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Plant expert Pranay Chugh lists three plants that infuse positivity in and around homes.
- Ashoka (botanical name is saraca asoca): This tree is considered auspicious in the Hindu tradition. All parts of the tree can be used for medicinal purposes. Ashoka cannot be grown in pots, so you need to have abundant land to grow Ashoka. According to the Hindu tradition, it is believed that it takes all the problems away from your home (‘A- sok’ meaning ‘without grief’). Watering the tree twice a week is more than enough. The flowering season for Ashoka is February to April. The flowers are bright orange yellow in colour and bloom in bunches.
- Neem (botanical name is azadirachta indica): Neem is an air purifier plant. Its roots are not too deep unlike ‘bargad’ and ‘peepal’ whose roots break the boundary wall of the home. Neem has a lot of medicinal uses. Its bark and leaves are very useful. Water the tree twice in a week. It attains a height of 15 to 20 metres and is an evergreen plant.
- Harshingar (botanical name is ‘Nyctanthes arbor-tristis): Also known as ‘parijaat’, the flowers are white in colour and have a very pleasant fragrance. The flowers of this shrub plant are offered to Lord Shiva during Hindu ‘puja ceremonies’. It can be grown in homes in pots and gardens. Its maximum height is 4 metres and requires watering once in two days and has a lot of medicinal uses.