Archive for the ‘General Information’ Category
Toxic house plants
An awful lot of people come here and look for information on poison plants. I can’t tell if they are looking to do in a significant other or if they have become paranoid about the plants talking and are concerned the plants will try to do them in? ( Have you been taking good care of your houseplants? )
I’ve only had one problem with pets and houseplants. I had a lab who ate every house plant I brought home. Then he ate a 1 foot tall very spiny cactus. It was the last houseplant he ate. He was fine in a day or two. ( Only a lab wouldn’t stop after the first bite of spines and cactus. )
GLP Poisonous Plants has a huge list of links to several houseplant databases about toxic houseplants.
The reason I haven’t covered toxic plants in detail is because there is a great deal of conflicting information on the net about which plants are toxic. So I hesitate to give out information that may be inaccurate. When in doubt the Extension Office or .edu website is far more likely to have correct information than a .com/.org/.net website.
And, of course, don’t eat your houseplants.
Recommended sources for information on toxic plants:
Toxic Houseplants, ( Army ) has an extensive list with tons of detailed information.
Utah Poison Control Center Poisonous Plant Guide has an extensive list with photos.
The second biggest killer of houseplants is a lack of humidity
( The first being too little light )
Most of your favorite house plants came from the floors of the jungle. That is why they do so well with so little light. Plus we love those exotic jungle plants. They make the room feel warmer and more alive.
The average relative humidity in the jungle is between 80% and 90%. Relative humidity in deserts varies from an extreme low of 10% to a more common 30% relative. The average home should be 35% but often is 15% in the winter. So even when your home doesn’t feel dry it is closer to the most extreme desert than the jungle and your plants suffer.
Your plants usually express this displeasure by dropping their leaves in bulk.
If you have a bathroom where lots of showers get take you can place your plants in there. Near the kitchen sink is another good place for plants that need more humidity. Placing shallow dishes full of rocks under plants and filling them with water helps too. Put a humidifier in your home in the winter. You and your plants will like the humidity. ( And you’ll stop zapping Fluffy every time you pet her. )
More information:
Houseplants need humidity in winter, ‘Chicago Gardener’
