IN THE INSPIRING GREEN

How to choose and place plants for harmony at home

Philodendron Scandens (Heartleaf Philodendron)

Bringing nature indoors means inviting calm, vitality, and harmony into your everyday life. Choosing the right plants and placing them with intention not only helps purify the air, but also transforms your home into a space where energy flows freely — where every corner seems to breathe with you. Their quiet presence reminds us of our deep connection with the natural world, offering small oases of beauty and serenity.

In Feng Shui, plants and flowers are recommended to revive the energy of a room and promote a harmonious flow of ch’i. Inviting nature inside is especially beneficial during the colder months, when we spend more time indoors and our connection with greenery becomes a true source of well-being and renewal.

Caring for them with love and attention is essential, since wilted or struggling plants can create the opposite effect — and we all know how complicated our relationship with plants can sometimes be!

That’s why symbolic Feng Shui can become such a valuable ally: even when keeping a plant alive feels like a daily challenge, understanding the meanings and energies behind each species inspires us to nurture them with awareness. Some plants become true symbols of well-being, protection, and prosperity, turning our care into a mindful gesture of harmony — both for our home and for ourselves.

The well-known Crassula ovata, for example, with its round leaves, symbolizes the expansion of prosperity; while Sansevieria (or Saint George’s Sword) is regarded as a symbol of protection. The Philodendron Scandens, also called Heartleaf Philodendron for its heart-shaped leaves, originates from tropical America and brings a touch of elegant comfort to any living space — while being delightfully easy to care for.

Crassula Ovata

Thanks to their purifying action, plants are of great value in our homes.Even when we remember to unplug devices and keep our cell phones out of the bedroom while we sleep, electromagnetic pollution isn’t the only source of contamination we should be aware of. In this case, nature once again comes to our aid — with plants such as Pachycereus pringlei (the Mexican cactus), Tillandsia, and Ficus benjamina.

Tillandsia, in particular, is a truly remarkable plant! It has the ability to capture and “digest” air pollutants. It lives on air alone and requires only an occasional light misting of water. Beyond benefiting from humidity, Tillandsias also absorb pollutants contained in atmospheric dust, which makes them excellent bioindicators of air quality — especially for detecting substances released by the incomplete combustion of gasoline and diesel, both suspected of having carcinogenic effects.

To improve the quality of the air we breathe, we can bring into our homes those friendly plants capable of neutralizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

For those of us living in urban centers, benzene and toluene are pollutants that must be kept in check. They can be counteracted with plants such as Sansevieria, Philodendron (as mentioned earlier), Pothos, Ficus, or Aloe Vera. Another substance to watch out for is xylene — a mixture of irritating chemical compounds commonly found in leather processing, rubber materials, and even certain types of furniture. Continuous or high exposure to these pollutants can negatively affect the central nervous system, potentially leading to mood disturbances or depressive symptoms.

Tilladsia, Cactus messicano, Ficus Benjamin

For this very reason, in our fast-paced daily lives, where we so often overlook values such as harmony, beauty, and simplicity, plants take on an even more precious role.In spaces marked by architectural, structural, or decorative disharmony, they become silent allies, capable of rebalancing energy, restoring calm, and bringing a sense of naturalness back into the environments we inhabit.

In open, yang-dominant spaces or areas with strong metal energy — often characterized by light colors and a highly functional design — it is both healthy and harmonizing to introduce plants and other natural elements in balanced proportions. Their living presence promotes equilibrium, serenity, and renewal. Choosing the right species, keeping them healthy, and placing them mindfully can truly transform a house into a place of well-being, vitality, and connection with nature.

Speaking of this balance between nature and space, in recent years the concept of biophilic design — the art of bringing nature into built environments — has evolved into a true philosophy of well-being. This contemporary vision intertwines beautifully with the ancient principles of Feng Shui, which for millennia has taught us to take advantage of energy through the harmonious arrangement of elements.

Both approaches are rooted in the same idea: nature is not a decorative element, but a living presence that profoundly shapes our physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Plants, natural light, organic materials, and the flow of air all become channels of ch’i energy, stimulating vitality and serenity. While Feng Shui guides us in where and how to position elements to encourage a harmonious flow, biophilic design teaches us what to choose to awaken our senses and reconnect with the Earth.

Together, they create environments that are not only beautiful to live in, but spaces that breathe with us — homes that nurture, protect, and regenerate.

In Feng Shui, plants — beyond their biological qualities, such as purifying the air or improving humidity — also hold deep symbolic meaning. Each plant’s shape determines its correspondence with a specific phase of ch’i, representing a particular aspect of life energy within the Feng Shui system.

Let’s take a closer look:

Element / Phase of Ch’i	Meaning / Energy	Recommended Plants	Characteristics
Wood	Ascension, growth, vitality, new beginnings	Lucky Bamboo, Ficus, Dracaena, Philodendron	Tall and slender leaves, upward growth, symbol of expansion and renewal
Fire	Passion, energy, motivation, transformation	Aloe Vera, Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise), Agave, flowering plants in red or orange tones, Cacti	Warm colors, striking flowers, pointed or dynamic foliage, stimulating energy
Earth	Grounding, stability, nourishment, support	Jasmine grandiflorum, Guzmania, fruit-bearing plants	Structured leaves, lush growth, grounding presence that anchors and nurtures energy
Metal	Clarity, focus, precision, manifestation	Silver-green plants, Crassula ovata (Jade Tree), Pilea	Rounded leaves, often flowerless, clean shapes that encourage order and reflection
Water	Flow, introspection, fluidity, emotional depth	Lucky Bamboo in water, marsh plants, dark-green ferns, Pothos, Orchids (when allowed to grow freely)	Plants that love humidity or proximity to water; trailing or cascading growth patterns that evoke movement and continuity

In Feng Shui, it’s not enough to simply have a healthy plant — it’s equally important to choose the right species and shape according to the type of energy you wish to activate in that particular corner of your home.

However, let’s not forget that it’s often the plants themselves that “choose” where they wish to thrive. If there are corners where they just don’t seem to grow, it may be worth exploring whether the issue lies in the energy flow of the space or due to other factors such as insufficient light or unsuitable temperature.