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Preparation for Chinese New Year is often a frenzied time. There is much to do, including decorating your house in time for the festivities. Chinese New Year plants that come in a myriad of options are a quick way to create the right mood. And now is the perfect time to start buying plants that you want as nurseries are already stocked with a good supply.
How to Choose A Good Plant?
Those born without a green thumb often fret about keeping these plants fresh throughout the 15 days of celebrations. Here are seven tips to keep in mind as you shop for plants and care for them after.
1. Ask how often do they bloom
If you want flowering plants, find out how long they will take to bloom. As it gets closer to Chinese New Year, pick plants which have partially opened flowers so they will bloom in time for the festivities.
2. Choose hassle-free plants
For those who do not have a green thumb, opt for kumquats, that require minimal care. Look for plants that do not need much care.
Do remember not to create stagnant pools of water around your plants as these may attract mosquitoes.
3. Touch before you buy
When choosing citrus plants such as four seasons lime and dragon lime plants, the fruit should be rather firm to the touch, not soft or squishy.
4. Check health of the plant
The stalk of the plant should be upright and its foliage and blooms and no brown bits around the flowers.
5. See it in person first
Go down in person to pick out the plants you want yourself. The variety of plants is huge and nurseries often jazz them up with fancy pots and decorate them with accessories such as ingots, ribbons and tassels.
When you see the plant up close, it will be easier for you to make decisions about a suitable plant. Do you have space to accommodate the pot? Would you prefer flowers with brighter-coloured petals or a taller plant?
6. Ask for care tips
Many nurseries often have information sheets or cue cards on how to care for plants.
At Far East Flora in Thomson Road, for example, general care tip flyers are given to shoppers. Even if they do not hand them out, ask around at the nursery. Those who work there are often expert gardeners who deal with Chinese New Year plants every year. They are always more than willing to dole out advice.
7. Visualize where you want to place the plant
Take note of where you intend to place the plant when you get home – it will help you decide which plant to get. For example, if your home does not get much light, opt for the kalanchoes which do not need direct sunlight or the jade plant which only requires a semi-shaded area.
15 Auspicious Chinese New Year Plants & Flowers
With their bright gold or purple hues, chrysanthemums are an auspicious choice for the season. The plant is said to symbolise longevity, while those with gold blooms represent wealth and prosperity. It grows well when placed away from the sun or in shaded areas.
How often to water Chrysanthemums?
Water twice a day till water flows out from the bottom of the pot. Avoid watering the flowers directly as they are fragile.
These come in auspicious red or pink colours symbolising prosperity. With blossoms shaped like little hearts, these flowers are ideal for Valentine’s Day too.
What’s more, they are hardy plants that can thrive with the right care. Another feature of this plant is that it’s also good for clearing the air of toxins, such as formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia.
Originating from South Africa, the Jade Plant is also known as crassula and is a popular choice during Chinese New Year because of its emerald green leaves, which resembles the shape of jade stones. This plant is a symbol of good fortune and requires little maintenance.
How often to water Jade Plant?
Water sparingly on alternate days and place in a semi-shaded area.
Known in Chinese as “wan zi qian hong” - meaning thousands and millions of red and purple in reference to its small flowers - the kalanchoe is an easy plant to grow and is said to bring wealth and prosperity. The succulent, whose flowers grow in a cluster, thrives well indoors and prefers indirect sunlight.
How often to water Kalanchoe (or Widow’s Thrill)?
It should be watered once a week and should not be left in wet soil as this will cause its roots to rot. Use pesticides, such as cypermethrin or malathion, regularly to keep pests away.
The lucky bamboo can be bent and twisted into various shapes, such as the number eight or the chinese character for luck, and symbolises strength and vitality.
In addition, the number of stalks in a pot also mean different things. For example, two is said to be an expression of love while seven is an expression of good health. Decorate the long stems with red ribbons or gold ornaments.
With a reputation for attracting health, wealth, happiness and love, the aptly named lucky bamboo is cost efficient and easy to care for. It is said that the more numerous the stalks on the plant, the luckier the bamboo is.
Also known as Devil’s Ivy, this versatile and hardy plant is often used in homes as a natural air-purifier as it is able to remove toxins (formaldehyde, benzene, xylene) from the air. Its coin-like leaves signify good luck and great fortune.
These small orchid blooms are also known as Dancing Ladies. Their tiny petals take on the look of gold coins being poured from the stem and are a symbol of fertility and abundance.
A variety of Flamingo Lily, this one differs with its ivory white flowers. They make a great choice for modern homeowners looking for an elegant and understated floral option and can help to filter the air indoors as well.
Known as ‘hu die lan’ in Mandarin, this is a popular festive Orchid plant as its petals resemble the wings of a butterfly, symbolising happiness, spring, vitality and longevity.
How often to water Orchids?
Water moderately twice a day. Flowers discolour or turn translucent with overwatering. When this happens, stop watering for a few days or reduce the amount of water used.
To keep the plant healthy, use fertilisers with a high phosphorus and potassium content once a week. To maintain a glossy look, apply leafshine aerosols to the plant’s leaves. To prolong the life of these pretty blooms, place them in a shaded, cooler area.
Known in the West as Catkins, these furry Pussy Willow blooms signify the start of Spring.
How often to water Pussy Willow?
The branches require watering twice a week, when planted in a pot, and daily water changes if placed in a vase.
Fresh water ensures the plant lasts longer and prevents mosquitoes from breeding. As Singapore’s climate is hot, it may be difficult for the plant to grow new shoots after it blooms. It is best to place it in a shaded area.
Nicknamed Boat Orchids, these flowers are prized for their large and elegant blooms. Its colour has also spawned another name for the plant, Hong Pao (red fire cracker) in Mandarin. The yellow version also has the auspicious moniker Huang Jing (yellow gold).
One of the most common types of Chinese New Year plants, these potted Tangerine plant shrubs are ideal for indoor decorations and are easily available at all flower markets in a lead-up to the festive period. They represent good luck, fortune and wealth.
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Succulent plants are all the rage lately, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re easy to care for and are a cute addition to a work desk or window ledge. Surprisingly, a cactus is said to bring good financial luck and symbolises prudent and wise spending.
Others believe that the spikey cacti can help to protect your home from negative and bad energy.
Some Feng Shui schools of thought, however, believe that cacti are bad luck.
Commonly known as Snake’s Tongue or Devil’s Tongue (and, hilariously, Mother-in-law’s Tongue), this common plant sure is a talking point.
They are slow-growing plants that thrive in warmth and bright light, and can tolerate low-water conditions.
This resilient plant comes in many different sizes and is capable of removing over 107 known air pollutants, including nitrogen monoxide, chloroform, benzene and carbon monoxide. With their strikingly striped appearance, this is one to keep for a long time.
Breathe easy with this plant, if you choose to allow it to take residence in your home. According to studies conducted by NASA, the rubber plant is capable of improving air quality. Their large leaves absorb and break down airborne chemicals, rendering them harmless.
Ideal for awkward corners and broad doorways, this plant ranks higher on the maintenance spectrum than most plants on this list – after all, it’s large (hence its name), and capable of growing to over 10m in height and spreading horizontally over 3m. But if you’re looking for something truly tropical-looking, this plant will do just the trick.
Showy and highly decorative, the calatheas plant has many interesting traits. Did you know that they close their leaves at night and open them again in the morning? It’s just a wee bit delicate — this house plant should never be placed in direct sunlight, as it thrives in the shade.
Tough and hardy, these plants are some of the easiest to care for, taking neglect well and recovering quickly from any unfavourable conditions.
They’ve also got a superb hidden talent — they reduce benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene in the air, and are also listed by NASA as a good air-filtering plant.
If your home is on the roomier side and there’s a spot looking empty, adding a fiddle leaf fig plant is sure to fill the space with some drama.
This magnificent succulent is extremely drought tolerant, only requiring you to water it every couple of weeks or so. Besides being highly attractive due to its circular ‘beads’ that resemble pearls, this plant can be placed on walls and hung from ceilings, helping to make a smaller home look jungle-worthy without taking up too much space.
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Part of this article first appeared on The Straits Times.