting to start everything from the beginning again.

You need to arrange additional fertilising during a period of active growth once a month. Without it leaves will become small, crown - meagre. Use liquid additional fertilising for green plants. They are very easy-to-use and absorbed by plants easily.

You can transplant a plant only when a pot becomes really tight. Soil mixture is prepared of a light, but nutritious turf or leaf soil with addition of sand or loam.

Bearded iris not blooming

Do you have a patch of bearded iris producing healthy foliage but flowers are a no-show?

There are several reasons why bearded iris will refuse to bloom. Here are the three more common ones:

The rhizomes simply needed a year or two to settle in - particularly if they were planted at an odd time.

They need more sun (these plants prefer full sun).

The rhizomes you planted were too small to bloom and needed some time to reach blooming strength. This may be the year they break loose and surprise you!

Seeds in eggshells

Eggshell halves are a great way to start seeds because, when the time is right, the shell can be buried right in the ground. Fill each eggshell cup with soil and plant your seeds in them. The seeds will need to be kept warm and moist to germinate. Read the seed package to find out whether or not you should cover the seeds or leave them on top of soil.

After the seeds sprout, move them to a sunny window and continue to keep the soil moist.

You won't require fertiliser if you are using the eggshell method.

The eggshells act as food for the plant. When you place them into the soil the roots of your plant will grow right through the eggshell as it begins to soften and decompose.

TIP: Save your eggshells year-round. Add spent coffee and tea along with chopped banana peels. Use the mix around gross feeders, such as roses or cannas.