Beautiful and dangerous: 6 plants that you shouldn't grow at home

Well-groomed indoor plants can create coziness like nothing else, giving your home a pleasant atmosphere and a stylish look, even if the interior itself is simple. But you need to choose the right species for your indoor garden – according to the level of your care skills and always taking into account the toxicity of plants.

You may be surprised, but a significant proportion of green pets, in addition to their spectacular appearance, also have a dangerous chemical composition. It is recommended to take care of such plants with gloves and not to let pets and children chew them. OBOZ.UA tells you about the most insidious indoor plants.

Poinsettia

During the Christmas holidays, this plant impresses with its unusually spectacular flowering, releasing a rosette of bright red leaves. You can admire the poinsettia endlessly at this time. However, the flower belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, almost all of which are poisonous. The toxins contained in the poinsettia sap can cause numbness of the mucous membranes, vomiting, swelling, and skin irritation. Therefore, you should keep this beauty away from small children and animals, and wash your hands after caring for it, even if you were wearing gloves. This rule applies to any houseplant from the Euphorbiaceae family – they all have a similar toxic effect and it is better to be careful with them.

Dieffenbachia

It is not very difficult to get a large sultan of spotted leaves from a plant that will decorate your home extremely effectively. But dieffenbachia sap can cause burns to the skin and mucous membranes. If any part of the plant gets into your mouth, it almost immediately causes a feeling of pain, which reduces the likelihood of getting severely poisoned. Nevertheless, it is better to keep the flower out of the reach of children and animals. And don't forget about safety precautions when caring for the plant.

Spathiphyllum

This houseplant, with proper care, quickly turns into a luxurious bush of shiny dark green leaves and occasionally blooms very beautifully. But it is better to enjoy the beauty of spathiphyllum from a distance. If its juice gets into the mouth, symptoms of poisoning develop very quickly – swelling of the throat, choking, indigestion, etc. Fortunately, spathiphyllum tolerates growing in shaded places, so it will be fine, say, on a bookshelf.

Azalea

Plants of this species are valued for their unusually beautiful and long flowering. But in addition to its lush flowers, it brings a toxin in its sap. If it enters the body, it can cause not only poisoning but also reactions from the nervous system – dizziness, numbness, heart, and muscle disorders. Therefore, if you have a child growing up in your house who is curious about everything, or an active pet, it is better to refrain from growing azaleas.

English ivy

Unlike most houseplants, this climbing species is not a native of the tropics, so it takes root well even in cold and dark rooms. English ivy remains green all year round and can beautifully wrap its leaves around various surfaces. At the same time, it has a sap that can cause poisoning and skin reactions. Fortunately, you need to consume a lot of the plant's sap to get unwanted symptoms, but experts still advise keeping it away from children and animals.

Zamioculcas

The dollar tree is a favorite of beginners. It requires minimal care, forgives almost any mistakes and still grows well. But at the same time, zamioculcas contains a poisonous sap that can be found in any of its parts. On the part of the digestive system, this juice causes symptoms of poisoning, such as nausea and vomiting, and on the part of the respiratory system, reactions in the form of coughing, mucous membrane swelling, and sneezing. The skin can also react to the plant's sap. Therefore, it is better to grow and care for the flower with some caution.

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