With the increasing public attention to green plants, more and more people are starting to grow them at home. However, for common green plants like the evergreen, many people are not aware of its toxicity and care methods. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the toxicity and hazards of the evergreen, as well as how to properly care for it.
Toxicity of the Evergreen
The evergreen is a type of succulent plant. Although it looks cute, its leaves and sap contain a toxic substance—oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is a highly irritating organic acid that can cause pain, burns, or even bleeding in the mouth, digestive tract, respiratory system, and other areas. Long-term contact with the evergreen can also lead to chronic poisoning.
Harmfulness of the Evergreen to the Human Body
The harm of the evergreen to the human body is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Skin burns: When the leaves of the evergreen come into contact with the skin, they can cause severe pain and burns. If the sap gets into the eyes, it can also cause eye damage.
2. Digestive tract damage: If the leaves of the evergreen are accidentally ingested, the oxalic acid will directly irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Respiratory tract irritation: Prolonged exposure to the pollen and sap of the evergreen can irritate the respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as sore throat and asthma.
Correct Methods for Caring for the Evergreen
To avoid accidental ingestion and contact, we should pay attention to the following points when caring for the evergreen:
1. Regularly change the soil: The evergreen has high requirements for soil quality. It needs to be made of a mixture of materials with good air permeability, such as leaf mold and perlite, and the soil should be changed regularly.
2. Avoid overwatering: Overwatering can make the soil too moist, which can easily breed bacteria and cause diseases.
3. Avoid direct sunlight: Although the evergreen can grow in low-light environments, excessive sunlight exposure can cause leaf dehydration and sunburn.
4. Regular pest control: The evergreen is susceptible to pests such as aphids and spider mites and needs regular pest control.
5. Avoid contact with food: When caring for the evergreen, place it in a place where pets and children cannot touch it to prevent accidental ingestion.
Other Precautions for the Evergreen
In addition to the points mentioned above, we also need to pay attention to the following matters when caring for the evergreen:
1. Maintain air circulation: The evergreen requires a relatively humid environment, but excessive humidity can lead to diseases. It is necessary to maintain air circulation when caring for the evergreen.
2. Avoid frequent moving: Due to the slow growth of the evergreen, frequent moving will affect its growth.
3. Pruning reasonably: The leaves of the evergreen grow very densely and need to be pruned regularly to keep them tidy.
4. Choose a suitable container: To better care for the evergreen, we need to choose a container suitable for its growth.
5. Learn how to divide the plant: The main propagation methods for the evergreen are division and cutting. It is necessary to learn the technique of division.
The main reason why you shouldn't grow the evergreen at home is its significant toxicity and harm. If you want to care for the evergreen, you need to understand its toxicity and care methods, and pay attention to avoiding accidental ingestion and contact. At the same time, when caring for the evergreen, we also need to pay attention to air circulation, avoiding frequent moving, reasonable pruning, choosing a suitable container, and learning how to divide the plant.