Poisonous plants inside your home

Exotic Plants Home

The idea of leaving Poisonous plants out for any child or animal to consume in or home is one that most mothers and pet owners would find horrifying.

However, many toxic substances are lying about in our homes, due to the presence of ordinary houseplants.

Philodendron is a beautiful houseplant, but it is unfortunately also quite toxic. When consumed, it can cause painful swallowing, internal burning and itching, and vomiting. These reactions are caused by calcium oxalates that the plant contains.

Another plant that contains calcium oxalates is dumb cane, and this plant can have many of the same side effects as philodendron: difficulty swallowing, burning, vomiting, and general internal irritation.

English ivy has actually been the cause of death of animals as large as cattle. Though presumably these animals were left to graze upon the plant for much longer than they should have been, the truth is English ivy has been the source of vomiting, convulsions, paralysis, and comas.

Even touching this poisonous plant can cause highly allergic reactions that manifest in blisters. This is one of the most dangerous of poisonous houseplants and should never be ingested.

Another beautiful plant that is highly toxic is the elephant ear. Although quite a lovely addition to any garden or indoor décor, elephant’s ears, like philodendron and dumb cane, is full of calcium oxalates that cause swallowing problems, and potential vomiting, burning, and irritation.

As far as beautiful houseplants go, none are as celebrated in many parts of the world as the mistletoe. Unfortunately, the mistletoe can cause severe problems if ingested. It contains toxalbumin and pharatoxin viscumin.

What this means is that if anyone consumes mistletoe, it is likely to cause them to become disoriented, have difficulty breathing, and may even result in their cardiovascular system collapsing.

The poisonous plants mentioned above are by no means the only poisonous houseplants that exist. If you have any crawling tots or curious cats, it is absolutely essential that you check to see its toxicity level before purchasing it.