The opening of the New Year holds many uncertainties and doubts for many people all over the world. These uncertainties make one so insecure that he will try to hold or depend on anything, even superstitions to allay his fears or assure him that everything will be alright. He keeps charms and talisman, sees fortune-tellers and reads horoscopes to get assurance of good fortune. Even the garden is not spared from superstitious beliefs.

Many people look for plants that bring “good fortune” or “good luck”. A group of plants considered by many to bring good luck belong to the Aroids family. PJ Nepomuceno, overall chairman of the Horticulture Exhibit 2008 of the Philippine Horticulture Society, is a collector of these plants. He observes that for a long time now, people regard the Dieffenbachia, a plant from the aroid group, and a semi-succulent plant with large white spotted leaves to be lucky, that is why they even call it “La Suerte”. The Aglaonema, another member of the Aroid group is similar to the Dieffenbachia, mistakenly called “La Suerte”. This plant is also soft-bodied and has medium to large oval or pointed leaves with grayish to white or yellowish spots, splashes or blotches. The Alocasias which also belong to the Aroids is another luck-bringer. These are like the Aglaonemas and Dieffenbachias, handsome shade-loving plants. The leaves of these plants are large, dark-green with whitish ribs and purple to red undersides and scalloped margins or sides. They are also soft bodied.

Dracaenas, on the other hand, are called “money plants” perhaps because the greens of their long narrow leaves best typify the color of the “green buck”. The plant is woody, slender and grows from two to five feet invariably. Some species have oval leaves and others are round. The Dracaena “Scarlet Beauty”, a tri-colored long, narrow-leaved variety is a favorite species of the Dracaena genus because of the red, white and green combination. These plants are good landscaping materials for they are sturdy outdoors and can tolerate full sun and little watering, PJ Nepomuceno says. Other “Lucky” Dracaenas are the Florida Beauty or the variegated Japanese bamboo: the golden and silver Sanderiana: and Dracaena Marginata.

PJ adds that many species of the ficus family are appreciated in the garden for their pleasant looks and the good fibers they exude. The rubber plants and balete belongs to this genus. The plant is woody, sometimes rubbery with white sticky sap. The leaves can be very small to large round, triangular or oval. The variegated or red-leafed rubber plants are in demand. They can withstand extremes in temperature. Most Ficus plants ate suited either indoors or outdoors. Another favorite Ficus is the variegated Ficus Triangularis, Ficus Variegata. Ficus Nana– a good bonsai material: Ficus Philippinensis which can stay outdoora for six months or more and Ficus Tricolor with its large pink, yellow and green leaves.  The Ficus demand little care and propagation is through stem-cutting.

The “Gabi-gabihan” or caladium are very beautiful soft-bodied, low growing tuberous ornamentals, their leaves are mostly heart-shaped and are spotted splashes or blotched with mosaic like patterns of red, pink, grayish green white and violet. Some species have only one color while others have two or more. The plant is shade-loving and like the real “Gabi” or Taro or Ube, it needs a lot of water and well-drained fertile soil. Propagation can be done only by root division. Old folks have it that when a Caladium sprouts during dry summer, the next harvest of crops will be bountiful. The colorful leaves are believed to bring good vibes to lovers and businessmen. These plants and many more have demonstrated to people that they are lucky in different ways.

PJ laments that there are some plants considered as “Bad Luck” plants: the cactus was believed to give the owner a dry, impoverished life or a couple will have a thorny or barren marital relationship; the weeping willow is associated with sadness and tears: the Philodendrons and other vines “suffocate or restrict luck”; Wandering Jew, Pinsaray, Spider plants, the “Shooting Star” and the ferns indicate estrangement, misery, downfall, poverty, loss of loved ones.

Man has the tendency to look for something to blame for his misfortune. The poor, innocent and helpless plant that cannot “reason out and defend itself” becomes an easy target. It’s about time we change our attitude towards “luck”. We must feel lucky to have all these plants around. Plants beautify our surroundings and clean our air for one. They provide us with food, shelter, clothing and medicine. Moreover, they preserve good soil and retain water. Most importantly, they balance the ecosystem. It is man who makes his own luck, good or bad. Plants bring him good luck but it’s his selfishness which brings him bad luck, PJ concludes.



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