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Decorating with plants is great for clean air and happiness unless the plant is poisonous. I was in Home Depot looking for a fiddle leaf fig, when a man asked me if I thought a Peace Lily plant was a good house plant. I said “yes, unless you have animals or small children.”

Mars Rover got me Thinking

I used to work in the Aerospace industry, so I follow what the USA is doing in space exploration. NASA just landed a new rover on Mars and that got me thinking about a study NASA did a few years ago about which houseplants do the best job of removing the most harmful toxins from the air. In 24 hours, some indoor plants can remove up to 87% of air toxins. Many studies have shown that indoor plants reduce stress, boost concentration, productivity and our moods. Most plants are visually beautiful. They also increase and regulate humidity which is really nice in the winter. Since most of us have been working from home, I thought I would pass along the top toxic plants. As always, do your own research that best applies to your household and animals.

The Top Toxic Plants in your Home

English Ivy

Mildly toxic to humans and animals.

fan blade coated with a thick layer of dust

Peace Lily

Highly toxic to animals and mildly toxic to humans.

Bamboo Palm

Only if it bares fruit, berries are very toxic.

Sago Palm

EXTREMELY dangerous for animals and humans. Every part of the sago palm is poisonous. Dogs love the nuts, which are the most toxic.

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Varigated Snake Plant

The Snake Plant is a superb indoor air purifier. It has an unusual nickname, “mother-in-law’s tongue”. Research has shown that it’s especially good at filtering out formaldehyde. If you are feeling brave, google “what products have the most formaldehyde in them.” (OMG it’s in my Dove!) It doesn’t require much care and can tolerate low light levels. When I was at Lockheed, everyone would pour their cold coffee in it.

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Cornstalk Dracaena

Toxic to dogs and cats.

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Chrysanthemums

Toxic to humans and animals.

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Red-edged Dracaena

Toxic to dogs and cats.

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Janet Craig Dracaena

Toxic to dogs and cats.

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Warnecki Dracaena

Toxic to dogs and cats.

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ZZ Plant

All parts of the ZZ Plant are toxic to humans and animals.

Most are easy to grow. Follow their light needs, fertilize once in a while and don’t drown them. Overwatering is the #1 killer.
Need a good night’s sleep? Choose orchids, succulents, snake plants #6, and bromeliads because they emit oxygen at night. Always check their toxicity before you give as a gift or bring one home.