Houseplants are indoor plants that give an extraordinary appearance to your home and also offer exceptional benefits. They serve a variety of purposes such as medicinal, showpiece, health, and skin benefits. Having such plants at home is a great way to connect with nature. At the same time, it is equally important to take proper care of them.
Therefore, it is necessary to get complete knowledge of the plants at your house. Whether they’re bad for allergies, harmful for your pets or children, etc., you might think twice before buying any of the plants. One has to be completely aware of the dangers associated with the plants brought home. While most of the houseplants are safe, some may be poisonous for pets and humans.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
It is also known as dumb cane, a popular houseplant due to its vast and attractive leaves. The color of the leaves are green with light yellow or cream patches on them with thick stems that resemble canes. All parts of this plant contain raphides, i.e., needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate. Ingesting it would cause stinging and burning sensations in the mouth, causing tears in soft tissue, leading to swelling and inflammation. Raphides can also block the airways, thus leading to difficulty in breathing.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are plants with a variety of leaf shapes and different color patterns. Sometimes it is hard to believe that they belong to the same genus as they are so different. They are mainly grown as ornamental and indoor plants. These also contain raphides, but they are mildly poisonous, and therefore it is believed that one has to eat a large quantity before they develop symptoms. Keep small children and pets away from them as these are highly poisonous if they chew or ingest them.
Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
Pothos or devil’s ivy is an evergreen vine that trails over the edge of its container. It is considered the best plant as it is attractive and doesn’t require much attention. The leaves are usually heart-shaped with pointed tips. It is the worst to have them at your home as they are highly toxic, especially for children or animals. It contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause the same symptoms as dieffenbachias and philodendrons.
Caladium
There are multiple types of caladiums; different types have different leaf patterns. They are also known as “elephant ears” due to the large and beautiful leaves, which are arrow-shaped and have multiple colors in patches and other ways. They can be grown in a container indoors and outdoors and also in gardens. However, they contain raphides that cause symptoms that are similar to those of dieffenbachia poisoning.
Peace Lily (Spathe)
Lilies are the most beautiful flowers and are popular both as indoor and outdoor plants. The leaves of a peace lily are narrow and long with a pointed tip. They are dark green in color, leathery, and have shiny surfaces with prominent veins. The reason why peace lily was given its name is due to the white or light green spathe and the stalk that extends above the rest of the plant, resembling flags of peace. It has similar symptoms to those of dieffenbachia poisoning.