Ever felt like the energy in your home was just off? It could be that the plants you’ve carefully placed around your home are doing more harm than good—at least according to Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian practice that harmonizes energy within living spaces. In Vastu, plants are not just decorative pieces; they play a pivotal role in influencing the energy flow of your home, be it positive or negative.

While some plants are known to invite prosperity, peace, and good luck, others could be blocking the flow of positive energy, leaving your home feeling a little out of balance. But don’t worry—by being mindful of the plants you place in your home, you can easily maintain harmony and create a space that feels just right.

In this guide, we’ll explore why certain plants may not align with Vastu principles, how they can disrupt the flow of Prana (life energy), and which plants to avoid indoors for a more balanced, energized space. 

Let’s dive into the plants you should skip according to Vastu Shastra.

Why Plants Matter As Per Vastu Shastra  

In Vastu Shastra, plants are more than just decorative additions; they are living, breathing elements that influence the energy flow within a home.

According to Vastu, everything in your living space has an energy field, and plants play a crucial role in maintaining balance. The right plants can enhance the flow of positive energy or Prana, inviting prosperity, health, and harmony into your home. On the flip side, certain plants can obstruct this flow, creating negative energy or even leading to stagnation.

By aligning your plant choices with Vastu Shastra principles, you can ensure that your home remains a sanctuary of good energy. When plants are placed in the right areas, they can purify the air, uplift the environment, and promote a feeling of peace and well-being. But when the wrong plants are chosen, they can disrupt the natural balance of energy and affect your emotional and financial well-being.

Plants to Avoid Indoors According to Vastu Shastra  

Let’s take a closer look at the plants you should steer clear of indoors, based on Vastu principles.

1. Bonsai (Dwarf Trees)

Why Avoid: Bonsai trees, though beautiful, represent stunted growth—both in nature and in life. Keeping them indoors is believed to restrict your personal and financial growth, symbolizing limitations and blocking prosperity.

Effect on Energy: According to Vastu Shastra, bonsai plants can bring negative energy, causing delays and hindrances in progress, whether it’s in your career, personal life, or finances.

Where It's Harmful: Avoid placing bonsai plants anywhere inside the home, especially in wealth corners or office spaces where growth and productivity are essential.

2. Cactus (Cactaceae Family) 

Why Avoid: With their sharp thorns, cacti are considered thorny plants that send out harsh, negative vibrations. These spiky plants are believed to cause tension and conflicts among family members, making them unsuitable for indoor spaces.

Effect on Energy: Cacti are thought to disrupt emotional harmony, leading to stress, irritability, and even arguments between inhabitants of the home.

Where It's Harmful: Cacti should be kept outside rather than inside. If you absolutely love them, place them on a balcony or in your garden—but avoid keeping them in living rooms or bedrooms where they can affect the energy flow.

3. Cotton Plant  

Why Avoid: Although often used as decorative elements, cotton plants are considered inauspicious in Vastu Shastra. Their dry, fluffy nature symbolizes a lack of vitality and is associated with negative energy.

Effect on Energy: Cotton plants are believed to attract negative emotions and block the flow of positive energy inside your home, leading to stagnation.

Where It's Harmful: Avoid placing cotton plants indoors, especially in bedrooms or relaxation spaces. They can bring a sense of heaviness to your environment.

4. Mehendi Plant (Henna Plant)

Why Avoid: Mehendi, also known as the henna plant, is often associated with attracting spirits or evil energies in Vastu. Traditionally, it is considered unsuitable for indoor spaces.

Effect on Energy: Mehendi is believed to bring bad luck and negativity, affecting the emotional and physical well-being of the people in the home.

Where It's Harmful: It’s best to avoid planting mehendi inside the house, particularly in bedrooms. Vastu experts advise keeping this plant out of living spaces altogether.

5. Tamarind Plant (Acacia Trees)

Why Avoid: According to Vastu Shastra, the tamarind plant is considered highly inauspicious for homes. Tamarind is believed to attract negative energy and bring unrest and discord into a household. It is associated with bringing bad luck, emotional imbalances, and can even disturb the natural harmony within the home.

Effect on Energy: Tamarind trees are thought to emit energy that causes quarrels and tension among family members, disrupting the peaceful balance of the house. It is also believed to harbor negative spirits or evil energies, making it unfavorable for indoor spaces.

Where It's Particularly Harmful: The tamarind plant should never be planted inside the house or near the entrance. According to Vastu Shastra, having a tamarind tree nearby can disturb the well-being and prosperity of the household, making it one of the most undesirable plants to have around your home.

6. Decaying or Dead Plants  

Why Avoid: Dead or decaying plants are seen as symbols of decay, stagnation, and negative energy in Vastu. Keeping them inside is believed to block the flow of positive energy and create a heavy atmosphere in the home.

Effect on Energy: Withering plants are thought to carry bad luck and can make the home feel lifeless or dull.

Where It's Harmful: Be sure to remove any dead or dying plants from your indoor space immediately. They should never be kept near the entrance, bedrooms, or wealth corners of the house, as they can create an environment of sadness and lack of motivation.

7. Thorny Plants (Except Roses)  

Why Avoid: Other than roses, most thorny plants are believed to radiate negative energy due to their sharp thorns. These plants are considered disruptive to the peaceful flow of energy in the home, creating a sense of harshness and conflict.

Effect on Energy: Thorny plants are said to bring bad luck and stir up tension, particularly in areas of the home where relaxation and harmony are important.

Where It's Harmful: Avoid placing thorny plants, like bougainvillea or prickly succulents, in your living room, bedroom, or any other indoor areas where family members gather.

8. Babul Plant (Acacia Arabica)  

Why Avoid: The babul, or Acacia tree, is considered another Vastu Shastra no-no for indoor plants. Known for its prickly thorns, the babul tree is believed to harbor negative energy, often associated with disputes and disagreements. Its thorny appearance is said to symbolize conflict and tension.

Effect on Energy: The energy from the babul tree is thought to create a hostile environment, where harmony and peace are hard to maintain. It is believed to bring about arguments and distress among family members, making it unsuitable for residential spaces. 

Where It's Particularly Harmful: Similar to the tamarind tree, babul should never be planted inside the home or near doors and windows. The thorny nature of the tree makes it especially harmful if placed near areas where the family gathers, as it is said to obstruct the free flow of positive energy and bring negative vibes into the home. 

Where to Avoid Placing Certain Plants Indoors

To maintain a harmonious flow of energy in your home, the placement of plants is crucial, especially when avoiding those that can attract negative energy. According to Vastu Shastra, improper placement of inauspicious plants can disrupt the positive energy or Prana flowing through your living space. Here’s where you should avoid placing certain plants:

Avoid Near Main Entrances  

Why: Your main entrance is considered the gateway for positive energy in your home. Placing plants that attract negative energy, such as cacti, bonsai, or mehendi plants, near the entryway can prevent positive energy from entering your space.   

Effect on Energy: Plants placed near entrances per Vastu influence the overall energy balance inside your home. Using the wrong plants in this area may invite bad luck, create blockages in energy flow, and draw negative energy, which hinders prosperity and happiness.

Tip: Instead of inauspicious plants, place best indoor plants according to Vastu Shastra near your entrance, such as lucky bamboo or money plants, to invite good energy.

Bedrooms and Living Spaces  

Why: Bedrooms and living spaces are meant to be zones of relaxation and emotional connection. Placing thorny or negative-energy-attracting plants such as cacti, cotton, or babul in these areas can disturb emotional balance and create tension.

Effect on Energy: Vastu experts recommend avoiding these plants in spaces where you want to promote peace and harmony. Their negative influence may lead to restlessness, arguments among family members, and a decline in emotional well-being.

Tip: Use plants that promote harmony and balance, like the snake plant or peace lily, which are considered lucky and help create a more peaceful living environment.

Wealth and Health Corners  

Why: According to Vastu Shastra, every home has a wealth and health corner, typically located in the southeast for wealth and the northeast for health. Placing plants that are deemed inauspicious, like bonsai, tamarind, or decaying plants, in these zones can block financial growth and personal well-being.

Effect on Energy: Inappropriate plants in these areas can hinder prosperity and cause setbacks in your career, health, or overall well-being. Plants with stunted growth, such as bonsai, symbolize financial stagnation and limit personal development.

Tip: To enhance the flow of positive energy in these areas, place best indoor plants per Vastu, such as jade plants or money plants, which are known to bring prosperity and good health.

Best Indoor Plants According to Vastu For Your Home

If you're looking to replace plants that bring negative energy with those that radiate positivity, here are three highly recommended, Vastu-approved plants. These not only bring harmony into your living space but also support health, wealth, and well-being.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Lucky Bamboo

Money Plant (Pothos)

For more Vastu-approved plants that bring positive energy and create harmony in your home, check out my detailed blog on Indoor Plants Bring Positive Energy.    

Conclusion

Choosing the right plants for your home is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a harmonious space filled with positive energy. By aligning your choices with the principles of Vastu Shastra, you can enhance your home’s flow of Prana (life energy), inviting prosperity, health, and well-being into your life. Plants that are considered inauspicious, like bonsai or cactus, can disrupt this energy, bringing stagnation and negativity.

To ensure a balanced and positive environment, it’s essential to replace such plants with Vastu-approved alternatives like Tulsi, Lucky Bamboo, or the Money Plant. These positive-energy plants promote growth and prosperity while purifying the air and uplifting the mood.  

So, take the step to remove plants that may be hindering your progress and transform your home into a sanctuary of peace and prosperity by adding the right indoor plants.