Growing plants in a small apartment improves air quality, adds a touch of the outdoors, and adds color and fragrant odors to the living space. Growing potted plants in small apartments can be challenging. Space is at a premium. Some apartments get very little sunlight.
Also, some of the most attractive plants are toxic to humans and pets. You may want to reconsider growing some of these plants in your apartment.
Oleander
Every part of the oleander plant contains toxic glycosides. It is one of the most poisonous house plants. Children taste the colorful flowers and pets chew on the plant. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include gastrointestinal problems, irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, fainting, and occasionally death. Oleander poisoning is a medical emergency and should be treated by professionals.
Daffodil
Every part of the daffodil plant contains a toxic chemical called lycorine. Children chew on the brightly colored flowers and the root bulbs are often mistaken for onions. Lycorine poisoning symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The effects usually only last about three hours. Symptoms in pets include low blood pressure, drowsiness, and liver damage.
Daffodils also contain oxalates which cause severe burning of lips, tongue, and throat. They cause skin irritation from contact with the plant.
Hyacinth
Hyacinths produce beautiful colorful floral displays, and like daffodils, contain lycorine and calcium oxalates. Poison symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is only toxic if eaten in large amounts. Dermatitis may result from contact with plant sap.
Caladium
Caladium is also called “angel’s wings” in reference to their huge purple-striped leaves. Calcium oxalate and asparagine make all parts of the caladium plant poisonous. Symptoms of caladium poisoning–either from eating or touching the plant to the eyes–include burning mouth or throat, diarrhea, vomiting, swelling of the mouth or tongue, eye pain, and cornea damage.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane or leopard lily, is a perennial herb. Its leaves contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals to prevent pests from eating them. Rubbing against the leaves–or chewing on them–can cause inflammation, skin irritation, and tissue damage. Juice from the plant can lead to temporary blindness and possibly anaphylactic shock–especially in young children and pets.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are easy to grow because they require very little attention–making them popular house plants. Like dieffenbachia, they contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals. Poisoning symptoms include burning and blisters in the mouth and throat, diarrhea, vomiting, and possible damage to the cornea.
Philodendrons are more toxic to pets with symptoms including swollen tongue, breathing problems, vomiting, and possibly cardiac arrest.
Peace Lily
Peace lilies are beautiful but dangerous. They also contain the self-protecting toxic calcium oxalate crystals. Ingesting any part of the peace lily can cause swelling of the lips, mouth and throat irritation, coughing, nausea, and vomiting.
The oxalates cause intense pain, stopping pets from eating enough of the plant to get sick. Some dogs are stubborn enough to eat significant amounts of the plant–causing a long list of symptoms including cardiac arrhythmia, vomiting, and liver and kidney damage.
