Home care for Dieffenbachia: the benefits and disadvantages of an exotic plant

Thanks to the Austrian botanist Heinrich Short, who baptized the flower in the name of the senior gardener of the Imperial Botanical Garden of Vienna, Joseph Dieffenbach, Diffenbachia (-Dieffenbachia lat.)

The plant conquers many home gardeners at first sight with its exotic beauty: high, powerful stem, bright motley leaves.

Dieffenbachia is considered to be the decoration of any room. But before settling this plant at home, it is advisable to find out all its “pluses” and “minuses”.

Introduction

With Diffenbachia associated a number of will, sometimes absurd. She is considered the "flower of celibacy" and is not advised to buy unmarried girls, so as not to scare the suitors from the house.

It is also called the “flower of loneliness”, supposedly surviving from the house of men.

However, if Dieffenbachia suddenly blossomed, which happens very rarely at home, then this is a good sign, well-being and peace will come to your family.

But all this is nothing more than prejudice and to believe or not to believe in these signs is a personal matter of each.

Pluses Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a very useful acquisition, as it is one of the few domestic plants that can absorb various toxic compounds, such as formaldehyde, phenol, benzene. All this poisonous dope we get in our own housing.

Often we do not even realize that, trying to make your home cozy and beautiful, getting good wallpaper, modern furniture, laminate, linoleum, we fill it with deadly toxins, which are distinguished by all this beauty, because manufacturers are more concerned about profit today, but not environmentally friendly. manufactured products.

Dieffenbachia well moistens the air in the room, evaporating moisture from the surface of its wide leaves, thereby helping to reduce dust and making the air much cleaner.

Phytoncides secreted by it fight bacteria and microorganisms, in particular staphylococci, disinfecting the air.

The air is also well cleaned: Anthurium, Ficus Benjamin Kinki, Peperomiya tuberous, Hoya Carnoza, Deciduous Begonia, Dracaena Fragrant (Frahrans), Dieffenbachia Spotted and some others.

Dieffenbachia appreciates the good care when grown at home and taking care of yourself and, as a thank you, radiates positive energy that improves the well-being of people staying in the same room with it.

In the photo below you can appreciate the winning appearance of Dieffenbachia:

Negative traits

But Dieffenbachia has its own "minuses".

Is Dieffenbachia poisonous and harmful to humans? How do allergic people react to it? Is it safe for small children and pets? These are the main questions that arise when Dieffenbachia appears in the house.

  1. The flower is not poisonous, but the milky juice secreted when the stem is cut or the leaf is broken contains dangerous alkaloid enzymes. Therefore, it is believed that Dieffenbachia is a poisonous plant.
    IMPORTANT! Juice, falling on the skin, can cause skin burns, itching, dermatitis. And if you hit the mucous membranes no less severe burns and swelling. Eye contact may cause temporary loss of vision.

    The flower propagates with stem and stem cuttings, at the cut of which this unsafe juice stands out, therefore all manipulations with the plant should be carried out in rubber gloves.

  2. The flower is considered harmless to allergies, moreover, as mentioned earlier, Dieffenbachia humidifies the air and reduces dustiness, and what could be better than clean air for people suffering from allergies. You only need to avoid direct contact with the plant, as the juice released when the stem or leaf is cut can cause an allergic skin reaction.
  3. DANGEROUSLY! Is dieffenbachia dangerous to humans? The flower is dangerous for small children and pets. Plant sap can cause severe intestinal disorders in children. Even if the child has just licked moisture droplets from the surface of Diffenbachia leaves, immediately rinse his stomach.
    Juice Dieffenbachia mortal for pets, especially for cats and birds. The green leaves of the flower attract them, causing a desire to eat fresh greens, but this meal may be the last for them.

    Therefore, the plant must be isolated from direct contact with your pets and never put it in the nursery.

findings

Whether Dieffenbachia is harmful to people - the answer is “Alert means armed” - it is well suited to flower growers who decide to plant a tropical plant with the unusual name “Dieffenbachia” in their house, because it benefits much more than harm to health can be reduced to a minimum, having the necessary information about the pros and cons of this evergreen exotic beauty.

Dear visitors! Leave your comments about the benefits and harm of Dieffenbachia when growing and caring at home.

Watch the video: Dieffenbachia plant care and Propagation - Dumb Cane Plant. Dieffenbachia Cuttings Stub cuttings (April 2024).