If you’re someone that loves to decorate the home for the holidays, you need to take the proper precautions to protect your family and pets from the potential dangers of holiday plants. Many holiday plants are poisonous and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Not only can these plants cause reactions, but also they can be choking hazards. Here’s how to protect your family without compromising the holiday spirit in your home:
Keep holiday plants out of reach from children and pets. If you have cats, remember that even high places can be accessible to them. If ever in doubt, place the plant in a sealed greenhouse or move it to a pet-free room in the home.
Make sure that any needles or leaves from holiday plants are picked up because they may contain hazardous poisons or compounds. A real Christmas tree drops a lot of needles, which are choking hazards for pets and kids as well.
If you intend to plant any herbs or plants, make sure that you read all the information on the plant. Even some common plants such as holly berry or mistletoe can have severe side effects.
So which plants should you watch for? The following plants can cause skin irritations, vomiting or even death:
Mistletoe
Jerusalem Cherry
Amaryllis
Cedar Christmas Trees
Holly Berries
Poinsettia
Rosary Pea
Are there any safe choices for the home? Actually, yes. A Christmas cactus is one that is considered to be non-toxic, although it probably wouldn’t feel very good going down the throat. A pine, spruce or fir Christmas tree is also non-toxic, although the needles can still cause choking.
Image: activerain.com
Tags: environment, holiday plants, holiday trees, holidays, plant safety, plants
