The Best Houseplants For Good Feng Shui

Practically everyone would agree that plants have the power to elevate any home and create a sense of comfort. This is especially relevant now since most of us have been spending a lot more time at home in the past few months.

If you’re just getting into the whole home-garden world and are not sure which types of houseplants you like yet and how to choose the right one, you might as well start with popular houseplants as suggested by the ancient Chinese practice of creating a feng shui home.

What Is Feng Shui?

Feng shui is one of the pillars of Chinese philosophy that shows us how to harmonize our living with the surrounding environment. When you do something according to feng shui, you get embraced with positive energy, and it just feels like you’re on the right path.

In the feng shui tradition, plants are of the wood energy and add vitality and kindness to your space. Research also suggests that having plants in our homes helps us concentrate better on any given task.

So what are the best feng shui plants? And how do you decide which ones to get? Surprisingly, most plants could work if you care for them well. However, feng shui states that if you’re getting houseplants for positive energy, you should give preference to the ones with soft and somewhat round leaves, which inspire a sense of calm.

Conversely, if you don’t care for your plants and they start to die, their negative energy will affect your wellbeing as well. In addition, you should avoid fake plants (they don’t do anything for you) and sharp or spiky plants such as cacti.

Let’s explore some of the best houseplants for good energy.

1. Snake plant

Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plant is easy to care for and thus a great plant for beginners. It’s also one of those houseplants that clean the air really well.

According to feng shui, snake plant’s sword-like leaves carry protective energy and represent strength.

2. Jade plant

Often referred to as a money tree, jade has round, soft leaves and lush appearance. In the feng shui tradition, jade plants attract wealth and abundance because their leaves are shaped like coins. You’re also encouraged to place more than one jade plant in your house.

3. Lucky bamboo

Bamboos are fast-growing and adaptable, suggesting imminent upward mobility. They come in stalks, which you can first cultivate in freshwater and then plant a few together (keep the soil moist). Feng shui says that two stalks would nourish your love and three — your happiness. The lucky bamboo is a very sturdy plant and will grow happily in almost any conditions.

4. Boston fern

Ferns, in general, are perfect plants for any feng shui house. They add softness and tend to balance out the geometric qualities of your home. As long as ferns have enough light, they can grow in almost any space. Consider getting a variety of sizes and maybe even hanging the smaller ones.

5. Orange tree

Just like jade plants, orange trees are the best feng shui plants for abundance. If you have enough space on your balcony, patio or outdoors, you can grow the tree so large you’ll be feeding your neighbors in no time! After all, abundance is meant to be shared.

Besides, citrus trees are considered to be lucky and thus bring good feng shui.

6. Peonies

While not the most popular houseplants, peonies are truly gorgeous. If you plant them outdoors, they’ll take a few years to bloom (in late spring) but will last you for generations (up to 100 years).

In the feng shui house philosophy, peonies have the power to attract romance.

7. Sage plant

Speaking of houseplants for good energy, sage plants will make your home light and happy. You can plant them on your balcony or inside, since they come from the type of houseplants that clean the air. They also grow fast and quickly turn into a true green corner in your house.

Where do you put your plants?

Now that you know which plants you want to get, you might wonder if feng shui says anything about where to put houseplants for positive energy. And, of course, it does.

Feng shui home furniture and accessories placement is based on a bagua map — three by three squares (nine total) with assigned energy. From your front entrance, left to right, the first row of squares represents knowledge, career and travel. The second row — ancestors, health and children. The third row — wealth, fame and love.

To create the perfect energy alignment, simply put your plants in roughly the right energy areas around your space. As you can see, creating a good feng shui home with beginner-friendly houseplants is not that difficult at all!