Condo Living 101

Plant Wisdom

There are a lot of tips on how to make an utterly drab cinder block condo as warm as possible and one of hem would be the addition of plants. They are good for the environment and can add some refreshing oxygen to an enclosed space as a condo but they need proper care and some caution for some of the toughest house plants are poisonous to animals and kids alike. Cacti are low maintenance yet their thorns sometimes contain break-away spines that in nature serves as the plant’s defense mechanism, but around kids, they can turn laughter into shrieks of pain. Dumbcane or elephant ears contain toxins that can be deadly to small animals and children so use only where the kids cannot reach. They can induce numbness of the lips and tongue but will lead to more serious health effects if ingested. Take samples of poisonous plants with you if you suspect ingestion so the emergency room staff can administer proper medication.
Even the lowly tomato plant that is popular as a container vegetable has poison in the leaves and stem being part of the night-shade family of plants. Flowering plants can release pollen that may look nice but bring out allergies ti unsuspecting people and guests. Knowledge is key so stick with safer plants you can get from the many nurseries, it would also be nice to get tips from the people there for the safety of kids and pets alike.