Some of your indoor plants are just not safe if you have pets or young children, which is a sad but inevitable realization in the road of becoming a plant parent. While many common genera of houseplants are stunning to look at, many of them are moderately or seriously hazardous. Still others, when handled excessively, can irritate the skin.
The good news is that with enough preparation, you can determine which dangerous houseplants to stay away from, evaluate the risk to your family and pets, and still enjoy a lively and stunningly green collection of indoor plants.
Here are 10 toxic houseplants that, while we love them, should be used with caution if your children or pets will have access to them. A word of clarity, though, is in need before we proceed: “toxic is a relative term, and the severity of a reaction will depend largely on the level of exposure (amount consumed), which plant species, and the specifics of your pet. Some poisonous houseplants cause short-lived, acute symptoms (such as vomiting). Some can have more serious, life-threatening effects if swallowed in excess, while others only irritate the skin. This list is by no means intended to be comprehensive, so we strongly advise conducting additional research (ASPCA has a great database for pet owners).
Poisonous Houseplants for Pet Owners and Parents to Avoid
- Starting with one of the biggest players, Philodendron (and Monstera) is a vast genus of tropical plants that is particularly well-liked for usage inside because of its great variety of growing habits, leaf shapes, and colors. Plants in this genus are poisonous to dogs and cats as well as somewhat toxic to humans. Oral irritation, soreness and swelling in the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and trouble swallowing are all signs of exposure.
Are Monstera plants dangerous to handle?
Fortunately, if you simply brush up against a Monstera plant, they won’t poison you. They won’t irritate your skin, and they shouldn’t even if you prune them and the sap comes into touch with your skin.
You should not have any issues from simply handling your Monstera, however it is a good idea to properly wash your hands to lower the possibility of passing any sap to your mouth.
You shouldn’t be concerned if your dog or cat rubs up against the plant or even just brushes against it. It should be fine, but you should make sure they aren’t also trying to eat it or that rubbing doesn’t turn into eating.
Is Monstera harmful to infants?
There may be affiliate links in this content. Your purchases generate a small commission for us. Additional Affiliate Policy
Lower elevations of Central and South America are frequent locations for the popular aroid indoor plant monstera. It is a member of the Araceae family and can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet. But since many gardeners also have pets and kids at home, they frequently worry about the toxicity of their houseplants.
The Monstera genus was classified as poisonous by the ASPCA. The majority of the plant-like stems, leaves, and roots contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause minor irritation to severe reactions in humans and small animals.
Why is Monstera poisonous?
Though you would expect it, there isn’t a simple “yes” or “no” response to this query.
The ASPCA has designated the popular aroid houseplant genus Monstera as hazardous. It may be argued, though, that this isn’t actually the right term. Because calcium oxalate crystals are present in every part of this genus, it is considered toxic (more on what those are below).
When consumed, calcium oxalate crystals are extremely irritating, particularly to the lips and even the stomach. Whether it’s a Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansonii, or one of the other varieties, your cat won’t likely have a good time if it eats your Monstera. (I haven’t tried!) Apparently, this stuff can be excruciatingly unpleasant.
The point is, even though your cat or dog may act irritated and in pain after biting into your Monstera, it should be alright otherwise. The only actual risk arises if an unusual swelling reaction takes place. The only unpleasant sensation is on the tongue and throat region; there is no toxin in its system that is progressively shutting down its body.
So, not toxic. But is it dangerous?
The actual question is, of course, whether Monstera is hazardous or just unpleasant, whether it is toxic or not. There is no particular reason to be alarmed if your pet does manage to get its paws on this houseplant, although I personally would try to keep it out of their reach.
Since it would be painful to take another bite after the first one, the actual threat posed by this plant is minimal.
In addition to the aforementioned, Monstera leaves aren’t particularly the dangly-stringy variety that cats prefer, so it’s unlikely that your feline companion will attempt to chomp on them in the first place. It will probably target your spider plant or string of hearts more frequently. On the other hand, dogs are always a gamble.
Advice: Although the term “toxic” for Monstera and other calcium oxalate-rich houseplants may be overused, keep in mind that not all species that are given this designation are harmful. Some, like lilies, are actually quite toxic. Check always before purchasing!
Delicious Monstera Deliciosa fruit.
Because the fruit of the Monstera Deliciosa looks and tastes somewhat like just about every delectable fruit that exists, it is commonly referred to as the “Fruit Salad Plant” in English. This fruit’s flavors include strawberry, banana, mango, guava, passion fruit, and pineapple. The Monstera Deliciosa’s fruit does not ripen for at least 10 months, which is a drawback. However, there is some risk because eating unripe fruit can cause acute throat burn. When the fruit’s outer scale begins to loosen and the interior becomes yellow like a banana, it is ripe.
Unfortunately, northern Europe does not have easy access to the Monstera Deliciosa fruit. The greatest option is to travel to a nation where it is grown and browse the local markets there. You may order your own box from a Miami grower for $144 if you’re really up for it and know how to get through customs.
Delicious Monstera Deliciosa leaves
Okay, maybe it’s not so tasty, but you can still eat it. Unripe Monstera Deliciosa fruits sting because they have calcium oxalate in them. The leaves contain more of it. Therefore, while eating from your Monstera won’t be fatal, it will hurt a lot if you or your cat do so. It will also have diarrhea and stomach cramps. The calcium oxalate dissolves when the leaves are entirely boiled or dried, making the leaves edible, however we don’t know if it tastes good or not. Never consume Monstera leaves without first seeking advice from a dietitian!
Does Monstera deliciosa purify the air?
Although plant-covered facades are all the rage among architects, you don’t need to completely cover your building in greenery to enjoy their advantages. NASA researchers started looking at how houseplants might clean the air in space stations in the 1980s and discovered that some plants are far stronger at removing toxins and contaminants.
It has been shown that a number of plants can filter out airborne toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. According to NASA, there should be one air-purifying plant every 100 square feet of space.
One of the best philodendron plants for lowering air pollution has been demonstrated to have large leaves, including the fashionable monstera plant. Simply avoid letting little children or dogs consume the leaves because they are poisonous. A reasonably simple plant to grow that purifies indoor air is aloe.
Snake plant, Peace Lily, English ivy, Spider plant, Gerbera Daisy, Dragon Tree, and Bamboo are some additional top purifying plants.