Check out these 5 reasons to grow a jade plant.

1. GOOD LUCK CHARM: The first reason to grow a jade plant is because it supposedly brings the owner lots of luck. That’s why it’s fittingly nicknamed the lucky plant.

Its fleshy leaves are shaped like coins that hint at wealth, so it’s also called the money plant, money tree, and tree of wealth.

So let’s be real: Who wouldn’t welcome a bit more luck and prosperity?

2. GENEROUS GIFT: The second reason to grow a jade plant is because it serves as a greatly esteemed gift. Traditional Asian businesspersons give jade plants as meaningful gifts during initial introductions because it is renowned as a good luck symbol in feng shui. Gifting it to a colleague or business partner can help activate new energies and synergies that can strengthen the relationship between recipient and giver. That explains its other nickname, too: friendship plant.

When it comes to grand openings and newly launched business ventures, presenting a jade plant to the owner is like extending a special blessing -- especially when placed at the entrance so it can support sales growth and prosperity.

As an evergreen, the jade plant extends its blessings year-round, which can support renewal and permanency. And don’t forget the jade plant’s trunk, for its strength can bring stamina and power to the owner.

A jade plant is a great gift in the personal realm, too. Whether a housewarming, special occasion, or significant milestone, who wouldn’t appreciate a plant that brings with it the potential for bundles of blessings and fortunes in finance?

3. CAREFREE CARE: A third reason to grow a jade plant is because it’s easy to grow and easy to keep as a houseplant. Even when it is forgotten or neglected, it feels like it’s right at home in the land of its origin — the deserts of southern Africa and Mozambique (the latter now considered a paradise of sorts!). The jade plant obviously prefers relatively warm, dry living conditions, which more than likely resembles the atmosphere in one's home or outdoors in a summertime garden.

Fortunately for the plant and caretaker, a jade plant requires little water (especially in winter), and it prefers infrequent re-watering. The reason is because it’s a succulent, meaning that (like its far-fetched relative the cactus) the jade plant's stems, leaves, and roots store water. So it seldom needs more  -- maybe once or twice a month.

The jade plant also grows somewhat slowly, so typically it doesn’t mind a pot that it’s basically outgrown. That equates to less repotting effort for the grower, and doesn’t less work sound good?

When living in its preferred environment (like an inside greenhouse/sunroom or  outdoors in plant zones 10 and 11), a jade plant can grow into a 6-foot shrub at maturity. Conversely, one can also carefully train and prune the plant to maintain a bonsai (miniature) form, if desired. Regardless, its distinctive form—along with its short, gnarly trunk—warrants a second glance.

4. PRETTY PLANT: The fourth reason to grow a jade plant is simply because it’s a downright delightful houseplant. The vibrant-green coloring of its leaves resembles a highly valued, precious gemstone of the same name: jade. In relatively bright light conditions, those plump little leaves' tips can take on a red tinge that adds to its charm. But the owner shouldn't be concerned if those leaves closest to the main trunk fall off, for they tend to drop naturally as the plant ages.

At its season of blooming, the jade plant sports another fantastic feature: small clusters of tiny, star-shaped white or pink flowers with sweet scents that attract all kinds of pollinators. The flowers' coloring varies with the jade plant’s species, of which there is not one, but 300 (i.e., lots of different kinds!).

5. PLENTIFUL PROPAGATION: The fifth reason to grow a jade plant is because it can give the owner so many more! Whether using a healthy leaf plucked from the stem or a healthy stem cut just below the node, the goal is to grow viable roots that support replanting. Propagation tips for succulents can be found here, but in the meantime, all gardening tools and equipment should be clean and sterile so the "newbie starters" aren’t unnecessarily burdened with fungus, molds, or insects.

So there are the 5 reasons to grow a jade plant. The same reasons apply to buying a jade plant, too. The best source is a domestic grower who's experienced and knowledgeable so that plant health is guaranteed. That's SUCCULENT MARKET, who just happens to have jade plant cuttings available for shipping. Good luck with your lucky plant!

Source of feng shui tips: Sally Painter, "Home & Garden"