​How does your home feel? Does it energize you and make you feel happy, or is it stale and draining? Feng Shui plants can boost your mood, bring you closer to nature, and affect other areas of your life. We've identified 12 of the best Feng Shui plants for your home to help you achieve the peace you deserve.
What Are Feng Shui Plants?
Before we get to which plants to buy, let's talk about the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui. This practice contends that living things are affected by the energy of their environments. This energy is called qi (pronounced "chee").
According to this philosophy, qi flows through your environment; in this case, your home. The placement of objects and use of color in your home can energize it or make your home stagnant. This energy affects your physical and mental condition.
To control and balance this energy, Feng Shui divides your home into eight areas, with a ninth area in the center of your home. Each of these areas are influenced by one of five elements — wood, fire, water, earth, and metal. To achieve balance in the entire home, Feng Shui advises that these elements be prominent in the area they influence.
Adding Plants To Your Home
​Plants are living, breathing, objects and produce more energy than a non-living item. This increases the positive flow of energy. Feng Shui plants can also:
What Look For In Feng Shui Plants
Not all plants create good energy, so it's essential to follow the basic rules of Feng Shui plants. First, look at the leaves of the plant. Round leaves mean flow. Pointy leaves equal sharp objects and create a negative energy. Look for bigger leaves for even better energy.
Consider the size of the plant. Bigger equals more energy, but you also want to have plants that don't overwhelm the other elements in the room. As we mentioned, plants can attract love for people who are single. Plants with vibrant flowers can do the trick.
What Feng Shui Plants To Avoid
As you gather plants for your home to lift its energy, keep in mind that some plants could bring negative energy into your home. The cactus is a plant that you would steer clear of. It epitomizes negative energy, as its sharp needles create an energy that keeps people on edge and can create irritability. The only place that a cactus can bring some benefit is to the fame and reputation section of your home. It is said to protect how people see you in the world.
You'll also want to avoid having "good" Feng Shui plants that are brown, wilted or dead. If they do die, dispose of them and start again. Dried plants are also a no-no. Even though many beautiful wreaths are dried, placing one on your front door or in your home will not help the energy of your home.
Feng Shui Plant Placement
In Feng Shui, the bagua, or energy map, divides your home into nine sections. To keep things simple, imagine an octagon. From each side of the octagon radiates a section. These sections coincide with a direction. Each part of the Octagon including the center represents one of nine areas.
To align your home, you need to figure out its direction. Which direction does your front door face? A north facing front door would align with the north section of the octagon career and life path. A southeast-facing door would align at the abundance section. Standing at the front door, looking into your home, imagine the areas of the bagua.
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These areas and corresponding elements are:
​The best spots for Feng Shui plants are those bagua areas that are helped by the wood element -- Family, Health, Abundance, and Fame.
Do Feng Shui Plants Work?
​​​​​Plants have inherent benefits whether or not you practice Feng Shui; but you may notice an indescribable change to your home's feel and a renewed sense of ease as you add plants to your environment.
Study Buddies
If you have school-aged children or are a student yourself, you may want to think about this. Plants can help you focus. A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that plants boosted a person's ability to concentrate and pay attention.
Other research has found plants can help increase a person's productivity by 15 percent. This can help you study, conquer a work project, or simply get stuff done. In a study involving public high schools in Michigan, being around nature helped improved student performance.
Happiness Helper
Studies have also found that plants helped increase employee satisfaction at work. Flowers had the most power, with 100 percent of people responding to flowers with a genuine smile. Doesn't just thinking about flowers make you want to smile?
Stress Relief
Washington State University and NCBI published studies that say plants help reduce stress levels in employees. Seeing plants helped to reduce workplace stress in about five minutes. Think about a spa or a similar relaxing environment; these places have tons of plants. Image what a few leafy plants could do for your home.
Get Well Soon
​Hospitals have created gardens, and these have helped patients heal faster. A study determined that patients exposed to plants and hospital gardens did not have to take as many postoperative medications and were more positive about their recovery.
12 Feng Shui Plants For Your Sanctuary
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1. Bamboo
​Even if you have a black thumb, this plant is a survivor. Just set it by the window and give it water every so often. It is the quintessential Feng Shui plant that you need to have in your home. Place lucky bamboo in the center of the dining table.
This doubles the energy it attracts because your dining area is where family abundance originates. Bamboo is also a great Feng Shui plant for the office. It is a symbol of wealth, but it also keeps bad energy away.
​2. Peace Lily
Although Western cultures associate the plant as one given for condolences, the peace lily purifies the air and energy of a place. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. If you smoke or live with someone who does, this plant cleans cigarette smoke from the air.
It also clears paint and furniture fumes. It's another resilient choice for people who neglect plants. It grows well in artificial or low light and loves the humidity of a bathroom. Note: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach.
3. Philodendron (The Money Tree)
Why not add a few of these abundance energy plants to your space? It has heart-shaped leaves and can grow in dark corners such as a cubicle. This makes the Money Tree one of the most popular Feng Shui plants; It is believed to lock in luck and prosperity.
Its braided trunk symbolizes the secured wealth that people will have. Do not place the money plant in the bathroom unless you want to flush your money down the toilet. Place this plant in the money area of your home or office, the health area, or the fame area.
4. Jade
​"Jade by the door; never poor." Place this plant, whose leaves are coined shaped, by your front door to welcome wealth. The jade plant can be easily divided and transplanted to other pots. Share the wealth around your home. They are especially powerful when placed in the wealth or family area of your home
5. Boston Fern
​Boston ferns are large and add an instant welcoming feel to your home. You can create a lush entryway or porch garden with these bright, cheery greeters. The fern works well indoors as an air purifier. These plants are non-toxic to pets, and many cats enjoy nibbling on them. You can hang them in empty corners of your home to energize the room.
6. English Ivy
​English Ivy is another hardy choice for your home. Its long wandering vines help to soften corners or sharp edges that are called poison arrows in Feng Shui. The plant is toxic to animals, but it adapts to any environment and grows easily. Think about adding this one to your workspace or place it on the top of kitchen cabinets. English ivy's superpower is removing formaldehyde from the air.
7. Golden Pothos
The Golden Pothos is a houseplant that is thought to bring life to your home. It is a workhorse of an air purifier, too. Forget expense, energy-eating air filters; just place this Feng Shui plant in almost every room of your home. Do not put plants in the bedroom, as they can energize the room too much for sleeping.
The golden pathos is a vine with heart-shaped leaves ranging in color from golden to green. Their cuttings take root in water, so you can create several plants from just one. The golden pathos is toxic to animals.
8. Snake Plant
​This Feng Shui plant is sometimes referred to as mother-in-law's tongue. They have sharp, tall leaves that may at first glance look bad for Feng Shui. But these plants are part of what are considered "protector plants." In some instances, they have incredible benefits that can help your home's Feng Shui. The snake plant can shield you from negative qi. Think of where you want protection from negative energy and place it there.
9. Orchid
​This beautiful flowering plant represents creativity and children: perfect for that area of the home. The plant also symbolizes wealth and luxury. While it is generally not good to place plants in the bedroom, the orchid represents fertility. Its flowers could also attract love.
10. Orange Tree
​In Feng Shui, oranges symbolizes money. An orange tree can be grown in a pot and be outside or indoors. If you want to increase your family wealth, these are a great investment. Trees are also a symbol of support that also lifts the energy of the room.
11. Sage Plant
​If you've ever used a smudge stick to clear a room, then you know what purifying properties this plant has. It can rid the space of fear and anger. It can also create positive emotions.
12. Peonies
​You may have seen paintings of peony flowers on Chinese silk and fabrics, but why is it so popular? The peony is thought to represent wealth and love. Synonymous with beauty, they can enhance the romance in relationships and bring blessings to a marriage. It also symbolizes spring.
Conclusion
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​​Plants literally bring life to your space. Science and Feng Shui agree. Just think how you feel in a garden or while looking at the flower section of the grocery store. Plants lift the mood, stir the heart and soothe the soul. If you're still skeptical, buy a bouquet or a small, inexpensive plant. Place them in your home where you can see them and note how you feel.
Then take it a step further and place them in your wealth or family area. Did anything improve? Did you feel more confident about your finances or did the family seem more harmonious? Start small and be intentional with the plants you buy. At the very least, you'll have cleaner air to breathe.
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