16:02, 02-May-2019
Green Living: Plant doctors promote eco-friendly urban life
Updated
16:00, 05-May-2019
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Many know hospitals as places for people, or even pets, feeling a bit under the weather. But, when it comes to plants, a horticultural clinic may seem a bit out of the ordinary. Here's CGTN's Sun Tianyuan to tell us more from one of Beijing's first plant clinics.
The "patients" lie in the sick ward in silence. This spider plant has a flowering problem. And this has a bacterial infection.
Treating plant diseases is not an easy job because the patients can't speak. But for green-thumbed doctors, they know the way by heart.
DR. QIAO YAN BEIJING GENERAL HOSPITAL OF PLANT "We provide services and treatment methods to help farmers and residents who grow plants for fun. They have the need but may lack the experience. That's what we are here for."
Doctors at plant clinics in Beijing have reviewed over 86,000 cases since 2012. They either solve the problem face-to-face or provide advice online -- all for free. Now, these doctors are giving another push to green living.
SUN TIANYUAN BEIJING "As an answer to this year's International horticultural Expo, the hospital also teaches residents to live green even if they don't have a garden. You could plant one of these on the balcony and eat organic vegetables every day."
Dr. Qiao hopes planters can cut down on the use of pesticides and switch to greener methods.
DR. QIAO YAN BEIJING GENERAL HOSPITAL OF PLANT "We're promoting bio-pest control techniques, such as using the pests' natural enemies. This is eco-friendlier and totally chemical-free. Planters don't need to think twice about what they eat out of the ground."
Whether it's for vegetables or flowers, plant doctors are doing what they can to make life greener under the Green Cross. Sun Tianyuan, CGTN, Beijing.