Practiced in China for over 3,000 years, Feng Shui (pronounced "fung shway") is the ancient Chinese study of the environment and its effect on human beings. Feng Shui is based on the concept that a harmonious environment can result in greater success, happiness, and satisfaction in one's life. Sharon Hay is here today to talk about you can use houseplants to stimulate chi in your home.

Watch episode 171 now.

General rules...

• Plants are always growing so they stimulate chi in any room. You should avoid large plants in the bedroom where you need to sleep and rest. They also take oxygen out of the air at night and produce carbon dioxide.
  
  
• Always dead-head flowers on plants.
  
  
• Keep dried flowers no longer than a few weeks. It's like having a graveyard in your house. It's dying, deteriorating chi.
  
  
• Make sure they are always healthy. Get rid of bug infested plants and sick or dead plants right away.
  
  
• A thorny cactus plant or any spiky plant like yucca and mother-in-law's tongue, emits loads of cutting chi and symbolically indicates a dry, hostile environment so light, airy plants with rounded leaves are always favoured.

1.  FRONT ENTRANCE



A Rubber Plant with round leaves or a Jade Plant is good for the front hall. The leaves are round so can enhance good chi. Jade is also called the Money Plant. The front door is the "mouth of Chi" where chi first enters the home and likes to enter in a meandering pattern. A rounded leaf is good for that.  The leaves are also very succulent and hold water. Water represents the flow of money. Also, some say, the leaves are the shape of coins (money). It's good to have this type of chi coming in down the main hallway and throughout the house.

2. LIVING ROOM



Bird of Paradise has earthy colours such as yellows and oranges which are earthy colours. We feel grounded and secure around earthly objects and colours so they are good for the living room where the family gets together often. Wandering Jew has some red in the leaves. Red activates and motivates. So if you need to motivate yourself while in the living room - say, if you exercise to fitness DVDs there, get a plant with a bit of red in the leaves.

3. OFFICE/DEN


 
Peace lilies, English Ivy, Ficus, Spider Plant, Ferns and Palms are an effective way of cleansing the air, and neutralizing common pollutants such as formaldehyde.  Formaldehyde is found in carpets, paints, wood varnishes and flame retardant material.  It is said to irritate the throat, disturb sleep patterns and cause headaches so it's advisable to have these plants in the office and around computer equipment, TV, DVD player, Video gaming consoles, etc.

And the Arrowhead plant is about moving forward in life. They are fast growing and can grow in and around almost anything. They are good for study rooms, libraries or anywhere someone is learning new subjects or hobbies.
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4. KITCHEN

Fruit bearing plants such as lemon or lime trees are good for the kitchen. The kitchen is a symbol of abundance and health. Fruit bearing trees help anchor this energy