Click here for printer friendly version

Do you know your plants?

Take a look at the plants in your home. Do you know their botanical names? When you buy plants, they usually have a tag that has the name and watering instructions, but most people toss the tags when they get home. Then, when their 2-year-old child bites off a chunk of a leaf, they panic because they don't know if it's poisonous. And poison control centers can only help you if you know what the plant is. A simple tip is to keep the tags attached to the plants so that you'll always know exactly what your child ate. Another simple tip is to ask if the plant is considered poisonous when you buy it--if it is, spare yourself the headache and pick something else.