Feng Shui Part 3 – Air Purifying Plants that Help the Feng Shui in Your Office Space

This is Part 3 in our Feng Shui Office series. Over the last few weeks, we have highlighted the different ways to utilize Feng Shui techniques to improve the flow of energy in your office space. Today, we are going to show you how plants can factor into the Feng Shui office equation and have an extra added benefit of purifying the air, as well as adding beauty and personality to your office design.

Employees who bring plants to decorate their office space are happier and more satisfied with their job and their life in general, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.When it comes to promoting the chi and energy flow in your office, certified Feng Shui practitioner, Michelle Luongoadvises “Keep flowers or a potted plant nearby. Not only can it boost your spirits and bring a touch of the outdoors in, they can also help diffuse the harmful electromagnetic fieldsaround your electronic equipment. “

Plants are an important element in the Feng Shui world because they can bring balance to the room. They can literally help grow your careerby promoting health and efficiency in your work place. “One of the cheapest and most effective ways to make a space feel like a home is by adding living plants. If you can incorporate that into your work environment, you’ll feel more abundant, healthier, and you’ll feel like you’re living bigger.”  Says noted Feng Shui consultant, Ken Kauher.

Bamboo is a popular plant of choice for its low maintenance and because it symbolizes good luck and prosperity. You can choose any of your favorite plants for use in your office with the exception of plants that have sharp edges or points, like a cactus. That is because sharp edges are considered like “poison arrows” in the Feng Shui world and plants should be used to soften sharp edgesin corners or desks.Plants can also be used to create a barrier if you are sharing the office space with others or can be placed in a window to prevent positive energy from flowing out of the office.

Before you start thinking that Feng Shui is just some ancient practice filled with superstition, check out the NASA researchthat shows that indoor pollution is worse than outdoor and proves that plants are the solution.

Below is a list of five of the top ten air-purifying plants, as defined by NASA research in the early 1980s.

1. Areca Palm

Scientific Name:
ChrysalidocarpusLutescens
Removes:
* All tested indoor air toxins.
Benefits:
* Very popular and easy to care for plant.
* Leaves have a gracious flow that will soften the energy of any home or office space.

2. Lady Palm

Scientific Name:
RhapisExcelsa
Removes:
* Most indoor pollutants.
Benefits:
* One of the best plants to improve the indoor air quality.
* Very popular and easy to care for.

3. Bamboo Palm

Scientific Name:
ChamaedoreaSeifrizii
Removes:
* Benzene.
* Trichloroethylene.
* Formaldehyde.
Benefits:
* Adds a peaceful, tropical feeling to any environment.
* Most resistant to insect infestation.

4. Rubber Plant

Scientific Name:
Ficus Robusta
Removes:
* Most pollutants, especially formaldehyde.
Benefits:
* Will survive in dim light and tolerate cool temperatures.
* Excellent ability to remove toxins from any indoor environment.

5. Dracaena Janet Craig

Scientific Name:
Dracaena Deremensis Janet Craig
Removes:
* Most pollutants, especially trichloroethylene.
Benefits:
* Attractive plant, easy to grow in very little light.
* Best in Dracaenas family for removing home or office chemical toxins.