On a still, honeyed afternoon in late summer, you notice it for the first time. The way the light slips through the kitchen window, catching on the round, glossy leaves of your jade plant. For a moment, the whole room feels softer, calmer, almost… luckier. The kettle hums in the background, magpies call from a gum tree outside, and you get that strange, satisfying sense that things are finally starting to fall into place. It’s just a pot plant on the sill, you tell yourself. And yet, something about it feels quietly powerful.
The Aussie love affair with “good-energy” plants
Across Australia, from breezy Queensland verandahs to compact inner-city apartments in Melbourne, our homes are filling with greenery. Not just any greenery, either. We’re talking about plants whispered about in op-shops, nurseries and weekend markets as “money magnets”, “peace bringers” and “mood lifters”. At the centre of many of these quiet conversations is the humble jade plant.
Crassula ovata, or the jade plant, is a classic. Thick, succulent leaves that look like small, polished coins. A trunk that grows woody and bonsai-like with age. It’s hardy enough to survive an absent-minded housemate and forgiving enough to bounce back after a week of 40-degree heat and a missed watering. But in Chinese culture and in Feng Shui traditions, the jade plant is far more than low-maintenance decor. It’s a living symbol of prosperity, good fortune and enduring relationships.
When you combine that rich symbolic history with the particular energy of an Australian home – the open-plan layouts, decks that blur indoor and outdoor living, the wide, sun-soaked windows – the jade plant becomes something else entirely. It turns into a quiet little ally. A reminder that where and how you place things in your space can nudge your life in surprisingly gentle ways.
Why Jade, Why Here? The Feng Shui story behind the “money plant”
Feng Shui, at its heart, is about flow – the way energy (Qi) moves through a space. Imagine walking into a beach shack on the South Coast of NSW: big windows open to the sea breeze, bare feet on cool timber floorboards, the air smelling faintly of salt and sunscreen. You instantly feel lighter. That’s good Qi. Now imagine stepping into a cluttered hallway, shoes and shopping bags stacked at the door, no clear pathway. Your shoulders tighten, your breath shortens. That’s blocked Qi.
Feng Shui says that when energy flows well, so does life: finances, health, love, creativity. Jade plants are thought to be especially good at “anchoring” prosperous energy because of their coin-like leaves and their sturdy, long-lived nature. A thriving jade is a living metaphor for a bank account that steadily grows rather than surges and crashes.
But here’s the twist: in Feng Shui, it’s not just what you place in your home that matters – it’s exactly where you place it. Put a jade plant in the wrong corner, and it’s just attractive foliage. Put it in the right spot, and it becomes a quiet magnet for supportive energy around money, harmony and long-term happiness.
The exact spot: your home’s wealth corner (with an Aussie twist)
In classic Feng Shui, every home has a “wealth” area, sometimes called the prosperity or abundance corner. One of the simplest ways to find it is to use what’s known as the Bagua map. Don’t panic – you don’t need a compass or a mystical scroll. Just stand at your main entrance, looking into your home as if your front door were the “bottom” of a simple floor plan. Now picture the space divided into a 3 x 3 grid of equal rectangles.
The far back left of this grid is your wealth and prosperity area.
So if you’re standing at the front door of your Brisbane townhouse, for instance, and as you look inside:
- Back-left might be part of your open-plan living area
- In a narrow terrace, it might be part of your dining nook
- In a sprawling suburban home in Perth, it might be the rear corner of your kitchen or family room
That’s the spot where your jade plant can really go to work.
In Australia, where light can be strong and direct and many homes face north to soak up the sun, this back-left area might also line up with a window or sliding door. Perfect. Jade plants love bright, indirect light and can handle a bit of gentle morning sun in cooler climates. So you get the intersection of good Feng Shui and good horticulture: a wealth corner alive with a thriving, happy plant.
Setting your jade up for success: light, pot, and placement
Finding the right corner is the Feng Shui part. Making sure your jade is genuinely healthy is the practical, down-to-earth bit that actually makes the symbolism work. A stressed, yellowing plant in the “perfect” spot won’t feel abundant to anyone.
Think of your jade like a long-haul Aussie friend
Jade plants are the loyal mates of the plant world – they’ll stick with you for years if you treat them right. Here’s how to help yours thrive while it “guards” your prosperity corner:
| Care Aspect | What Works Best in Aussie Homes |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light. Morning sun from an east-facing window in Sydney or Hobart is great; avoid harsh afternoon summer sun in places like Adelaide or Perth. |
| Watering | Let the top few centimetres of soil dry out completely, then water deeply. In humid Darwin, water less often; in dry inland areas, check more regularly but avoid soggy soil. |
| Pot & Soil | Terracotta pot with a drainage hole, filled with a gritty cactus/succulent mix. This mimics the dry, well-drained conditions jade loves. |
| Temperature | Ideally 15–26°C. Keep away from blasting air-con vents in summer and icy draughts in winter in cooler southern states. |
| Energy & Look | Clean leaves with a soft, slightly damp cloth so they shine. No dead leaves, no cluttered junk around the pot – you’re setting the tone for “clear, fresh wealth”. |
If your wealth corner doesn’t currently get much natural light, you have two options. The first is to move the jade slightly within that back-left area to a spot that still “belongs” to that zone but catches more brightness – perhaps a side table closer to a window. The second is to keep the main jade plant in bright light nearby and use a smaller one (or a symbolic piece of jade-coloured decor) directly in the darkest area, so the energy feels represented without sacrificing the plant’s health.
Wealth, yes – but also harmony and happiness
The story of the jade plant in Feng Shui isn’t just about money in the bank. It’s about the kind of abundance that lets you exhale at the end of a long day: shared dinners, gentle conversations, fewer sharp words thrown across the room when everyone’s tired and hot after a week of 35-degree days.
Why this one corner shifts the mood at home
When you commit to tending a jade plant in your wealth corner, you’re also setting an intention: “This part of our life matters. We want not only more, but better.” Better communication. Better boundaries. Better nights’ sleep. In Feng Shui, the wealth corner isn’t just about cash; it’s linked with feelings of worth, security and future possibility.
In a busy Australian household – think kids’ school notes on the fridge, footy boots in the hallway, a rescue kelpie who thinks the couch is theirs – the wealth corner often ends up being the forgotten back bit of the living room or dining area. By placing a jade plant there, and keeping that pocket of the home tidy, you’re quietly rebalancing the space.
Instead of a dumping ground for unopened mail and random chargers, that back-left area becomes a tiny sanctuary: a tidy sideboard, a well-loved lamp, your jade plant shining softly in the afternoon light. People start gravitating there without thinking. Someone sits to read. Someone else chooses that corner for a cuppa and a chat. Harmony sneaks in sideways, disguised as comfort.
Happiness, too, often arrives in the small rituals: wiping dust from the jade’s leaves on a Sunday morning, noticing new growth after a cool change, feeling secretly pleased every time a visitor comments, “That plant is thriving!” You’re reminded again and again that growth is possible in your life, even when other things feel stuck.
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A simple ritual to “activate” your jade plant’s good energy
You don’t need incense, chanting or a degree in metaphysics to lean into the more soulful side of this tradition. But a small, intentional ritual can mark the moment you decide: this plant is more than decoration. It’s a partner in how I want my life to feel.
Try this the day you place your jade in its new home
- Clear the corner. Remove clutter, old receipts, dusty ornaments, anything broken. Wipe down surfaces. Open a window or door and let in fresh air – that coastal or gum-scented breeze does half the work.
- Prepare the plant. Repot it if needed, refresh the top layer of soil, and gently clean the leaves so they gleam. Check roots aren’t waterlogged.
- Place it with intention. Set the jade in the back-left wealth area as you stand at your front door. Aim for a stable, safe surface where it won’t be knocked by kids or pets.
- Speak a clear, grounded wish. Quietly say something like: “May this home be a place of steady prosperity, kind relationships and long-lasting happiness.” It doesn’t need to sound mystical; it just needs to be honest.
- Do one small, practical money action. Right after placing the jade, do something real-world that supports your intention: review a bill, set up a tiny weekly savings transfer, finally cancel that subscription you don’t use. You’re marrying symbolism with action.
Each time you water or tend your jade after this, you’re not just caring for a succulent. You’re reminding yourself that wealth is something you steadily grow – money-wise, yes, but also in terms of friendships, health, creativity and contentment.
Bringing it all home: a green anchor in an unpredictable world
Life in Australia can be wild. Cyclones in the north, bushfires in the south, endless rain one year and crackling dryness the next. Interest rates climb, jobs change, kids outgrow their uniforms overnight. In that constant swirl, having one small, living anchor in your home can feel surprisingly steadying.
The jade plant, sitting quietly in that back-left corner, doesn’t promise lottery wins or instant transformations. Instead, it offers something more subtle and arguably more precious: a daily nudge towards care, attention and optimism. Each new fleshy leaf is a tiny, green reminder that growth is still possible here – in this house, in this season of your life, in this sometimes chaotic country you call home.
So next time the afternoon light slants through your window and you catch your jade plant glowing softly, pause. Feel your feet on the floorboards or tiles. Listen to the sound of traffic, birds, distant lawnmowers, or surf. In that moment, your home is not just a place you crash at the end of the day. It’s a living, breathing space that holds your hopes, your people, and now, in one exact corner, a little green symbol that says: more good things can grow from here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly should I place my jade plant for wealth in Feng Shui?
Stand at your main front door, looking into your home. Imagine your floor plan divided into a 3 x 3 grid. The far back-left section of that grid is your wealth area. Place your jade plant somewhere in that zone, ideally where it gets bright, indirect light.
What if my wealth corner is dark or doesn’t get much sun?
If it’s very dark, place your main jade plant nearby in a brighter part of the same general back-left area and keep the wealth corner itself tidy, perhaps with a smaller plant or symbol in similar colours. Never sacrifice the plant’s health for “perfect” placement.
Can I have more than one jade plant at home?
Yes. One strong, healthy jade in the wealth corner is ideal, but you can place others at your front entrance, on a balcony, or in a home office. Just avoid scattering so many that they become clutter rather than intentional accents.
Is it bad luck if my jade plant dies?
No. It usually just means the plant’s needs weren’t met – too much water, not enough light, or poor drainage. Learn from it, adjust your approach, and try again if you wish. Feng Shui is about awareness and balance, not superstition and fear.
How often should I water my jade plant in Australia?
As a loose guide, in most Aussie homes you’ll water every 1–3 weeks, depending on season and climate. Let the top few centimetres of soil dry out completely before watering again. In humid northern regions, expect to water less often than in dry inland or air-conditioned city apartments.
Can I keep my jade plant outside instead?
You can, as long as it’s sheltered from heavy rain and harsh afternoon sun, and protected from frost in cooler regions. If you want to use it specifically for Feng Shui wealth energy, bring at least one jade plant indoors and place it in your back-left wealth corner.
Does this really “work” to bring money and happiness?
Feng Shui isn’t a guarantee of cash or constant joy. What it does do is help you create a space that feels calmer, clearer and more supportive. A thriving jade plant in a thoughtfully chosen spot can shift your mindset, encourage better habits and remind you to care for your environment – all of which can, over time, support better choices, relationships and opportunities.
