Is the滴水观音 (Saruma henryi) poisonous and how to care for it?
Today, I will explain to netizens whether the滴水观音 is poisonous and how to care for it, as well as the precautions for planting it. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Many people may have such doubts, and I was also hesitant at first. The滴水观音 is indeed poisonous, but can we keep it? Today, we will discuss this issue.
I. Origin of the Name
The滴水观音 belongs to the Araceae family, similar to green pothos and Monstera deliciosa, and they are all poisonous. The origin of its name, I think, can be seen from two aspects.
First, it can "drip water." If the environment is humid and watered excessively, the leaves will form small water droplets, causing dripping;
Second, it blooms. When it blooms, it looks very much like the Goddess of Mercy sitting on a lotus, with its yellow and white petals behind, as if the Goddess of Mercy descended, shining with Buddha's light.
Thus, the beautiful name of the滴水观音 comes from this.
II. Benefits of Cultivating
1. Auspicious meaning, attracting wealth and fortune. The loud name "滴水观音" brings a beautiful meaning; its broad, thick, and green leaves are associated with wealth and fortune; the dripping water symbolizes the rise of wind and water.
2. The bloom of the Goddess of Mercy, wealth and auspiciousness. The滴水观音 rarely blooms, and when it does, it is like the Goddess of Mercy descending, indicating the beginning of good fortune, wealth, and auspicious events.
3. Purifying the air and optimizing the environment. The leaves of the滴水观音 are bright green, broad, and thick, making it excellent at absorbing toxic and harmful substances like formaldehyde.
4. Graceful plant with a beautiful appearance. I particularly appreciate its graceful shape. Small plants are delicate and charming, while large滴水观音 are majestic and imposing, making them rare ornamental plants.
III. Can We Cultivate It?
The name of the滴水观音 is sacred, auspicious, and wealth-attracting; its appearance is graceful, and the plant is imposing, which immediately attracted me. But at first, I was indecisive. The滴水观音 is poisonous; can I keep it at home? With such questions, I consulted people around me and studied from books. After seeing so many advantages, I decided to try to cultivate one, and it was a success.
1. Poisonous but not可怕 (frightening). Once, I accidentally broke a leaf and got white sap on my hand, which made me a bit panicked, and I quickly washed it off. Later, I observed and didn't feel any discomfort. It might be because I got a little, my skin is rough, and I washed it in time, so it didn't cause any significant impact. In fact, green pothos is not unfamiliar to everyone, and it is also slightly poisonous. I often propagate it, and nothing has happened.
But here I must declare, this is not to encourage everyone to test the toxicity of the滴水观音. It is indeed poisonous, and one must be cautious.
2. Source of toxicity in滴水观音. The toxicity of the滴水观音 mainly comes from two aspects: one is the dripping water, and the other is the white sap inside the stems and leaves. Once, a child in my neighbor's house accidentally got some in their eyes, causing redness and swelling, but it was treated in time and recovered.
3. Strengthening daily protection is crucial. I believe that by doing these few points, you can rest assured and feel safe. First, if there are small children or pets at home, it's better not to keep it. Accidental ingestion or getting it in the eyes could have serious consequences. Safety is important, so it's better not to keep it. Second, control watering to prevent leaves from dripping from the source. Its roots and stems are swollen and can store water, drought-resistant, and do not need to be watered for a long time, naturally it is rare to see dripping. Of course, the water dripping from spraying the leaves is non-toxic, so you can feel free to do that. Third, try to place it in a high or hard-to-reach place. This way, it generally won't be touched in daily life, making it naturally safe.
What do you think? The滴水观音 is poisonous, but as long as safety measures are implemented, it can be kept with confidence, and it can be enjoyed with peace of mind.
The above is a complete introduction to whether the滴水观音 is poisonous, how to care for it, and the precautions for planting it. I hope it can be helpful to you. Don't forget to come and see more experience and common sense!