Have you ever wondered that those adorable succulents also have "little secrets"? That's right, some succulents are toxic! Don't be surprised, today we will reveal which succulents are toxic, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of succulents while staying away from potential dangers.
Beware! These Succulents Are Toxic
Did you know? Although most succulents are safe, some varieties do contain toxins. Let's get to know them one by one!
1. Euphorbiaceae Family Succulents: Succulents in this family, such as Crown of Thorns, Dragon's Bone, and Pencil Tree, have a milky sap in their stems and leaves. This sap can cause skin redness, itching, and in severe cases, allergic reactions. So, be very careful when growing these plants!
2. Crassulaceae Family Succulents: Odd-looking succulents in this family, such as Sedum adolphi, Sedum pachyphyllum 'Sunburst', and Sedum rubrotinctum 'Variegatum', have leaves full of thorns that can easily cause injury. Moreover, contact can lead to symptoms like skin redness, itching, and allergies, and ingestion may damage the heart.
3. Asclepiadaceae Family Succulents: Succulents in this family, such as Stapelia gigantea and Cerbera odollam, have toxic sap. Ingesting them can cause discomfort and poisoning symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
4. Agavaceae Family Succulents: Some succulents in this family, such as Ariocarpus retusus, have toxic sap. For those with skin allergies, contact with the sap can cause a burning sensation, itching, and even blisters.
5. Crassula ovata (Jade Plant): The stems and leaves of this succulent contain a large amount of euphorbol. Human contact with its sap can cause skin redness, pain, and blistering.
6. Lophophora williamsii: The sap of this succulent is toxic, and the wild variety is even a hallucinogenic drug.
How to Avoid the Hazards of Toxic Succulents
Now that we know which succulents are toxic, how can we avoid the hazards they pose?
1. Avoid eating plants: No matter how cute a succulent is, do not try to eat it!
2. Avoid skin and eye contact with toxic plants: When handling toxic succulents, wear gloves to prevent sap from contacting your skin and eyes.
3. Wash hands and clean skin after contact: If you accidentally come into contact with the sap of a toxic plant, rinse it with water promptly.
4. Choose non-toxic succulents: When buying succulents, try to choose non-toxic varieties, such as Jade Plant and Sedum acre.
Care Tips for Healthy Succulents
In addition to avoiding the hazards of toxic succulents, we also need to learn how to care for them to ensure they grow healthy.
1. Watering: Succulents do not need much water. Water them periodically. Avoid overwatering to prevent rot.
2. Ventilation: Succulents need good ventilation to stay healthy. Note that you should not place succulents directly in a drafty spot.
3. Light: Succulents like sunny and semi-shaded environments. In hot summer weather, try to avoid direct sunlight.
4. Temperature: When buying succulents, understand the growing environment and cold tolerance of the plant to avoid death in low temperatures.
Although some succulents are toxic, as long as we understand their characteristics and take appropriate protective measures, we can enjoy their beauty while staying away from potential dangers. Hope this article helps you better understand succulents and makes them a beautiful addition to your life!