summer

Little Daughters of Jade

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Fifteen years ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, a friend brought me a sliver of jade plant, taken from her own larger one. The tiny jade was in a yogurt container, and as my friend passed it to me, she said, “This is for luck.”

Naturally, this made me extremely superstitious about the plant, whom I unimaginatively named Jade. Over the years, I have tended Jade faithfully and lovingly, watering her when needed and feeding her once a month.

I wish I had taken a picture of baby Jade, but I had no idea how she would grow. And grow and grow.

Now, fifteen years later, this is what Jade looks like.

Jade certainly attracts attention. Delivery people and friends alike marvel at Jade’s size and beauty.

A while back, when one of Jade’s branches broke, it occurred to me that I could propagate more little Jades so that if—God forbid—anything ever happened to big Jade, her spirit would live on in her daughters.

Propagating more little Jades proved to be ridiculously easy. I filled a small glass with water and tucked the tiny jade stems into the water. Within a month or so, hairy roots appeared, and I planted them in small pots with potting soil.

Readers might have noticed a cluster of babies around Jade on the buffet. Here is a closer look at the daughters of Jade, on our front deck right after I planted and watered them.

The other day, I brought a daughter of Jade over to a friend who is dealing with her own health issues. “This is for luck,” I told her, thus keeping the tradition going.

The rest will be for the young woman who delivers our weekly farm share that we get from our own Farmer Kev. Some time ago, I had given her a daughter of Jade—not because she was ill but just because she wanted one—and she recently told me that her daughter of Jade is thriving. She also mentioned that many of her friends would love to have their own daughter of Jade: “As many as you want to give away.”

We’ll see if she wants five little daughters. If not, I know I can find homes for the rest of them.

For some reason, in my mind Jade is a matriarch and her children are daughters. Why this should be I’m not sure. I suppose it must be because even though the name Jade can be used for both genders, I envisioned the original little Jade as feminine, a manifestation of the luck my friend was giving to me. And my vision for Jade’s offspring goes in the same direction.

I also like to think that luck is like love, something that grows and spreads as we bestow good wishes on others. After all, it’s a hard old world, and most of us, for whatever reason, could use the blessing of luck.

 

89 thoughts on “Little Daughters of Jade”

  2. I love how you are passing on the daughters of Jade to friends! I never new they were supposed to bring luck. I think I’ll start making more little jade plants to pass on to others for luck.

  5. What gorgeous plant! I love that you are spreading love with it. I have a jade (lower case) plant too that I’ve had for about 3 years now – I wonder if it will grow to your Jade’s stature.

    1. In the winter, my Jade always developed spots on her leaves and drops a fair amount. However, there are enough healthy leaves to make up for the ones she loses. Are all the leaves spotted or just a few?

  7. A heartwarming post, Laurie. A nice way to share love.

    I don’t have jade but over the years I have propogated and gifted ficus elastica (rubber plant), varieties of pothos and monstera. It’s my extra gift for any house warming party 😊.

  9. I like to think of that thriving Jade mirroring your thriving in the last fifteen years. I love the daughters of Jade too. What a wonderful gift to pass along.

  10. Thank you for this beautiful, hopeful post, Laurie.

    It’s wonderful to know that the present of Jade keeps on giving and spreading love and cheer. I hope her daughters will find good homes.

    I have great respect for this plant. One was forgotten in a corner of my dad’s home and when I discovered it, it looked dead. I soaked the soil and within days, some of the desiccated, flat leaves were starting to plump up. Though not as big as yours, it’s thriving now. What resilience and will to live!

    1. My pleasure! I love the story of how you revived the jade plant from your father’s home. Yes, what resilience and will to live. Brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

      1. I often wondered that myself, Laurie. I found this

        https://lethbridgehorticulture.org/2015/02/17/a-plant-for-good-fortune-prosperity-and-friendship/

        One of the most popular houseplants grown worldwide is Crassula ovata, the jade plant, a native of South Africa. Also known as money plant, friendship tree or lucky plant, it is thought of as a good luck charm in Asia. Because its thick, smooth leaves look like pieces of jade it symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and many Asian business owners place a plant near the entrance to their business to bring prosperity and success. People who practice Feng Shui believe putting a jade plant in their home can bring benefits ranging from family harmony and health to creativity, wealth and scholarly pursuits.

  17. Jade is absolutely flourishing Laurie and it’s so lovely to be able to spread the luck and live around 🤗❤️🍀 xxx

  18. What a gorgeous morning story which has reminded me 🙂 > I had a ‘Jade’ in my previous home and we got along just as beautifully as you do with yours. Did not know her extra ‘benefits’. Well, your post has just given me a nudge and a wink . . . guess what is going to arrive in my new studio next . . . love to your Jade and may all her daughters thrive!

  19. I love the way your think about these offshoots! Plants given in a time of illness have so much extra meaning. The anthurium my niece and nephew gave me when my sister died is a treasure.

  20. I’ve seen Jade plants before, and admired them, but your story elevates these to a special place! The story’s so sweet and moving I’m tempted to find one and begin nurturing it for a friend. In a couple of months she’s giving up her roaming-in-an-RV life and moving into an apartment. I know she wants plants, since she hasn’t been able to grow them in her RV, and this would make a wonderful gift. Thanks for giving me the idea!

  22. Beautiful story.

    My daughter has a large one and I have one of her babies. I wonder how many of your readers have a Jade plant, a lovely link between us all across the miles

  24. I love plants which have stories attached because I can remember who gave them to me. When someone I kno dies I try to take a cutting of a plant from their garden or the graveyard where they are buried as a memento of them.

  25. What a lovely and thoughtful way to share this beautiful gift. The original plant looks amazing and I’m sure the daughters of Jade will be most welcome wherever they go.

  31. What a lovely gesture to give your friend a daughter of Jade! I hope it brings her luck in coping with her own health concerns.

  33. What a heartwarming story to go along with the daughters of Jade. What lucky recipients! I have never had good luck with jade , but yours is beautiful so it makes me want to try again. 💚

  35. I am delighted by this story. We have enormous plants of Crassula ovata (Jade) growing around our swimming pool. They are in full bloom now and look beautiful.

  36. Pingback: FOR LAURIE – IN HONOUR OF YOUR JADE PLANT – Something Over Tea

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