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Did you know that succulents were not ideal for keeping at home as this posed “bad luck” because of its thorns? Well now, gone are the days that people refuse to keep succulents because of that superstition. Right now, we could all say that succulents have their spotlight. It is probably because they are effortless to take care of, and well, they are just super cute and aesthetic.
Some of you might still be in doubt of keeping a succulent at your home. You are not to be blamed for that! The looks of a succulent can give off a “scary” look, with all its thorns sticking out, waiting to prick your fingers any moment. Do not be deceived, because plants are friends. Well, maybe not all plants are friends because some succulents can also be poisonous and hazardous to both humans and animals.
The majority of succulents are not poisonous. However, for the toxic succulents, their poison is their way of protecting themselves. Hence, they have thorns and spikes. That is why you need to make sure that before purchasing any succulent at the mall or online, double-check the hazards.
The Poisonous Succulents
Later in this article, you will realize that poisonous succulents only pose minor threats to humans and animals alike. They do not have fatal possibilities when in contact with them. However, it is still better to be safe from irritants and other possible health issues. So, go ahead and read!
Euphorbias
Euphorbias are the most commonly known family of poisonous succulents. The white sap that can be found in their leaves can cause irritation to the skin. Ingesting the sap is especially bad.
You can still actually choose to keep one at home, but make sure that you put only gloves while handling them. However, if you have pets at home and inquisitive children, keeping this might not be a good idea.
While not all people or animals will have adverse effects when in contact with the Euphorbias, there is still a high probability of getting a rash when touching this succulent.
Kalanchoes
Kalanchoes are the kind of poisonous succulents you can keep at home because they are not dangerous for humans; but, if you have pet animals at home, you may have to think twice.
Many kalanchoes can cause animals like dogs and cats to be ill. If your pet ingests the sap found in the leaves, your pet may show signs of vomiting or diarrhea, and even abnormal heart rhythm.
Besides that, Kalanchoes are tremendous, and you would want to keep them because of their beautiful color.
Jade
The Jade is a lovely succulent and also poses a danger to humans and animals. When their saps are ingested, it can cause minor issues such as diarrhea and vomiting. Touching the plant, such as its leaves and thorns, may also lead to itching and burning for some. This succulent is also best to keep away from your cats and dogs. If your pet animal ingests the jade plant, they may suffer from vomiting as well, and even depression.
If you are explicitly wondering about cacti and their poison, you can watch this video to get a visual of identifying poisonous cacti
Succulent plant safety
Now that you have learned that poisonous succulents only pose minor threats, you may decide on still pursuing to keep them at your home. It is still possible to keep them, but make sure to follow these guidelines in mind.
- If you plan to keep them indoors, make sure to put them at a higher place where your dogs, cats, or children can’t reach them.
- If you plan to keep them outside, make sure to keep them far from walkaways so that your guests will not be in contact with them.
- When handling these poisonous succulents, be sure to wear gloves, long sleeves, pants, and a face mask.
- Do not touch your eyes, face, or any part of your skin after being in contact with these plants.
- First, wrap your succulents in a paper towel or newspaper.
- If you ingest the sap accidentally or get irritated after being in contact with the succulent, call poison control right away to see if you need further medical attention.
Best succulents to keep at home
To be one hundred percent safe from possible health issues, it is best to keep the poison-free succulents. A lot of these succulents can be consumed. Some of these are also used for medicinal purposes. Below is a list of some of the best easy-care succulents you can keep at home.
- Aeonium
- Aloe (This is edible and can be used as medicine!)
- Crassula
- Echeveria
- Haworthia
- Portulaca
- Sedum
- Senecio
- Agave (This is where tequila comes from!)
Succulents are really easy to take care of. Just the need for watering is very minimal. You only need to water it once a week, and it will take care of itself. With the aesthetic of the succulents, they can add beauty to your homes. It is so fascinating to put a variety of them at your home with its different shapes and sizes, and then to put them on beautiful pots.
You can check out these minimalistic but aesthetic pots from Amazon by clicking on this link. Check their price and be ready to give your succulents their new home.
