Lily of the valley is a common ornamental flower, its flowers are as white as bells, emit a fragrance, giving people a feeling of purity and elegance. But, you know what? Lily of the valley is actually a poisonous plant, its stems, leaves, flowers, fruits all contain toxins, if ingested or contact with wounds, may cause poisoning symptoms, even life-threatening. So, are lily of the valleys suitable for keeping at home? How can you safely appreciate its beauty? This article will introduce you from the following aspects:
1. What is the toxicity of lily of the valley?
Lily of the valley belongs to the lily family, and its toxicity mainly comes from the saponins it contains. Saponins are secondary metabolites widely found in plants that are surfactally active and capable of disrupting cell membranes, leading to cell lysis. Saponins can also irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and respiratory tract, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, asthma and other symptoms. Saponins can also affect the function of the heart and nervous system, causing arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure, convulsions, coma and other serious consequences.
Depending on the variety and part, the saponin content in lily of the valley flowers is also different. In general, the stem and leaf parts have the highest content of saponins, followed by fruits and flowers the lowest. Different people have different levels of sensitivity to saponins, and some may be only mildly poisoned, while others may be life-threatening. Therefore, care must be taken when touching or consuming lily of the valley.
Second, is lily of the valley suitable for raising at home?
Although lily of the valley flower is poisonous, if it is only used for ornamental use without eating or touching wounds, it generally does not cause harm to the human body and does not emit harmful gases. Therefore, it is okay to keep a pot of lily of the valley at home, as long as you pay attention to the following:
1. Keep lily of the valley out of the reach of children and pets to prevent them from eating or playing with by mistake.
2. When watering, fertilizing, or pruning lily of the valley, wear gloves and a mask and avoid direct contact or inhalation of saponins.
3. If accidentally eating or touching lily of the valley, rinse your mouth or wound immediately with water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
4. If you are allergic to lily of the valley or worried about its toxicity, you can choose other non-toxic or low-toxicity ornamental plants instead.
3. How to maintain lily of the valley at home?
Lily of the valley is a shade-loving and hardy plant suitable for growing in a warm and humid environment. When caring for lily of the valley at home, you can refer to the following methods:
1. Light: Lily of the valley is not resistant to strong light and direct light, and needs shading or semi-shaded environment, and it is enough to provide scattered light for 4-6 hours a day. Avoid high temperature and strong light in summer, and maintain moderate light and temperature in winter to avoid below 5 ° C.
2. Watering: Lily of the valley likes to be moist but does not like standing water, and it is necessary to keep the soil slightly moist, not too dry or moist. Generally, water is watered every 2-3 days, and flexibly adjusted according to the degree of dryness and wetness of the soil. When watering, it should be evenly watered to avoid pouring on the leaves to prevent causing diseases.
3. Fertilization: Lily of the valley has a low demand for fertilizer, generally apply thin fertilizer once a month during the growing period, you can choose compound fertilizer or organic fertilizer. When applying fertilizer, first water through, then dilute the fertilizer solution and water along the edge of the pot, avoiding contact with the roots, stems and leaves.
4. Pruning: After flowering, cut off the flower stems and withered leaves in time to promote nutrient recovery and new shoots growth. When pruning, use sterilized scissors, cut along the stem, the incision should be flat to prevent infection with bacteria or fungi.
5. Reproduction: Lily of the valley can be propagated by seed or branching. Seed propagation requires sowing in the spring, covered with thin soil, kept moist, transplanted after germination. Splitting propagation needs to be carried out in autumn, dividing the bush into several small plants, each leaving 3-4 bulbs and a few leaves, and re-cuttings into the soil.
In conclusion, lily of the valley is a poisonous but also beautiful plant, and caring for it at home requires attention to safety and methods. As long as you take protective measures and give the right environment and nutrients in the right way, you can appreciate its fragrance and elegance. Hope this article can be helpful to you.