Watering seems like such a simple task that many are surprised to learn that improper watering is the number one cause of houseplant demise. Plants take up water through their roots. Water is used as plants photosynthesize and transpire, and it is lost through evaporation.
Other shrubs and trees which can trigger symptoms in some people include alder, ash, coprosma, cypress, elm, liquidambar, maple, mulberry and plane trees. Flowers in the Asteraceae family can also be a trigger – these include daisies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums. Strongly scented plants can also affect some people.
Milkweed (Madar Plant): A Toxic Beauty
Its symbolism in Vastu echoes this toxicity. It's believed to bring instability and disharmony if kept at home. And there's some science behind this too! Milkweed's toxic nature makes it a risky choice for households, especially those with curious kids or pets.
Over water it.
It's the number one contributor to houseplant death. Far more plants die from over watering than under watering, both indoors and out.
Scale insects
These houseplant insect pests are incredibly hard to get rid of and even though they are tiny insects, they can bring down sturdy plants in a matter of days – leaves turn yellow and droop. Affected plants will be covered in these waxy oval-shaped insects that reproduce quickly.
This has led some people to worry that having plants in the bedroom could deplete oxygen levels during the night. However, it's important to note that the amount of carbon dioxide released by plants at night is minimal and unlikely to have any significant impact on your room's oxygen levels.
Areca Palm
They are absolute lookers with their long, tapering fronds on lengthy branches. Much like many palm plants, Arecas need the right kind of care as well. These are one of the best and highest oxygen producing plants to keep indoors, an ability that adds to their charm greatly.
Any plant may cause a reaction in certain people. If a plant is eaten, remove the rest from the mouth and rinse the mouth with water. If a houseplant or natural decoration is ingested by children or pets and poisoning is suspected, call your family doctor, nearest emergency room or veterinarian immediately.
In fact, the leading reason behind houseplant death is not bugs, disease, or lack of water ... it's too much water, horticulturist Justin Hancock said in a post for Florida-based Costa Farms, one of the nation's biggest houseplant growers. The prime time for houseplant overwatering is fall through winter.
Plants do not feel pain because they don't have a brain for any signals to be sent to. Imagine if a human didn't have a brain; they could get cut, but they wouldn't know and there wouldn't be anything to tell that they are in pain...so technically they would not be in pain. Same for plants.
Common houseplant pests
Several other pests can be attracted to houseplants, including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, scale insects, and whiteflies.
Ketaki, known as umbrella tree or screw pine or keura in Hindi, is barred from the worship of Shiva. It is not offered during pujas and worship as it is cursed by Shiva. There is an interesting story mentioned in the Tamasic Shiva Purana that explains why Ketaki Flower is forbidden.
A few plant families to be wary of include: the poinsettia family (Euphorbiaceae), the philodendron family (Araceae), the cactus family (Cactaceae) and the tomato family (Solanaceae). Dumb-cane (Dieffenbachia), in the Araceae family, has plant parts which contain oxalate crystals.
Just so you know, artificial flowers tend to gather dust over time, which can make them look unkempt and may require regular cleaning. Plus, some people may be allergic to the materials used in artificial flowers or the dust that collects on them. Real flowers, on the other hand, do not pose all these risks.