Using live plants in the home does more than just help freshen indoor air. While many people only choose houseplants based on their visual appearance, some cultures believe using the right live plants can change a home’s energy. ZZ plants are a good choice for boosting energy and improving the flow of wealth, particularly in the practice of Feng Shui. If you’re interested in integrating these ideas into your home, it’s a little more complicated than just choosing the right room. You’ll need to consider both the ZZ plant’s care needs and the principles of energetic flow when picking where to put it. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about where to position ZZ plants in the home for optimal care and Feng Shui benefits.
- Where to Position ZZ Plants in the Home – The Essentials
- About ZZ Plants
- ZZ Plants and Feng Shui
- Where to Position ZZ Plants in the Home
- Where Not to Place ZZ Plants in the Home
- Where to Place ZZ Plants Outdoors
- Essential ZZ Plant Care
- Where to Position ZZ Plants FAQs:
- Finding the Best Location for Your ZZ Plant
Where to Position ZZ Plants in the Home – The Essentials
According to Feng Shui theory, boost wealth and career energy by keeping ZZ plants in the Eastern or Southeastern part of the home. ZZ plants thrive in a range of light exposures, so they are suitable for many locations in your home or office, including darker aspects such as north-facing windows.
About ZZ Plants
The ZZ plant is better known as Zamioculcus zamiifolia, making it part of the Zamioculcus genus. This is part of the more prominent Araceae family. It’s related to many other popular houseplants, but only distantly. Native to parts of Eastern Africa, it is surprisingly resilient and can handle various indoor growing conditions.
In the wild, they grow in areas that cycle between warm and wet conditions and dry and cooler months. The plants tend to go dormant during the dry period, losing their foliage and returning when the rains return. This makes them adaptable and not limited to specific care routines like some more delicate plants. However, they still need some sunlight and watering to keep them healthy and growing well.
If you’re looking for a plant with lots of uses and benefits in addition to lovely foliage, the ZZ plant is a good choice. It features multiple tall and arching stems that become mostly covered in individual leaves with a shiny appearance.
Dark green cultivars like ‘Raven’ are particularly popular, bringing contrast and liveliness to modern and minimalist spaces. The combination of an elegant appearance and easy care makes the ZZ plant one of the most popular houseplants.
ZZ Plants and Feng Shui
Feng Shui remains popular today as a way of laying out a home. It’s a practice that originates in China and aims to encourage a strong positive energy flow throughout the home, circulating well and exiting through the doors and windows.
Many of the practices may seem esoteric, but they often align with general architectural advice about flow and layout in a home.
Live plants like the ZZ plant are used to generate energy, especially for stability, growth, and expansion. This is because all live plants fall into the Wood element in Feng Shui. Adding the Wood element in the right parts of the home can help your career or improve family relations.
Where to Position ZZ Plants in the Home
Each home can be matched to the Bagua, or the energetic map of Feng Shui. Eight sectors correspond to the eight cardinal directions of the compass.
By aligning the Bagua with the northern direction and seeing where the sectors overlay on your floor plan, you can determine which rooms will benefit most from more of the Wood element.
On the Bagua, both the Eastern and Southeastern sectors are ruled by this element. Representing a home’s career and family energy, these areas are prime for capturing energy generated by live plants.
This is especially true for the multiple glossy leaves of the ZZ plant, which can represent financial increases and wealth generation when given the correct placement.
Don’t forget about the practical needs of the ZZ plant when choosing a placement as well. Since these plants can generally thrive with low light levels and may only need a single window nearby to keep them happy, a Southeastern or Eastern alignment works fine for them.
They can also handle being placed in a corner, a common recommendation in Feng Shui to keep energy from leaving the room. ZZ plants can handle the humidity of a bathroom or kitchen, but they don’t mind dry air either.
Where Not to Place ZZ Plants in the Home
According to Feng Shui principles, it’s not a good practice to keep live plants too close to exterior doors or large windows. This can allow the energy they generate to flow out of the home instead of staying within it. It’s good practical advice for this plant as well since it doesn’t require a lot of light (which can lead to yellowing ZZ plant leaves) and prefers protection from drafts.
If you’re concerned about the energetic effects of plant placement, consider keeping live specimens out of your bedroom as well. Since they generate energy, they’re often warned as being too disruptive and stimulating for a restful space. Instead, keep them in the study, living room, or other work areas.
Where to Place ZZ Plants Outdoors
While the Zamioculcus zamiifolia plant is often grown only indoors as a houseplant, other Zamioculcus species are popular landscaping plants in warmer climates.
Make sure these plants stay in the shade and aren’t exposed to the direct sun since they can easily lose color. If you bring your indoor ZZ plants outdoors for the summer, keep them cool and water them more than you might inside since they’re more sensitive to drying out.
Essential ZZ Plant Care
ZZ plants only need fertilizing once or twice per year, but they handle a lack of watering quite well as long as the soil mix holds moisture. ZZ plants don’t need much pruning or create messy flowers that need cleanup.
Keep them above 45 degrees at all times and below 90 degrees F when possible. They’re adaptable to low to medium light levels but can’t handle a dark room or direct light (which can cause your ZZ plant to droop).
Remember to water them when the soil dries out, yet forgetting now and then won’t hurt them. Overwatering can lead to pest and disease problems.
ZZ plants are also considered toxic to humans and pets, so it’s prudent to wear gloves when handling these plants for extended periods of time, such as when repotting, or propagating.
With due care and attention, ZZ plants can live for years.
Where to Position ZZ Plants FAQs:
What room is best for a ZZ Plant?
According to Feng Shui, Eastern and Southeastern placements are best. Living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices are great places to keep them.
How far away from the window should a ZZ Plant be?
Keep the ZZ plant at least three to five feet away from windows to prevent sunburning.
Can I put my ZZ Plant in a corner?
As long as there’s enough indirect light from a window or a bright artificial source, ZZ plants can thrive in a corner.
Can ZZ Plants thrive in low-light environments?
ZZ plants need some indirect light, so don’t keep them in the dark.
Can ZZ Plants tolerate drafts?
Avoid all drafts, hot or cold, when placing this plant in the home.
Finding the Best Location for Your ZZ Plant
Beautiful ZZ plants have a dramatic look, adding natural elegance to any part of the home. Make sure they get the conditions they want, and you can place them according to any other spiritual practice you may follow.
If you’re looking for your next ZZ plant to add to your collection, see our in-depth guide to the best plant shops delivering ZZ plants nationwide.
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.
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