Buzz
(Mytour) Check which plants should not be kept in your home during the New Year and make sure to remove them from your living space to prevent any bad luck or misfortune for you and your loved ones.
1. Plants associated with evil or negative energy.
Not all plants are beneficial, especially during the New Year. It's crucial to be more cautious about the plants you keep indoors. Plants with negative energy, like those associated with evil spirits, should be placed outside. These plants are believed to cause illness and misfortune for the homeowner when kept in the garden. Some plants considered to attract bad spirits include willows, figs, banyans, rice, locusts, mulberry trees... Even cacti, if placed incorrectly, can block the flow of positive energy into the house. These plants should be carefully positioned or avoided in the front yard.
2. Plants that clash with the homeowner's personal element.
Each type of plant is suited for a specific age or zodiac sign, bringing prosperity and good fortune to the household. Choosing plants that are not aligned with one's zodiac can cause discomfort, leading to potential issues in work and health. Therefore, take a moment to review the plants in your home and make necessary adjustments to invite a prosperous new year.
- People with the Metal element should avoid plants with red, pink, orange, or purple (Fire element), or blue and black (Water element), to prevent misfortune or disharmony in the family.
- People with the Water element should steer clear of plants with brown or yellow (Earth element, which weakens Water), or those entirely green (Water nourishes Wood), to avoid losing wealth and prosperity in the family.
- People with the Wood element should avoid plants with red, pink, orange, or purple, as Wood generates Fire (which reduces Wood's energy). Additionally, since Metal weakens Wood, plants with white color should also be avoided. Choosing these plants can bring bad luck and lead to financial loss.
- People with the Fire element should avoid plants with blue, black (Water element), or brown, yellow (Earth element) colors. Growing these plants is like inviting misfortune and bringing harm upon oneself.
- Those with the Earth element should completely avoid plants with white (Metal element) or only green (Wood element), as they may cause wealth to dwindle, and the family may suffer poverty and misfortune.
3. Toxic flowers and plants
Be cautious of toxic plants, especially if there are young children in the house. Families should carefully consider whether to bring home these toxic plants for decoration.
Many beautiful flowers that used to be found only in hedgerows are now popular as house plants. However, they carry dangerous toxins, such as oleander, azalea, silk tree, poinsettia...
These plants contain highly toxic substances that most buyers and sellers are unaware of. When kept indoors, the risk of poisoning is significantly higher, and it could even be life-threatening. Additionally, homeowners should take protective measures such as wearing gloves, safety glasses, and using separate tools to limit contact with the toxins.
Many beautiful flowers that used to be found only in hedgerows are now popular as house plants. However, they carry dangerous toxins, such as oleander, azalea, silk tree, poinsettia...
These plants contain highly toxic substances that most buyers and sellers are unaware of. When kept indoors, the risk of poisoning is significantly higher, and it could even be life-threatening. Additionally, homeowners should take protective measures such as wearing gloves, safety glasses, and using separate tools to limit contact with the toxins.
Therefore, be cautious with toxic houseplants to avoid jeopardizing safety, which could ruin the Tet festivities.
For instance, the peace lily, if pets or children come into contact with its leaves, could cause drooling and difficulty breathing. In such cases, it is best to clean the affected area and consult a specialist in toxicology or a poison control center. Some toxic plants include:
For instance, the peace lily, if pets or children come into contact with its leaves, could cause drooling and difficulty breathing. In such cases, it is best to clean the affected area and consult a specialist in toxicology or a poison control center. Some toxic plants include:
- Paperwhite narcissus contains toxic alkaloids in its sap. If our skin comes into contact with this toxin, it can quickly lead to rashes and itching. A large amount of toxins from the plant could cause dilation of pupils, seizures, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeats in adults.
- Oleander has a milky sap containing harmful glycosides, mainly oleandrin, which ranges from 0.7 to 1/1000. Contact with the sap can cause mild burns and irritation on the skin. In sensitive areas like the cornea, the sap can cause rapid ulcers leading to blindness. If ingested, oleander can cause nausea, internal bleeding, and heart arrhythmia.
- Poinsettia is not suitable for indoor planting, especially in households with members sensitive to latex in its sap. In many cases, exposure to the sap leads to allergic rashes. Even a small amount of sap can cause diarrhea.
- Snake plant: its sap contains saponins, a toxin that causes rashes, allergies, and, in severe cases, nausea and diarrhea if ingested.
- Lily contains Lycorine, a toxin found mainly in its bulbs. Children who come into direct contact with this substance will experience itching and burning. Ingestion can cause mouth ulcers or diarrhea.
4. A dying plant, infested with pests and disease.
As the year ends and the Lunar New Year approaches, it's the perfect time to check the plants in your home to see if any are diseased or dying beyond recovery. If so, it's best to remove them.
Plants that are near death often harbor insects, mold, and are affected by poor air quality in the house, spreading illness. Additionally, it’s important to remove plants with damaged shapes, yellowed leaves, wilted flowers, or those lacking vitality. Such plants not only detract from the beauty of your home but may also bring bad luck, reducing prosperity and well-being for the family. Therefore, it's essential to remove these unhealthy plants as quickly as possible.
You might be reluctant to discard plants that still show a slight chance of recovery, but keeping them could introduce negative energy that affects the home’s atmosphere. You may want to move them to the garden or a more suitable spot to avoid disrupting the positive energy of your home in the new year. Indoor plants should bring life and fresh energy to the household, so it's best to prioritize healthy, easy-to-care-for plants that are free from pests.
5. Artificial Plants and Dried Flowers
Many people keep dried flowers in their homes to preserve memories. However, according to Feng Shui, dried flowers and artificial plants lack energy or may even carry negative energy. Dried flowers create poor Feng Shui for the home as they represent weak and stagnant energy. Feng Shui holds that 'form follows energy,' so flowers with dead energy should be removed. Moreover, they can easily gather dust, mold, and bacteria, which are harmful to the health of the household members. Additionally, many families use artificial flowers to save time and effort in maintenance. Although modern artificial flowers look realistic and beautiful, they do not possess the energy of living plants, which is why they are not beneficial in Feng Shui. Therefore, artificial plants and dried flowers should only be used sparingly, and it is advised to store sentimental ones safely instead of keeping them out year-round.
6. Plants with Sharp Thorns
Plants with sharp thorns may have a unique appearance, but the thorns themselves can cause injuries to family members, sometimes leading to swelling or even more severe issues like tetanus. Furthermore, in Feng Shui, sharp objects such as thorns are believed to bring bad luck and sorrow. It is advisable not to keep these plants in the house, especially during the Lunar New Year.
Placing thorny plants like cacti or rose bushes in the bedroom, living room, or workplace may also lead to family discord and financial decline, as it is believed that the sharp thorns carry negative energy. In Feng Shui, thorns represent harmful energy, so it is important to remove such plants from your home to avoid inviting bad luck at the beginning of the year.
7. Plants with Bad or Unlucky Symbolism
According to traditional beliefs, flowers such as the spider lily and lilies carry negative symbolism and should be avoided for display in the home during the New Year. Instead, it is recommended to bring in plants that symbolize good fortune and prosperity, such as money trees, jade plants, lucky bamboo, and others like the tongue plant, fortune tree, and happiness tree, to ensure a prosperous start to the year.
8. Plants with Unpleasant Odors
Some ornamental plants may look attractive but have an unpleasant smell, such as geraniums or five-color flowers, which can even cause headaches for some people. The longer these plants are kept indoors, the stronger their odor becomes, and this is not beneficial to health.
9. Unknown Plants
Nowadays, many flower vendors aim to diversify their offerings by frequently 'updating' with new, exotic plant varieties. However, if you're unsure about the specific type of plant you're buying and are only drawn to its beauty, it is wise to exercise caution. These trendy new plants may have unknown toxicity, which could pose health risks if kept in the home for extended periods.
Furthermore, plants without a clear identity or origin are often harder to care for and more likely to perish. It is advisable not to impulsively purchase or bring these plants into your home during the New Year celebrations.
