Dusseldorf. Exotic houseplants such as window leaf (Monstera) and arrow leaf have been popular for several years (Alocasia) increasingly popular. According to Statista, 25 to 30 percent of consumers said they bought more plants during the pandemic and lockdown than before. “Plants beautify and enliven the living space. However, pet owners should not forget that some of the most popular houseplants can be poisonous for their pets,” says Jonas Liebhauser, specialist for pets from the Federal Association for Professional Nature, Animal and Species Protection (BNA).
Pretty but dangerous
As beautiful as it is to look at, the greenery in your home can be dangerous for animal residents who come into contact with the plants. Many houseplants are poisonous and can cause serious health problems to pets who accidentally nibble on them. The window leaf (Monstera) For example, leaves, flowers and roots contain poisons such as oxalic acid or resorcinol. This protects the plants from potential predators. However, the physiology and metabolism of our pets are not used to absorbing appropriate amounts of such poisons. This can lead to life-threatening symptoms of poisoning.
The poison isn't just in the plant
Pets may also have a tendency to ingest soil from flower pots or planters. This can indicate a lack of various minerals that the animal wants to compensate for. However, even seemingly non-toxic plants can contain a variety of pesticides and pesticides or fertilizers in the soil. Newly acquired plants should therefore be rinsed well and repotted in fresh, untreated soil. Before using commercially available granules or other substitutes for soil, you should definitely read the item description or on the Internet to see whether they may contain toxic or incompatible substances. You can also consult expert staff. In addition, only organic fertilizer should be used. An alternative is a flower pot protector. It prevents pets from coming into contact with the soil. If you want to be on the safe side, you should still repot the plant.
My animal nibbled on a plant. What now?
If an animal has nibbled on a poisonous plant despite protective measures, owners should consult a qualified veterinarian. For targeted treatment, it is important to know which plant was nibbled or gnawed on. Because the plant toxins can differ. That's why animal lovers should take the plant or clear pictures of it with them to the vet. Not knowing exactly the type of plant isn't a big deal at first. With apps like “Flora Incognita,” plants can be identified using cell phone photos and, if necessary, placed in pet-safe locations.
Poisonous houseplants and non-toxic alternatives
Many houseplants have been found on windowsills for generations. Especially classics like window leaf (Monstera) or ivy plant (Epipremnum) are popular – but unfortunately also toxic for their animal companions. Fiddle leaf figs are also poisonous (Ficus lyrata), Birch fig (Ficus Benjamin) or single sheet (Sphatiphyllum sp.). If you want to replace or supplement these with plants that are harmless to animals, basket marantes are suitable for this (Calathea sp.), Golden fruit palm (Dypsis lutescens), UFO plant (Pilea sp.) or the so-called money tree (Crassula sp.).
This list does not claim to be complete. In any case, before buying a new plant, it is important to research whether it may be poisonous to animals. Existing poisonous houseplants should be kept in rooms to which pets do not have free or unsupervised access in order to rule out poisoning.
All in all
Houseplants can be problematic when keeping pets. Therefore, responsible pet owners should inform themselves about their plants and, if their pet has unrestricted access to all rooms, refrain from purchasing poisonous houseplants. Plants and pets don't have to be opposites. If you want to satisfy the animals' need to nibble on fresh greens, you can use the creeping beautiful cushion or various culinary herbs. Non-toxic wild herbs are also welcome treats for the animals, as are salads or grain sprouts such as wheatgrass. The latter can be preferred on the windowsill. This ensures variety in the diet of pets and can be easily implemented even in the cold seasons.
Source: BNA/IVH