Apart from making your home or office more aesthetically pleasing, plants can do a lot more. According to the ancient Chinese feng shui principles brought down through generations, houseplants can nourish your personal energy, bringing positivity and good fortune into the environment.

 

Why Plants are Related to Feng Shui

By decorating your space with plants, you are ultimately strengthening the energy of “wood”, an important feng shui element. This element brings you the positive energy you need for growth and action, and it can also inspire more human attributes, such as kindness, understanding and compassion, generating a fantastic balance in the area. The green colour of plants is also closely associated with rejuvenation and vitality in feng shui.

 

How to Choose a Good Feng Shui Plant

Although there are not necessarily plants that are deemed good or bad for feng shui, there are some plants that are more commonly recommended to be placed in the home or office to garner good energy. Here are some feng shui tips for choosing a suitable feng shui plant for your space.

The concept of sha qi, or sharp energy, in feng shui relates to an attacking energy, usually from sharp objects. When directed at your body or personal space, sha qi is believed to drain you of your personal energy. So, if you wish to promote positive feng shui energy, starting with yourself, it is advised to avoid very pointy and spiky plants, such as certain cacti.

In feng shui, it is said that a dying and neglected plant can have a negative impact in your home or office and also drain your energy. Therefore, it is wise to consider whether you have the right environment, time and mindset to look after a plant well and keep it healthy before bringing it into your space. Should your plant inevitably develop any brownness, remove the brown portions immediately.

If you are looking to use fake plants for promoting good feng shui, you will need to search for realistic high-quality fake plants to cultivate any benefits. They should be so realistic that one needs to touch them to confirm whether they are real or not.

5 Indoor Feng Shui Plants we Highly Recommend

Zanzibar Gem (Large) (HK$670): Bring good luck and fortune into the home with this low-maintenance adorable plant. Not only can it be a fabulous plant to look after for the average busy individual, it is also a wonderful air purifier.

 

Jade: The jade plant, also known as a money plant, is a good luck symbol and is believed to bring wealth and prosperity to the home or work environment. It also improves the indoor air quality and reduces humidity.

 

Mini Kumquat Tree with Decorations (HK$899): This mini kumquat tree is a delightful plant to have in your space. A symbol of good fortune, wealth and prosperity, it will bring positive vibes to you.The colour and vibrance of this plant will also motivate and inspire those around it.

 

Bamboo: Bamboo represents growth, nourishment and adaptability, making it one of the top choices for good feng shui. Its bright green stalks are also a great symbol of vitality. It is believed that keeping two stalks of bamboo cultivates love, whereas three stalks signifies happiness in your life.

 

Mini Bougainvillea (HK$899): Add a splash of colour to your home or workplace with this magnificent mini bougainvillea plant! This pretty, pink flowering plant is not only vibrant and aesthetically pleasing, it symbolises passion and liveliness as well as beauty and peace, an amazing combination of good vibes to keep around you.

 

 

Everyone has an interest to read about their own personality traits and qualities that are unique to them. From looking up their birthstone to reading about their star sign and zodiac signs, many have gone out of their way to uncover details about themselves in a variety of unique methods. However, not many are aware of birth month flowers; one or two flowers that represent them in accordance with the month they are born in. Each flower has their own unique meaning and characteristic, and understanding these will enable you to send the perfect birthday flowers to the recipient.

The History of Birth Month Flowers

Flowers have always been known for their outstanding beauty, impressive range of colours and wonderful fragrances. Birth month flowers are believed to have originated in the Roman Empire where flowers were offered as gifts and used to honour Roman gods. Since history, a flower language has been developed and one or two unique birth flowers have been assigned to each month.

Birth Flowers by Month

January: carnation and snowdrop

Both of these flowers thrive in winter. Carnations, in particular, symbolise devotion, loyalty and love. Someone born in this month is known to be very passionate and loving, and is a loyal friend.

 

February: violet and primrose

February flowers are fresh and bright. Just like the birthstone amethyst, violets are a gorgeous shade of purple. These flowers signify faithfulness, humility and wisdom, whereas primroses connote confidence and youth. Together, it means people born in the month of February are honest, wise and have a playful innocence to them, making them very easy to get along with.

 

March: daffodil

Daffodils are the symbol of the arrival of spring. The cheerful daffodils are commonly known for their happy bright yellow hues. These flowers represent rebirth, good fortune and prosperity, so people born in March are cheerful and optimistic.

 

April: daisy and sweet pea

Daisies symbolise innocence and purity, whereas sweet pea connote blissful pleasure and gratitude. People born in April are known for their sweet and kind people who will support you no matter what.

 

May: lily of the valley

This May flower is recognised as flowers of humility and happiness. Lily of the valley are associated with traditional feminine qualities, meaning that someone born in the month of May tends to be sweet, warm, considerate and gentle.

 

June: rose and honeysuckle

The birth flowers for June are the ever popular rose and honeysuckle. These flowers represent beauty, love, devotion and honour, making June babies the perfect combination of all of these qualities!

 

July: delphinium and water lily

The July birth flowers, delphinium and water lily are both associated with positivity, honesty, dignity and grace. Those who celebrate their birthdays in July are believed to be lovely, kind-hearted individuals.

 

August: gladiolus and poppy

The vibrant gladiolus is the birth bloom of August, and they are very popular flowers to have around late summer months. Gladiolus flowers symbolise strength of character, honesty, moral integrity, independence and generosity, making August babies strong individuals.

 

September: aster

Asters bloom all year round, but thrive in September. They are well known for their connotation with love, wisdom, faith and innocence, and people born in this month are found to be well-rounded individuals.

 

October: marigold

The beautiful, exotic scented marigold is a delight to have around this time of the year. These sturdy flowers represent determination, warmth and creativity. Those born in October are known to be passionate, diligent and driven.

 

November: chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums come in many different hues, making them a symbol of many positive attributes. However, they mostly signify friendship, honesty and happiness, meaning that the people born in November are positive, loyal individuals.

 

December: holly

Holly is technically not a flower but rather an evergreen plant with bright red berries. Growing in the coldest month all year round, holly has a strong endurance for hardship. People born in this month are strong, positive and influential.

In the world of plants, some have been known to exist. But some have been lost to time, and others have not been discovered yet.

These plants are so rare; in fact, it's hard to believe they even exist.

We have created a list of the top 5 of these plants - the ones you might never get a chance to see otherwise.

Here's our list of five rare species that won't be found growing around every corner.

Top 5 World's Rarest Plants

1. Rafflesia Arnoldii

Commonly referred to as the world’s largest individual flower or ‘the great padma’, Rafflesia Arnoldii, is one of the rarest plants to find. Another name given to this plant is ‘corpse plant’, because of its strong and unpleasant odour similar to that of decaying flesh.

This plant is stemless, leafless, parasitic, with an apetalous flower measuring 3 inches-3 feet in diameter. With its number now greatly reduced, it is considered an endangered species.

You may find Rafflesia Arnoldii in the dense rainforests of Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

 

• Encephalartos Woodii

Also known as Wood’s cycad, Encephalartos Woodii, is a rare cycad and one of the rarest plants in the world. This plant is considered being extinct in the wild with all specimens being clones of the type.

This cycad variety had both male and female plants, but specimens of female plants no longer exist, which has halted propagation. The male plant is now being conserved.

The Encephalartos Woodii is found in the oNgoye Forest of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

• Nepenthes Tenax

This tropical pitcher plant is a lowland species native to northern Queensland, Australia. It has a pitcher-shaped flower on its top that measures up to 15cms. The plant itself grows up to a height of 100cms.

As a carnivorous plant, Nepenthes Tenax feeds on frogs and insects, but occasionally rats can be found digesting within it.

This plant is now a part of the endangered species of the world.

• Pennantia Baylisiana

Scoring a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s rarest tree, Pennantia Baylisiana is an extinct plant of the world that is very rare to find. Only one tree survives at the Three Kings Islands off the New Zealand coast.

There are some controversial findings of this plant's gender. While some botanists argue that this is a female species, some state otherwise.

Pennantia Baylisiana has a slow growth rate, taking about ten years to grow into a mature plant, provided it is in a favourable environment.

• Ghost Orchid

Named after the shape of its petals, the Ghost Orchid is listed as one of the rarest plants in the world. It’s found in Cuba, Florida, and the Bahamas.

When this uncommon orchid blooms, it gives off a soap-like odour.

This plant requires high temperature and high humidity to grow, making it nearly impossible to cultivate outside its natural habitat. Hence, the fact that most of its natural habitat is getting destroyed makes the Ghost Orchid even rarer.

 

Some plants are rarer than others; as in the plants listed above. They are either endangered or extinct and are prone to stop existing.

It's important to always encourage plant conservation and help them avoid becoming extinct.

 

Care Tips for Rare Plants

• Put them in their natural environments

One of the major reasons why these plants are rare is because they can only live in a certain environment. And when they are in the wrong environments and subjected to unfavourable conditions, they can’t survive.

To keep these rare plants alive and healthy, gardeners need to make sure that they are put in their natural environments respectively. For instance, Rafflesia arnoldii grows in the rainforests of Indonesia, Encephalartos Woodii is endemic to the oNgoye Forest of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

 

• Let there be the right amount of light

For every photosynthetic plant, sunlight is essential for its survival. However, if not regularized, the amount of sunlight that a plant gets exposed to can threaten its health.

To put rare plants in their best environments, gardeners must consider the exact range of sunlight that’s required by the plant to thrive.

 

• Get them the right dirt

Rare plants need the right supplements of nutrients to survive. And to give them the right nutrients, gardeners must place them on the right soil, provide them with the right manure while avoiding under- or over-feeding them.

 

• Don’t overwater them, don’t underwater them

Another essential tip of caring for rare plants is to provide them with only the right amount of water. Rare plants can only survive when they are watered appropriately – not under-watered or over-watered.

 

• Taking care of rare plants is tricky but it is possible.

As uncommon plants, it’s understandable that most gardeners are not used to caring for them, and this can be challenging and tricky. However, when put in the right environment, promptly provided with their essentials, and paid rapt attention to, rare plants can thrive and live healthily.

 

Being plant parents demands that you should constantly pay attention to their needs and eliminate every threat to their good health. Alarming threats to plants are insects and bugs that mostly feed off from them while causing them harm. Whether you're just starting as a new gardener or you've been around for a while, it's always important to be conscious of insect & bug infestations on your plants and how to keep them away.

In this post, we will list out three common insects and bugs that commonly infest plants, and generally tip to get rid of them without harming your plants.

 

3 Common Houseplant Insects & Bugs, and How to Get Rid of Them

• Aphids

A commonly known plant pests are Aphids. They are tiny, sap-sucking insects that love to attach themselves to houseplants, doing immense damage to them over time.

They feed on houseplants by sucking the nutrient-rich sap from the leaves/flowers, which causes stunted growth and deformed leaves/flowers. Left unchecked, aphids can do a lot of harm to your plant, resulting in its death over time.

Getting Rid Of Aphids:

1. Remove aphids by hand by spraying water or prying them into a bucket of soapy water;
2. Spray the whole plant with organic sprays like neem oil, or essential oils;
3. Introduce aphids' natural predators like ladybugs, green lacewings, and birds.

 

• Mealybugs

Mealybugs are soft, cotton-like insects that are wingless and commonly found in warm environments, especially indoors, on houseplants.

Mealybugs feed on unsuspecting houseplants by sucking their juices. This weakens the plant and causes its leaves to turn yellow, wilt and drop.

Getting Rid Of Mealybugs:

1. Suffocate the mealybugs by spraying dish soap diluted in water down your plant;
2. Spray the whole plant with Isopropyl Alcohol;
3. If they persist the above solutions, consider introducing mealybugs’ predatory insects, such as lace bugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps (Leptomastix dactylopii), and mealybug destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouieri).

 

• Scale

Scale insects are small insects that usually appear in clusters. Whenever they prey on a plant, gardeners may notice the appearance of sooty mold on the plant.

Scale insects feed by sucking sap from outdoor plants through their piercing-sucking mouthparts. This may cause yellowing or wilting of leaves, stunting or deformed state of the plant, and eventually death of all or part of the plant when left unchecked.

Getting Rid Of Scale:

1. Using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, rub off as many scales as you can from the plant;
2. Spray the infested plant with horticultural oil;
3. If some scale insects remain, pry them off using your fingernail.

 

Bonus Tip:

One quality of a good gardener is 'punctuality'. Ensure to always control pests off your plant as soon as you notice them - don't wait till it's too late to protect your plant.

Have you ever thought about the stress of shopping for plant gifts and moving them from the store by yourself? We have thought about it too.

With Urban Plants Hong Kong, you don't have to worry about that stress anymore, as we will deliver every order to you. When you shop for plant gifts for any occasion, you will get the best delivery without lifting a finger. Read on to find out the benefits that come with plant gifts and their delivery.

 

Advantages Of Giving Plant Gifts

• Plants Are Good for The Health

One of the best gift choices you can give to a loved one offers benefits to their health.

Plants are known to offer numerous therapeutic benefits, so when we have them around us, they give a lot of benefits to our bodies and environment.

Whether you're gifting an adult or a kid, plants are always a beneficial list to choose from.

 

• Plants Are Durable

If subjected to favorable conditions, plants can last for decades, centuries (some, forever). It's always nice to have them around for as long as possible.

If you are ever looking for a living gift that can stay around for a long time, choose a plant.

 

• Plants Can Be Given On Any Occasion

Switching from informal to formal occasions (or no occasion at all), you can choose a plant as a perfect gift at any time. So if you're indecisive about what 'perfect gift' to give on any occasion, plants are always a go-to.

 

Benefits of Plant Gift Delivery

• Plant Gift Delivery is Personalized And Presentable

Plants gifts on Urban Plants Hong Kong are always packaged professionally in presentable ways. When they are delivered to your given address, they come in personalized and presentable appearances, to catch your recipient's heart at first sight.

 

• Plant Gift Delivery is Convenient

Our Plant Gift Delivery is aimed at saving you every stress and time of transporting your plant gifts. All you have to do is select what plants you want and place your order for them; we will bring them to you.

 

• Plant Gift Delivery is Fast

When you place an order on Urban Plants Hong Kong, you can be sure to receive it very fast. Most orders are delivered on the same working day when they are placed or the day after, provided they are placed earlier in the day. Relatively, deliveries to metropolitan areas are quicker than in rural areas.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Urban Plants Hong Kong will deliver your plant gifts to most Hong Kong Metropolitan Area for free, saving you every dime of delivery fees.

 

Top Plant Gifts for Every Occasion

If you are looking to gift your relative/colleague plants that are highly beneficial, easy-to-maintain, and add beauty to the home/office, then these eco-friendly plants are the top choices to go with.

 

•  Aloe Vera Small

Aloe Vera plant is one of the most beneficial plants one could keep, especially for its eco-friendly and therapeutic purposes. It is well-known for its soothing, moisturizing, and cooling properties.
It can be grown both indoors and outdoors and requires only little maintenance to thrive healthily, so it’s a perfect fit for everybody.
Place your order for Aloe Vera at $330 now and enjoy free delivery to Hong Kong Metropolitan areas.

• Pink Evergreen Plant

From traditional to contemporary style, this indoor plant can literally suit any interior scheme. The Pink Evergreen Plant is also very useful to help improve concentration and productivity in any work environment.
If you’re ever looking for a durable houseplant, consider the Pink Evergreen Plant.
Place your order for Pink Evergreen Plant at $499 now and enjoy free delivery to Hong Kong Metropolitan areas.

• Bamboo Palm

Easily grown indoor or outdoor, the Bamboo palm is an easy and rewarding houseplant to keep. It’s a tough plant that thrives well even with low attention, making it easy to grow by every gardener, be him a beginner or expert.
This highly beneficial plant is a perfect gift choice for every occasion and everybody.
Place your order for Bamboo Palm at $870 now and enjoy free delivery to Hong Kong Metropolitan areas.