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A breath of Feng Shui

By Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer
09 June 2018   |   3:32 am
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art or science formalized over 3000 years ago. In Chinese thought the system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi) and which favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when citing and designing your building or the way…

Feng Shui plant

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art or science formalized over 3000 years ago.

In Chinese thought the system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi) and which favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when citing and designing your building or the way that you arrange objects in your living space affect your success health and happiness.

The term feng shui literally translate as “wind and water” in English.

In Chinese culture wind, air and water are associated with good health, thus good fortune. Conversely bad feng shui means bad luck or misfortune.

It claims to use natural energy force to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environments.

It is the art of unveiling the natural energy force called (qi) to benefit our health, strength and wealth. According to Feng shui the proper arrangement of objects in our living spaces will deflect bad ‘qi’ and beckon the good to flow.

Feng shui(wind and water) is therefore the practice of arranging your environment so that energy or ‘qi’ flows gently and smoothly through your house or business place.

As Asian culture becomes more popular so also this ancient art of harmonious environments become popular.

Best Feng Shui practice asks us to always keep in mind the quality of indoor air we beathe and to do our best to improve it.

Scientific Research show that indoor pollution is often much worse than the outdoor pollution (2 to 5 times worse), and plants offer an easy and effective way to improve indoor air quality.

For Feng shui practitioners, plants offer a great way to combine both energetic and purifying techniques. For instance to counteract negative energy, locate a plant within 3feet of your computer to filter electromagnetic energy .

To ensure that your houseplants do their best cleaning your air, place them within your personal breathing zone, 6-8cubic foot area where you spend the most of your time.

To really achieve an air purifying effect at home, NASA’s studies recommended that at least one plant be placed every 100 square feet.

Below is a list of some plants species with good Feng Shui and NASA scientifically proven air purifiers.

Rubber plant (Ficus Robusta, Ficus elastica)

Tolerates dim light and cool temperatures and has excellent ability to remove air toxins from the environment. It removes most pollutants, especially formaldehyde.

Moth Orchid (Phalenopsis) are house plants that get attention with their striking blooms. Who knew beautiful Moth orchids are easy to grow and are natural air filters?

These colourful exotic houseplants, work day and night to purify the air and add style while doing it.

Orchids may not be low-maintenance and something of a reputation for being hard to grow, they are actually pretty easy as long as you don’t over water them( water once every 10 days or so).

Remember to keep them in bright light, and they do best when planted in small pots with well-drained soil.

Spider plant (Chrorophytum comosum)

Don’t let the name fool you. The species (also called air-plane plants) is easy to grow and has grassy leaves (that twist and curl in some varieties).

This plant made headlines as a super air-cleaner that pulls pollution right out of the air with its superior ability to quickly scour a wide variety of toxins from the air. It does well as a hanging or cascading plant.

It’s a natural choice for hanging baskets, but thrives on desks and tabletops. Spider plants need medium to bright light. Fertilize every 3months.

Red Aglaomena – Chinese Evergreen

A colorful houseplant and easy to grow, featuring dark green leaves variegated with streaks and splashes of red and pink, red aglaomena grows practically everywhere indoors and removes air pollution no matter where you grow it.

Calathea – Prayer plant. Zebra plant, Pinstripe plant is a beautiful houseplant that thrives in spots with high humidity making it a good pick for kitchens and bathrooms.

There are wide varieties available all are good at making clean air in homes and offices.
Croton

A striking plant with eye-catching colorful foliage and varieties If you’re looking for colour, it’s tough to beat Croton.

A popular houseplant, croton features wildly variegated leaves that have more red, orange, yellow or purple than green.

A great choice for high light spots, keep the plant evenly moist and place in bright light.

Fertilize a couple of times in the year. Croton sucks nasty VOCs like a champ.

Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)

Ideal for creating a tropical look. This plant gets its name from the fact that if you eat the foliage your mouth and vocal chords may numb.

The plant offers lush foliage that takes toxins out of the air so your family can breathe easier.

The plant requires medium light and rich, well draining soil. Fertilize every two months.

Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena maginata)

Super easy to grow and versatile Madagascar Dragon Tree is a textual addition to homes and offices with its grassy leaves.

Many varieties are delightfully variegrated with streaks of white, pink, purple, or gray-green in the leaves. Keep this beauty near where you wake and sleep to maximize its air-cleaning qualities.

Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)

This plant is a vine that generally drapes rather than climbs. The leaves are lime green and have a pointy tip. Arrowhead vine grows in low medium light. Avoid putting the plant in bright light, as its leaves easily burn. Fertilize every two months.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaomena modestuin)

This is easy to grow plant features variegrated leaves. It grows in low to high light and requires fertilizing every two months.

Dracaena is a big family of plants, many which are excellent houseplants. All are wonderful natural air filters.

One favourite is a colourful variety called ‘lemonlime’. It features gray-green leaves edged broadly in bright chartreuse.

A crisp white pinstripe separates the colours. Another favourite is Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ (Dracaena deremensis) is an attractive plant that does well in very little light.

It is considered the best of the Dracaena family for removing home or office chemical toxins. It removes most pollutants especially trichloroethylene.

Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii)

Dwarf date palm is a slow grower that can reach heights of five to six feet. It can tolerate fairly low levels of light. It removes most pollutants especially xylene.

Corn Plants

Is a classic tree that’s been a favourite for filling corners of rooms with splash of colour.

It is a cinch to grow- it’s wonderfully adaptable to a range of conditions and efficiently removes harmful chemicals released by cleansing products, paints, shoe polish, markers and other common household items.

What the ancient Chinese believed and practiced that arrangement of certain plants aid the flow of positive energy (wind, air, water and vapour) has been proven by scientific research 3,000 years later and the world is just catching up.

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