Feng shui is the ancient art and science of creating an optimal environment for you to thrive… and plants can be a big part of it! Feng shui is rich in theories about the elements of nature that compose all of life. It is deeply grounded in the principles of connecting to nature in both building our homes and living our lives.
Feng shui works on recreating the sense of balance and harmony that we find in nature. So, it comes as no surprise that there are so many amazing plants, herbs, and flowers that bring peace into your environment. Today, we share 7 of our favorite plants in feng shui that are easy to care for. These will bring positivity, the power of nature, and even cleaner air to your life.
1. Pothos Plants
Pothos plants are our favorite low-light hanging plants for office space. You can put these in hanging baskets where they will sprawl, thrive, and convey messages of expansion and stretching to any space. Add them to your home offices, creative spaces, or bathrooms, as well. These plants are even on NASA’s list of powerful air purifying plants, and they are beautifully versatile.1
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Pothos plants survive well in bright light, indirect light, and low light, whereas direct sunlight can harm them. If the leaves in your pothos plant look white, it will not grow well in low light as it is the green part and sunlight that creates nutrients for the plants.
- Watering: Water the plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry. Overwatering a pothos plant can destroy its roots, whereas underwatering will cause the leaves to wilt.
- Soil: They can thrive in both dry and nutrient-rich soil.
2. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
The mother-in-law’s tongue is a stately plant that adds a ton of energy to any space. It grows to great heights, and its strong, pointed, vertical leaves are very much of a “fire element” shape in feng shui. This element sparks change, passion, energy, and connection. You can put these plants in doorways as a way of greeting or in active living or dining rooms for an engaging atmosphere.
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Also known as the snake plant, the mother-in-law’s tongue grows well in medium-to-bright light, although bright light is the best. The plant is generally easy to take care of as long as the temperature is above 50 degrees F in its habitat.
- Watering: The mother-in-law’s tongue grows upward and contains rhizomes (a continuously growing horizontal underground stem that puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals). These rhizomes retain and store water, which can easily lead to overwatering. Water only the soil and not the leaves and be sure to use room temperature water.
- Soil: It is best to keep the soil on the dry side to avoid overwatering this plant.
3. Jade Plants
Jade plants are also called “money” plants as their succulent leaves resemble coins. They look lovely on desks, atop bookshelves, or anywhere with a nice dose of light to feel their prosperous growth!
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Jade plants require a lot of sunlight, so grow them near a south-facing window.
- Watering: Allow the soil to dry before rewatering and be sure to water only the soil, not the leaves.
- Soil: The best soil for a jade plant is draining succulent soil.
4. Aloe Plants
Aloe plants are symbolic of wellness and thriving. While the leaves can be split open to harvest a nourishing gel for skin and hair, the plant itself is an edible superfood filled with nutrients. Ideally, plant aloe in gardens where they can sprawl out and grow large. Alternatively, you can pot them on patios, in the kitchen, or on the bathroom windowsill.
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Aloe plants like sunlight, but indirect light works best to prevent burning.
- Watering: These plants shouldn’t be overwatered, especially in the winter months, as they retain more water during this time. Water it once every 2–3 weeks.
- Soil: Although succulent soil is best for aloe plants, the regular soil will also do provided the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom.
5. Basil
Basil is a herb with a lot of symbolic history. From being a love symbol to that of wealth to an enchanted and revered holy plant, basil is a thriving herb that brings lots of power to any space with its lush growth! It is commonly used in the kitchen, chopped and added to salads and dressings. You can also boil it and add a “basil broth” to detox baths.
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Basil prefers sunlight for at least 6–8 hours a day. It thrives in natural sunlight, so place it on a south-facing windowsill.
- Watering: Keep the basil plant in moist, not soggy, soil as this could cause the roots to rot.
- Soil: If growing indoors, a basil plant should be potted in a nutrient-rich soil with good drainage.
6. Spider Plants
Spider plants can bring a sense of creative lushness to a gathering room, kitchen window, the top of a bookshelf, or any place where it can spread out and expand. Some believe that spider plants protect the home from bad vibes and negative energies. These plants develop little baby “spiderettes,” which can be snipped off, placed in a glass of water until the roots grow, and then replanted in the soil.
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: These plants like to hang and prefer bright, indirect light.
- Watering: They like cooler environments and it is important to let the soil dry out slightly before rewatering.
- Soil: They prefer well-draining soil.
7. Orchids
Orchids have often been associated with courage, love, and even luck throughout history. They are both graceful and strong, delicate and hearty. You can feature them anywhere – from desks and coffee tables to bathrooms and bedrooms. Their colors, textures, and patterns vary and you can select varieties that you find most magnetic rather than something that suits a décor theme… this will make them more captivating!
Tips For Plant Growth
- Light: Orchids can grow in low light conditions, and the perfect place to grow your orchid is near an east-facing window.
- Watering: Orchids should not be overwatered. Water them in the morning so that it evaporates by night. The best time to do so would be right before the soil goes dry. Pots designed for orchids are generally terra cotta and have extra drainage holes.
Whichever plant you choose and wherever you decide to grow them, the result will always be a dose of nature magic, of connection, growth, and harmony. Add more greenery to your workspace or home and you’ll feel the thriving results all around you!
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