Bo said:Indeed, I think it just applies to eating it or chewing on it, I have not yet come across anything which says that it is dangerous only when it is in the area,
As long as you can keep your cats and dogs away from touching/eating/chewing it, they should be fine.
Unless some other members have different advice?
Keit said:I have a question about this list. What does it mean toxic for animals? Is it toxic only when they eat it or when those plants are in their area? We have a cat and a dog and also two big peace lilies, and it seems like it doesn't have any negative effect on them.Belibaste said:Gimpy said:This looks really interesting, but the big question I have is this: are any of these plants toxic to animals? Like dogs and cats? :/
Here is a list of plants (excerpt from an ASPCA document) that are toxic to dogs and cats.
Peace Lily
http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants-non-toxic.html said:The following list contains plants that have not been reported as having systemic effects on animals, or as having intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Note that any plant material ingested by an animal (as when dogs and cats ingest yard grass) may produce symptoms including vomiting, depression, or diarrhea. These symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting and often do not require any treatment.
Gertrudes said:Thanks for the info Shijing and RyanX.
On this subject, here is someting that I found. It is extracted from a Feng Shui book but the data is quite interesting:
The Feng Shui Bible by Simon Brown said:Research indicates that plants can help reduce the affects of EMF (Electromagnetic fields). The Institut Des Recherches en Geobiologie at Chadonne in Switzerland carried out a two year research programme in offices on New York's Wall Street, to examine the effects of keeping plants next to computer terminals. The most effective plant was Cereus peruvianuf (a type of cactus, 40cm/ 16 in high), which reduced the incidence of headaches and tiredness among employees when placed next to the computers. Other investigations have promoted the Peace Lily and Spider plant as having similar properties.
Could this be a Feng Shui myth? Plants do release C02 at night. But it seems like the same argument could be made about spouses, who I think would absorb more oxygen and release more CO2 than a few house plants. :) Other primates like gorillas and orangutans sleep in the middle of forests at night.Laura said:Just don't put them in the bedroom. Plants give off carbon dioxide at night. Bad Feng shui.
https://fengshuisteps.wordpress.com/tag/spiky-plants-bad-feng-shui/ said:Cactus plants (cacti) and other Thorny plants
Spiky and thorny plants are rarely admitted in Feng Shui gardens and homes; their thorns put out small amounts of bad energy. Over time this can cause sickness, loss and bad luck, so it is better to avoid those.
Bonsai
Bonsai are large trees that have been artificially stunted over the years. Although bonsai can be valuable, they are bad Feng Shui when grown indoors. Bonsai symbolise stunted growth, and can cause blocks in growth and business.
Plants that grow downwards
Don’t grow weeping willows, spider plants, ivy and other downward growing plants indoors. These draw energy downwards, when we want indoor plants to boost our energy.
Dead, sick and dying plants, and wilting cut flowers
These release negative energy and symbolise death. Throw them out. Keep only healthy plants and freshly cut flowers indoors. Replace dead and dying plants with healthy plants to boost Chi.
So for an harmonious INDOOR place, avoid bonsais, downward growing, dying and thorny plants.
Generally speaking, you want to opt for plants that have nice rounded shaped leaves, okay, as opposed to the plants that are on the spiky side, okay. The reason for this is that particularly yuccas which have broader leaves than this, they have a very kind of aggressive or stimulating or clashing energies we call it, which is not conducive to harmony.
In the world of Feng Shui, we often recommend plants with soft or curved leaves. Why? Because leaves that are soft tend to ‘feel’ friendlier and when you use a ‘friendly’ plant it’s easier to create a sense of welcome in your living space. Whereas leaves that are sharp and pointed cannot only hurt us but they also keep us from drawing near and that tends to work against the creation of a sense of welcome.
But here’s the question, are sharp pointy leaves, thorn and prickles bad Feng Shui, in a word ‘no’.
The quality of protection that spiky, sharp leaves offer a plant can also be used to your advantage. We all have times in our lives when we need a little space, time to regroup and re-evaluate our lives. And that is when a sharp, spiky leaved plant is perfect. When placed in the Bagua area that relates to your situation, the plant provides healthy vibrant energy while also protecting your space. For example: if you have recently ended a difficult relationship and are not ready to begin a new one, a plant with spiky leaves can create a sense of distance while also bringing the positive chi that plants possess. The ultimate yes no. ‘Yes’ I’m beautiful and healthy, ‘no’ I don’t want you any closer. Think of it as a living buffer zone.
Houseplants with rounded leaves and an upright habit attract good Chi, symbolizing round coins and money, thereby creating a sense of abundance.
Spiky plants like cacti and snake plants are excellent for shielding you against negative Chi, but their aggressive energy means you need to place them where they’re not in highly-trafficked areas of your home.
Avoid droopy plants like ivies. They create a drag on the energy of your home and can make you feel tired every time you look at them
Plants to Use
From a feng shui perspective, the best plants are those with round or soft leaves. Spiky plants that bite when you touch them are not encouraged, unless you have a particularly strong love for them.
Another feng shui can of worms is sick or dying plants. A sick plant is worse than no plant at all. If you can’t bring yourself to toss out a plant as soon as it begins to droop, al least keep all dead leaves trimmed off. And know when to give up and admit that your plant is not going to bounce back to health – don’t wait until it’s a brown stick in a pot. For this same reason, get rid of cut flowers as soon as they begin to fade.
Houseplants are not only aesthetically pleasing giving a touch of color to otherwise drab offices or houses, they also combat indoor air pollution, particularly with their ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. These compounds are gases or vapors emitted by solids and liquids that may have adverse short- and long-term health effects on humans. But in addition to giving off oxygen and sucking out harmful VOCs, a new study has shown that some indoor plants actually release VOCs into the environment.
A research team at the University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture conducted a study to identify and measure the amounts of VOCs emitted by four species of popular indoor potted plants and to note the source of VOCs and differences in emission rates between day and night. The four plants they chose were Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel), Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata Prain), Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina L.), and Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl.).
Samples of each plant were placed in glass containers with inlet ports connected to charcoal filters to supply purified air and outlet ports connected to traps where volatile emissions were measured. The results were compared to empty containers to verify the absence of contaminants. A total of 23 volatile compounds were found in Peace Lily, 16 in Areca Palm, 13 in Weeping Fig, and 12 in Snake Plant. Some of the VOCs are ingredients in pesticides applied to several species during the production phase.
And it turns out the plants themselves aren’t the only ones responsible for the release of VOCs. Micro-organisms living in the soil were also to blame for releasing volatiles into the atmosphere along with the plastic pots containing the plants, which were the source of 11 of the VOCs – several of which are known to negatively affect humans.[...]
Mal7 said:Could this be a Feng Shui myth? Plants do release C02 at night. But it seems like the same argument could be made about spouses, who I think would absorb more oxygen and release more CO2 than a few house plants. :) Other primates like gorillas and orangutans sleep in the middle of forests at night.Laura said:Just don't put them in the bedroom. Plants give off carbon dioxide at night. Bad Feng shui.