How do you care for glass balsam? Is it toxic? Can it be placed in the bedroom?
Glass balsam is a rather beautiful ornamental flower, especially suitable for potted cultivation. The main stem of glass balsam is semi-transparent and looks like glass, hence the name. If cared for properly, glass balsam can generally bloom all year round, and as a potted plant at home it does a great job of decorating the environment. Let's take a look below at how to care for glass balsam, whether it is toxic, and whether it can be placed in the bedroom.
1. How do you care for glass balsam?
1. Soil: For the growing medium, you can use leaf mold, garden soil and coarse sand mixed at a ratio of 1:1:1, and add a small amount of soybean cake as a base fertilizer.
2. Temperature: Glass balsam likes a warm environment, with 18°C to 25°C being best. In winter it must not go below 10°C, and keeping it above 13°C allows it to keep blooming.
3. Humidity: Glass balsam likes humid air, and the most suitable relative air humidity is 40 to 60%. If the air is dry, otherwise the leaves will lose their emerald-green luster, and may even fail to spread out, shrivel and curl, with dry, withered edges. Therefore, in summer, in addition to providing appropriate shade to avoid direct strong sunlight, mist the leaves several times a day and sprinkle water on the ground around the potted plant, which can increase air humidity, lower the temperature and keep the leaves emerald green.
4. Light: In summer, provide appropriate shade and avoid direct strong sunlight. In winter, move it indoors and place it in a sunny spot on a windowsill for care. Throughout the entire growth and development process, it is best to turn the pot once about every 7 days so that all parts of the plant receive even light and the plant shape stays attractive.
5. Fertilizing: During the growing season, apply a topdressing once every 10 days; rotted cake fertilizer water is ideal, with a fertilizer solution concentration of 0.2%; apply once 15 days after flowering. When fertilizer and water are insufficient, the stems and leaves become thin and yellow, which affects flowering; when fertilizer and water are excessive or the plant is overly shaded, the stems and leaves grow leggy and tend to fall over, so fertilizing should be stopped in time and the branch tips removed to encourage branching lower down.
2. Is glass balsam toxic?
Impatiens walleriana is also known as glass balsam, wax begonia is also called glass balsam (this one can be confirmed as non-toxic!), and some translucent succulents are also called glass balsam. In some places, jade plant is also called glass balsam, and jade plant is toxic. There is a claim that Impatiens walleriana (glass balsam) releases carcinogenic substances, and it is suggested not to keep it indoors. However, no scientific institution has conducted relevant research on this, and it is suspected to be a rumor.
3. Can glass balsam be placed in the bedroom?
Glass balsam is not suitable for growing indoors, because it is a light-loving outdoor plant, usually used as a decorative flower in landscaping. If you really must grow it at home, then you need to prepare a growing environment with plenty of sunlight for it. It is worth noting that too strong sunlight will cause the leaves to turn yellow, so in summer be sure to shade glass balsam, but in winter place it on a windowsill, balcony or similar spot for care, providing plenty of light.