Childproofing Your Plants
Plants are wonderful to have around the house, but there are some things to consider when child proofing your home:
- Small rocks in your plants can pose a choking hazard
- Crystallized fertilizer can be toxic -keep kids from playing in the potted plant dirt by cutting cardboard and placing it over the dirt
- Pesticides can be poisonous - keep all pesticides in a secure location and spray indoor plants outside. Be sure to caution labels.
- Plants high up with vines that dangle could be pulled and fall on your child.
- Some outdoor and house plants are poisonous -Below is a partial list of toxic plants. If you need help identifying a particular plant, take a clipping to your local nursery for assistance. Here is the poison hotline number in case of emergency: 1-800-222-1222
Toxic Outdoor Plants:
- Azalea - rhododendron
- Boxwood - buxus
- Daffodil - narcissus
- English Ivy - hedera
- Foxglove - digitalis
- Giant Elephant Ear - colocasia
- Gladiola - gladiolus
- Holly - ilex
- Hyacinth - hyacinthus
- Hydrangea - hydrangea
- Iris - iris
- Jimson Weed - datura inoxia
- Juniper- juniperus
- Larkspur - delphinium
- Lily of the Valley - convallaria majalis
- Mistletoe - phoradendrum
- Morning Glory ipomoea
- Nightshade/Deadly Nightshade-atropa belladonna
- Oleander - nerium
- Poison Ivy - rhus
- Pokeweed - phytolacca Americana
Toxic House / Indoor Plants:
- Amaryllis - amaryllis
- Arrowhead - sagitta
- Caladium - caladium
- Candelabra Cactus - euphorbia
- Cyclamen - cyclamen persicum
- Dumbcane - dieffenbachia
- Eucalyptus - eucalyptus
- Jerusalem Cherry - solanum
- Lily of Peace - spathiphyllum
- Pencil Cactus - euphorbia
- Philodendron - philodendrum
- Devil's Ivy - epipremnum aureum
- Rosary Pearls - senecio