Again and again the question arises whether the snake plant can be dangerous to children and pets. We'll clarify whether the bow tie is poisonous or not.
Scurf hemp (Sansevieria) is not entirely innocent, because the drought-loving plant is considered slightly poisonous. It is not alone in this, as numerous other popular houseplants are classified similarly. But what exactly does that mean in practice for your child or pet?
Like so many plants, the scalloped plant needs protection. Otherwise it would quickly end up in the stomachs of hungry animals in its inhospitable homeland, where it stands quite alone with its greenery. Since spines are not so far away in bow-tie hemp and these are not known to be effective against animals such as insects anyway, the plant relies on a chemical defense strategy. Bow hemp stores saponins as a stomach poison.
Is bow tie poisonous to humans?
The term "saponins" sounds potentially toxic at first - and that's actually the case. Bow Hemp is a slightly poisonous plant. Nevertheless, you do not need to distance yourself from the plant immediately, because saponins are also contained in tomatoes, spinach, soap nuts and horse chestnuts. The saponin contained in all parts of the plant in bow-tie is a haemolytic sapogenin which, in the event of an overdose, can lead to the breakdown of red blood cells. But as you know, it always depends on the dose. For adults, the bow tie is certainly not he althy, but it does not cause any further damage.
In children, on the other hand, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps can occur. However, serious damage is very unlikely. If severe symptoms occur, you should nevertheless contact the poison control center immediately to be on the safe side.
Is bowel hemp poisonous to cats and the like?
What is mildly poisonous to humans can be particularly dangerous for small animals. For dogs, the bow hemp is therefore classified as slightly poisonous. The same also applies to cats. Animals of this size show symptoms similar to humans, i.e. vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. Take in severe casesBe sure to contact your veterinarian.
The snail can be really dangerous to small animals like rats and mice. The little rodents can die if they eat too much of the plant. Whether rats and mice would actually be interested in gnawing on a piece of scaffolding is debatable, but just to be safe, keep the plant away from them.
Treat Bow Hemp Poisoning
Here are the most important things to do if a child or pet has eaten a piece of bow tie:
- Remove any plant debris from the mouth
- Never try to induce vomiting
- Rinse mouth with still water or tap water
- Call poison control center or veterinarian if symptoms develop
In this article you will find out which 10 indoor plants can still be dangerous for your pets.