Tree-shaped houseplants are popular for both their natural beauty and the belief that they can bring positive energy to the home. Many of the most common tree houseplants are various types of Ficus, including the Ficus Ginseng. Not actually a type of Ginseng, this plant is relatively easy to care for and may have benefits for a Feng Shui practice. In this guide, we’ll run through energetic concerns and practical care recommendations to determine where best to position Ficus ginseng plants in the home or office.
- Where to Position Ficus Ginseng in the Home – The Essentials
- About Ficus Ginseng
- Ficus Ginseng and Feng Shui
- Where to Position Ficus Ginseng in the Home
- Where Not to Place Ficus Ginseng in the Home
- Where to Place Ficus Ginseng Outdoors
- Essential Ficus Ginseng Care
- Where to Position Ficus Ginseng FAQs:
- The Final Word
Where to Position Ficus Ginseng in the Home – The Essentials
According to Feng Shui principles, the Southern and Eastern sectors of the home are ideal for placing a plant like the Ficus Ginseng to stimulate family bonds and wealth. For practical care concerns, watch out for drafts and ensure enough light and humidity for optimal growth.
About Ficus Ginseng
The Ginseng Ficus is known by the scientific name Ficus microcarpa. The Ficus family contains many different trees and shrubs, including dozens of varieties grown indoors as popular houseplants.
Native to Southeast Asia, this plant is part of the larger Fig family. The name Ginseng comes from the Chinese word for root, which is why it’s also applied to many unrelated medicinal plants used for their roots.
In the case of this Ficus, the root is large, bulbous, and rises above the soil, so it’s always visible. This is part of its appeal as a Bonsai plant in particular. Short, almost rounded leaves top the plant with a waxy covering that gives them a glossy look. With care and age, the roots can rise up in multiple pillars, almost resembling fingers on a hand pushing into the soil.
In the wild, Ficus Ginseng plants tend to grow in warm and humid environments that may have saturated soil for part of the year, which is why they grow aerial roots that rise out of the soil. These plants must be given enough humidity to develop visible roots when grown indoors.
Ficus Ginseng and Feng Shui
Feng Shui is an ancient practice from China that was first used for the layout of important public buildings and the tombs of high-ranking officials. This practice eventually evolved into a set of recommendations that could be applied to every building or area, including the home or office.
Live plants play an essential role in Feng Shui as generators of energy. Placing plants like the Ficus Ginseng in certain areas may stimulate growth in different parts of your life. However, you don’t want to place the plants in other areas since the energy they generate can become disruptive instead of stimulating. It’s vital to place live plants with care in the practice of Feng Shui.
Like most plants, the Ficus Ginseng is mainly associated with the wood element. The exposed root structure and bark-covered trunk ensure that it provides energy that is stabilizing, growth-orientated, restorative, and active. By using this element to its most significant advantage with proper placement, you can make sure you’re boosting your chances of success rather than letting the good energy go to waste.
Where to Position Ficus Ginseng in the Home
The placement of everything from furniture to live plants in Feng Shui is aligned according to a map known as the Bagua.
Based on a hexagram arrangement of many important symbols, this map is aligned with the Northern compass point and overlaid on your home’s floor plan to determine what energy is centered in each part of the structure.
Modern practices also allow for aligning the Northern side of the Bagua with your front door, but it is more traditional to use an actual compass alignment instead.
For an evergreen plant with glossy leaves like the Ficus Ginseng, placements that boost wealth and creative energy make the most sense. Yet this plant can also be used to encourage healing and overall growth since it doesn’t have any sharp spines or spiky leaves. For this purpose, you’ll need nine plants of similar size and style to place throughout the home.
Which Rooms are Most Appropriate in the Home?
If you plan to only have a single Ficus Ginseng in your home, consider placing it in either the Xun or Zhen parts of the Bagua.
Xun is the Southern sector of the home and rules wealth and prosperity. It’s always a good place for live plants because it is associated with the soft Wood element, making the most of the energy produced by the Ficus Ginseng and others.
The Zhen part of the home rules the family and is located in the East. Associated with the hard Wood element, this sector can benefit from the well-rooted energy of this Ficus.
If you find that these directions contrast with the actual rooms in your home, you can also try placing it in a kitchen or living room area to keep its energy from being disruptive to a bedroom or similar area.
Placement and the Plant’s Care
A Ficus Ginseng plant is easier to take care of than many other varieties used for bonsai. However, they still need protection from drafts to hold their leaves and grow steadily. Cold drafts, in particular, tend to encourage the leaves to turn yellow and drop off.
The more light you can supply for this plant the better. While full sun isn’t necessary, it will grow best with at least bright light from a window or a dedicated plant light.
Make sure the spot you choose for its Feng Shui benefits still provides for the practical needs of the plants. While placing it in a corner can work well since it protects the plant from drafts, you’ll need to watch out for low light levels that leave the plant with pale leaves or leggy growth.
These plants are considered toxic to humans and pets, so it’s prudent to wear gloves when undertaking any form of ficus ginseng plant care.
Where Not to Place Ficus Ginseng in the Home
Aside from low-light areas and drafty spots, there are a few places you might want to avoid placing the Ficus Ginseng. According to the principles of Feng Shui, you don’t want to place a live plant near the front or rear exit of the home. This allows energy to flow out rather than stay inside the home.
Keep live plants out of the bedrooms as well since they’re considered to interrupt the peacefulness due to their potent energy.
Where to Place Ficus Ginseng Outdoors
Since they’re sensitive to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Ficus Ginseng is generally only brought outdoors in the summer. Keep them in a partially shaded area since the full sun can be a little overwhelming for them if they’re used to indoor conditions.
Ficus plants, in general, are sensitive to sudden changes in light exposure. Ensure they’re near a source of humidity, like a fountain or garden pond, especially if you have dry conditions over the summer.
Essential Ficus Ginseng Care
Ficus Ginseng needs a well-draining soil mix so routine watering won’t leave it with root rot. Water when the top two inches of soil dry out, and don’t wait for signs of wilting since that is an indicator of severe stress in this plant.Â
Fertilize ficus ginseng plants just two to three times a year during the active growing season in the summer, using a full-strength Bonsai formula.
Ensure they get plenty of light and repot your ficus ginseng only when fine white roots show through the drainage holes.
It’s also prudent to stay on top of common Ficus ginseng pests, bugs, and diseases.
Where to Position Ficus Ginseng FAQs:
According to the rules of Feng Shui, rooms in the East and South directions of the home will offer the best use of the plant’s energy.
How far away from a window should a Ficus ginseng be?Â
Place this plant within two to three feet of a window whenever possible, so it gets bright light but isn’t exposed to cold drafts from the glass.
Can I put my Ficus ginseng in a corner?Â
A corner will work fine to protect the Ficus Ginseng from drafts. Just make sure to check the light levels and add a plant light if needed.
Can Ficus ginseng thrive in low-light environments?Â
While the Ficus Ginseng won’t lose leaves or suffer from low light levels, they won’t actively grow much either. Bright light is best for growth.
Can Ficus ginseng tolerate drafts?Â
This plant can’t handle any cold drafts below 60 degrees F.
The Final Word
The Ficus Ginseng makes an ideal Bonsai tree, but you can also put it to good use for its energetic benefits with a little planning.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
Comments are closed.