Trees and flowers can add a lot more than freshness, shade and colour to your home. According to feng shui practitioners, they can also represent growth and development _ as well as weakness _ so house-owners should be careful to cultivate the right plants in order to ensure the best of luck.
Raising a jasmine shrub inside one’s house is thought to help nurture family bonds.
"Each year, there are different good and bad feng shui sectors that house both auspiciousness and inauspiciousness," said Tossaporn Sritula, also known as Master Chang, one of Thailand's leading feng shui experts. "For 2012, the wood feng shui element is excellent for east-facing areas that radiate auspicious energy to form a good relationship and to generate success for those who are studying. So it's good to grow plants with auspicious feng shui symbols."
And the name of a plant can be vitally important, he added. Plants with auspicious names are believed to bring good fortune; the tricolour nephthytis (aka ton ngern lai ma, "money is flowing in"), for instance. The names of many of the good plants to raise in the coming lunar year include the Thai word for "dragon" (mungkorn). The physical characteristics of a plant, including its shape and smell, can also be significant.
Bromeliads can absorb radiation given out by computers.
Tossaporn said a good choice for the Year of the Dragon, which starts today, is mother-in-law's tongue (lin mungkorn) as the shape of its leaves resembles that of a spear, the favoured weapon of the god Indra. The presence of this plant around our house is believed to keep negative energies under control and protect the inhabitants from bad things.
To ensure prosperity, people should opt for the bagflower aka the bleeding-heart vine (mungkorn kab kaew), a shrubby evergreen vine with clusters of heart-shaped, crimson flowers surrounded by white petals. The meaning of its Thai name has to do with money and wealth.
A plant with the scientific name Dischidia minor Merr. (kled mungkorn) is believed to bring luck. Endowed with leaves thought to resemble auspicious dragon's scales, this powerful plant is said to help create a joyful, happy energy.
To foster love or strengthen an already good relationship, Tossaporn suggested growing some flowering plants that give out a pleasant fragrance such as the gardenia crape jasmine (pud), panicled butterfly bush (rachawadee), cosmetic bark tree (kaew) and jasmine (mali).
"If you are single, make sure that the plants are placed outside the house or in the garden. If you are married, however, keep them in pots inside the home in places where they will be exposed to sunshine," he said.
Mother-in-law’s tongue (lin mungkorn ) is said to have auspicious feng shui for 2012, helping to weaken the effect of negative energies.
Growing certain plants in the office can also help the progress of one's career. And some plants are also recommended because they are believed to absorb harmful radiation given out by computers: the miniature mother-in-law's tongue (lin mungkorn kaeh); bromeliads (sapparod see), a family of plants that includes the pineapple and which boast thick, waxy leaves; and the variegated arrowhead vine (om thong) are three examples.
"Make sure to position the plant on a left-hand corner of your desk," Tossaporn said.
Although certain thorny plants, like cactus, can also absorb computer radiation, he does not recommend them because thorns house negative energy.
The feng shui expert also cautioned that thorny plants such as bougainvillea (fuang fah) should be placed outside the home, not inside. "Of course, thorny plants are good as a protective shield, but they may also throw up obstacles or challenges in your life. So keep them to a minimum."
Tossaporn pointed out that while it is always good to grow plants in one's house or office, it is essential to water and prune them regularly. "It's better not to have a plant at all than to let it die on your desk," he said.
Also, avoid having dried plants or withered flowers around the house as these are believed to bring misfortune.
"Girls, in particular, should be careful not to keep dead or withering flowers given to them by former boyfriends if they want to start a healthy new relationship."
Thorny cactus plants are not recommended.
