Is the jade plant (Crassula ovata) toxic? A detailed explanation of the toxicity issue
The jade plant is a succulent in the Crassulaceae family, mostly used as a potted plant to decorate balconies and other places. Its leaves are usually green, and when light, water and temperature all reach its favorite conditions, the edges of the leaves turn red, making the whole plant look very beautiful with strong ornamental value. But many people online say the jade plant is a toxic organism, so is it actually toxic? Below, Qinnong Web will introduce it to everyone.
I. Is the jade plant toxic?
Regarding whether the jade plant is toxic, there has never been a very precise answer to this question. The jade plant is also called "fleshy ten-thousand-year-green," and everyone knows that lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana, commonly called "ten-thousand-year-green") is toxic; the sap of its stems and leaves has a very strong irritant effect on the human body, and accidental ingestion can cause throat edema, and may even cause loss of voice due to vocal cord paralysis. Such severe toxicity makes people fearful, so they believe that the fleshy ten-thousand-year-green, similar to lucky bamboo, is also a toxic plant. Yet there are also many people who believe the jade plant is not toxic, because the jade plant belongs to the Crassulaceae family, and most plants in Crassulaceae are non-toxic, and moreover, searching domestic and foreign literature turns up no records of jade plant poisoning.
Regarding whether the jade plant is actually toxic, there is still no precise answer to this day. Qinnong Web reminds everyone here that since it cannot be confirmed whether it is toxic, we should pay attention to our own safety during cultivation. But everyone need not be overly nervous; even the toxicity of lucky bamboo exists only in the sap of its stems and leaves. As long as we take care not to casually touch the sap of the jade plant during daily care, it is still safe.
II. Can the jade plant be grown indoors?
There is no doubt that the jade plant is a plant very suitable for growing indoors, mainly for the following two reasons.
1. Ornamental effect
Jade plants grown at home are usually cultivated as potted plants. The jade plant's leaf shape is peculiar, and the whole plant is upright and sturdy. Planted in flower pots and made into small bonsai, or simply potted and placed on windowsills, desks and other places, it has a certain decorative effect. A well-grown jade plant will show a beautiful red-green color throughout the plant, a very unique color, and some can even bloom small white flowers.
2. Air-purifying effect
Speaking of purifying air, this is a function most green plants have, but the jade plant differs from them. The jade plant has the same effect as cacti: it can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night. This is a relatively special function possessed by some plants in the Cactaceae and Crassulaceae families, called crassulacean acid metabolism, or the CAM cycle. Its principle is that at night the stomata open to absorb carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen, and during the day the stomata close, releasing carbon dioxide through organic acids to satisfy photosynthesis. This function ensures photosynthesis while also reducing water loss. At the same time, the jade plant also has a certain absorbing effect on indoor benzene, and can also protect against radiation.
The above is Qinnong Web's introduction to whether the jade plant is toxic and what benefits there are to growing the jade plant indoors. In fact, besides the two points introduced above, the jade plant also has medicinal functions. Research shows that the jade plant has a clear blood-sugar-lowering function, and can also improve our immunity, resist fatigue, and so on. But considering that home cultivation is usually not for medicinal use, and that using it as medicine must also follow a doctor's arrangements, Qinnong Web will not introduce more here. We hope that after reading this article everyone can gain some help from it.