ASK THE INDOOR GARDENER : Gardening : Dieffenbachia Among Poisonous Houseplants
QUESTION: I’d like to buy a dieffenbachia plant but I’ve heard they’re poisonous. Is that true? I’ve got a small child and a large cat, both of whom occasionally nibble on a leaf, and I don’t want to take any chances. And are there any other poisonous houseplants?
ANSWER: Dieffenbachia (all varieties) is nicknamed “Dumb Cane,” which reflects the fact that the leaves and stems contain toxins that, if ingested, can temporarily damage the larynx and leave you literally speechless. Keep this plant away from small children or pets who tend to nibble on plants.
Oleander is very toxic but isn’t considered a houseplant, and Jerusalem cherry, a seasonal novelty, is also slightly poisonous and should be avoided if you’ve got curious kids or kitties. Poinsettias, for years, were thought to be toxic but the fact is they are not, although I wouldn’t recommend using any houseplant in a salad.
This would be a good time to answer the dozens of letters I’ve gotten about what to do with a cat who insists on chewing the leaves of your houseplants.
Cats who eat houseplants generally aren’t getting enough chlorophyll in their diet. The solution: Buy your cat a plant of its own--preferably a dwarf palm (Neanthe bella) in a four-inch or six-inch pot. Cats particularly favor this plant because its leaves are thin and rough, similar to the grass on your lawn which the cat would eat if it lived outdoors. Put the plant by the kitty’s litter box and sprinkle a bit of catnip on top of the soil. You’ll probably have to replace it with a new one once in a while, but you’ll have no worries about your own, more valuable specimens.
Caladium Is Just on a Winter Vacation
Q: I recently bought a caladium at the supermarket. It was a beautiful healthy plant when I bought it, but as the weeks went by the leaves died and new ones came in but were weak and tiny. It finally stopped growing altogether. Could you please tell me how to care for a caladium because I’d like to buy another one.
A: You already have another one! Caladiums--those glamorous, spectacular, very showy plants with large, heart-shaped crepe-like leaves splashed with an infinite variety of greens, pinks, reds, whites and creams--are grown from tubers (underground stems with eyes or buds). That means they’ll go dormant after they finish their spring and summer display, but they’ll come back to full grandeur after overwintering--without water--in a cool, dry spot. Sometime in late March bring the plant out onto a windowsill and begin watering. Within a couple of weeks new shoots will appear and a new growth cycle will be under way. The keys to keeping this gorgeous plant thriving as long as possible are indirect light, lots of water and humidity, and regular feedings during its growing season with a good liquid houseplant food such as Miracle-Gro. I usually buy two or three new caladiums every year. And why not? Like fingerprints, no two are ever alike.
