Plants in Bedroom

Topic: Can plants & flowers be placed in a bedroom?

Question: My bedroom is in SW.Im aware that this is a Yin location. I have one small pot plant on my bedside table. No good ? What about fresh flowers? Water no good in a bedroom? Please advise.

Yes, the bedroom is a Yin location (especially for adults). In Feng Shui the reason why many FS Masters suggest not to have plants is because plants are GROWING and do create some form of Yang `activity'. I guess a small plant is acceptable. What usually is no good are larger potted plants with large leafs.

As for fresh "cut-flowers', there is no problem in placing them in a bedroom.. Most flowers do smell nice:)

Water in the form of an aquarium or a fish tank is not good to be placed in a bedroom. This is because fishes swimming in the fish tank do generate yang Qi and again as the bedroom is a place of rest (yin) it is not ideal to have a fish tank in the room. Even symbolic paintings such as a scenery of sea waves, or water `hitting' against coastal rocks are best left out in the bedroom.

However, if you have a Children's room; as they are growing up, it is good to have radios, musical instruments and bright coloured walls etc. Try to create abit of yang environment here.

Do take note of this:-

Fountains, artificial waterfalls (man-made) or otherwise are excellent Qi enhancers. However, fish tanks/aquariums are usually meant to correct `sha' (poison arrow).

To counteract adverse `sha', Hong Kong Feng Shui Masters usually prefer to use a fish tank. For example if the window at the main entrance faces a `lone' street lamp, a Hong Kong FS Master usually ask the house hold to place a fish tank in `full view' of the street lamp. As the lamp post being tall and thin, represents the `Fire' element, the fish tank has an element of `Water' to put out the fire.

On the other hand, a Taiwanese FS Master usually prefer to use plants instead of fish tank to counteract adverse `sha'.

Both are not wrong, just that they are used to using what they had been taught by their Masters to use. So, next time if you see a traditional FS Practioner use either one, you will know where they learn their FS from.

Cecil Lee
Center for Feng Shui Research
January 1999