Can Yew Purify the Air? Understanding Its Real Effects in One Article
Yew has very broad development prospects in both landscaping and indoor bonsai. Northeast yew (Taxus cuspidata) bonsai treated with dwarfing techniques has a simple and elegant shape, with compact but not crowded branches and leaves, spreading but not loose, and extremely high ornamental value. It also has a very good air-purifying effect. Let us take a look below 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 decorated homes can be well absorbed. At the same time, yew itself can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making it a natural oxygen bar that can be used both day and night. It belongs to CAM-type tree species and can prevent respiratory diseases and maintain the cleanliness and safety of the air. Modern environmental monitoring has proven that yew can absorb many toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide into its body, purifying indoor air.
Can Yew Be Placed in the Bedroom?
Yew can be placed in the bedroom. Yew absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen 24 hours a day, and at the same time 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, can enhance resistance and prevent diseases, benefiting 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 repellent effect.
How to Grow Yew Bonsai
1. Soil: For growing yew, it is best to use loose soil rich in humus, with good water retention, fertilizer retention and air permeability. A mixed substrate made from peat soil, perlite, etc. and loam can be used. 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, withered 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 moved to the windowsill for ventilation. At the same time, no light at all will also affect the growth of yew, so in climates where sunlight is not strong, it should be given appropriate sunlight exposure.
3. Fertilizing: When growing yew, the soil should be fertilized in a timely manner. It is best to apply 0.2 jin of organic fertilizer and 0.02 jin of compound fertilizer per plant at one time. Farmyard manure, cake fertilizer (such as cottonseed cake, peanut cake, sesame cake), etc. can also be added. When fertilizing, try to spread it along the edge of the pot and do not apply it close to the yew roots. Generally, newly bought yew bonsai already contains its own nutrient soil, so no fertilizing is needed for the first 3 months, and it can be applied after 2 to 3 months.
4. Watering: If the yew leaves appear withered, 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 very hollow when tapping the pot, it means the soil is already dry and it is time to water. If you insert your finger 2 to 3 cm into the soil and feel that the soil is dry, it also needs watering. Generally, outdoor yew is 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 around 40%.
5. Pruning: When the lower branches and trunk of the yew bonsai grow too densely and dry, yellow leaves begin to fall, part of the overly dense lower branches and trunk can be pruned, and they can be trimmed into umbrella, pagoda, round and other shapes. When repotting yew, if the root system temporarily cannot keep up with supplying nutrients to the roots, branches and leaves, causing leaves to curl and dry up, pruning can be used to reduce the consumption of nutrients by branches and leaves and quickly restore root growth.
6. Repotting: After about one year of growing yew, the sapling will gradually grow larger and the root system will also become well developed, 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 a timely manner to settle the roots, so that the yew root system and soil are closely combined.
7. Pests and diseases: Under normal yew cultivation, pests are very rare. If 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, and at this time dexon can be sprayed for 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. Notes: 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 on by an air conditioner in summer, cannot be close to heating in winter, and certainly cannot have cigarette butts, tea leaves and other debris casually thrown into the growing pot, as this will have adverse effects on the growth of yew. The flower pot for growing yew should be slightly larger, and several more holes can be made in the lower part of the pot to enhance the water permeability and air permeability of the flower pot.