Can Yew purify the air? The latest explanation is here
Yew has very broad development prospects in both landscaping and indoor bonsai. Northeast yew (Taxus cuspidata) bonsai treated with dwarfing techniques have a quaint and elegant shape, with compact but not dense branches and leaves, stretched but not loose, and extremely high ornamental value. They also have a very good air-purifying effect. Now let us take a look at whether yew can purify the air!
Can yew purify the air?
Yew can purify the air. Yew can very well purify indoor air and absorb indoor toxic gases. For example, formaldehyde from newly renovated homes can be well absorbed. At the same time, yew itself can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It is a natural oxygen bar that can be used both day and night. It belongs to the CAM category of tree species and can prevent respiratory diseases and maintain the cleanliness and safety of the air. Modern environmental monitoring has shown that yew can absorb many toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide into its body and purify indoor air.
Can yew be placed in the bedroom?
Yew can be placed in the bedroom. Yew inhales carbon dioxide and releases oxygen 24 hours a day. At the same time, it can release a kind of negative oxygen gas, which can not only purify the air, reduce inflammation and kill bacteria, but also, after being inhaled by the human body, enhance resistance and prevent diseases, which is beneficial to human health. At the same time, it has the ability to repel mosquitoes and insects, releasing odor molecules outward - citronellal. The higher the temperature, the more fragrance molecules are released, and the better the mosquito-repelling effect.
Yew bonsai cultivation methods
1. Soil: For yew cultivation, it is best to use loose soil rich in humus, with water retention, fertilizer retention and air permeability. A mixed substrate made of peat soil, perlite, etc. and loam can be selected. Because clay soil is not breathable and sandy soil has poor fertilizer and water retention, neither is suitable.
2. Light: Yew likes a cool growing environment. During cultivation, it should be properly shaded and should not be placed in direct sunlight, as that will cause the water in the yew to evaporate quickly, leading to dehydration of branches and leaves and dry leaves. In midsummer, during the day, the yew can be placed in the living room, on the balcony, in a corner and other places, and then in the evening, placed on the windowsill for ventilation. At the same time, no light will also affect the growth of yew, so in climates where the sunlight is not strong, it should be allowed to receive appropriate sunlight.
3. Fertilization: During yew cultivation, the soil should be fertilized in a timely manner. Each plant should be given 0.2 jin of organic fertilizer and 0.02 jin of compound fertilizer at a time. Farmyard manure, cake fertilizer (such as cottonseed cake, peanut cake, sesame cake), etc. can also be added. When fertilizing, it should be spread along the edge of the pot as much as possible and must not be close to the yew roots. Generally, newly purchased yew bonsai contain their own nutrient soil, so no fertilization is needed for the first 3 months, and it can be applied after 2 to 3 months.
4. Watering: When the yew leaves appear wilted, it should be watered. If the leaves droop, it indicates severe water shortage. In addition, you can also judge whether watering is needed by tapping the pot and listening to the sound. If the sound is hollow when tapping the pot, it means the soil is dry and it is time to water. Insert your finger 2 to 3 cm into the soil; if you feel the soil is dry, it also needs watering. Generally, outdoor yew should be watered once every 15 to 20 days, and indoor yew once every 20 to 25 days. It is best to keep the soil moisture content at about 40%.
5. Pruning: When the lower branches of the yew bonsai grow too densely and dry yellow leaves fall off, part of the overly dense lower branches can be pruned, and they can be trimmed into umbrella, tower, round and other shapes. When repotting yew, if the root system temporarily cannot keep up with supplying nutrients to the roots, branches and leaves, and the leaves curl and dry up, pruning can reduce the consumption of nutrients by branches and leaves and quickly restore root growth.
6. Repotting: After about one year of yew cultivation, the sapling will gradually grow larger, and the root system will also develop accordingly, so transplanting and repotting are needed. When repotting, the old pot can be broken, but the original soil ball should not be damaged. After moving it into the new pot, water it in time to settle the roots, so that the yew root system and soil are closely combined.
7. Pests and diseases: Under normal yew cultivation, insect pests are extremely rare. If the yew is found to turn yellow or have pests and diseases, it can be watered or sprayed with thiophanate-methyl and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Relatively speaking, yew will develop root rot, stem rot and rotten roots during the rainy season, especially young trees. At this time, dexon can be used for spraying and care. In high-temperature and dry seasons, yew is prone to leaf blight and red blight, which can be prevented and controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture.
8. Note: Yew does not have great requirements for the growing environment. The main things are that it cannot be exposed to direct sunlight, cannot be blown by an air conditioner in summer, cannot be close to heating in winter, and moreover, cigarette butts, tea leaves and other debris must not be casually thrown into the cultivation pot, as this will have adverse effects on the growth of yew. The flower pot used for cultivating yew should be slightly larger, and more holes can be made in the lower part of the pot to enhance the water permeability and air permeability of the flower pot.