Safety: Poisonous Plants

First and foremost – always know what you’re growing! Certain plants, even simple ones like Poinsettas can be poisonous to pets. It’s an important thing to label your poisonous plants, know their antidotes, and keep them away from pets and children. Since I’m growing quite a collection this year I chose a high cupboard to keep all my plants on (when indoors)  away from the cats (please note that we have three geriatric cats who don’t climb anything higher than the window sills). If you have cats who climb, a high shelf may not work for you. You may need a pet-free grow room or an enclosed shelf to start your seedlings in. I’ve also carefully labeled the pots these plants are going into and I have the antidotes listed and we’ll post them on the fridge. Not that I think my husband or I are going to ingest Nightshade or Belladonna, but I do have nieces and nephews and pets who tend to get into things. When making magickal mixtures from said plants, I clearly label them as well. That way you’ll always know who got into what and you can provide physicians, paramedics, or vets with the information quickly. This is probably another argument FOR my greenhouse. In the greenhouse the plants won’t be accessible to the cats or the kids (except in winter when they come into the house from the greenhouse).

**If you’re putting poisonous plants in incenses or oils make sure you know which oils shouldn’t touch the skin, don’t ever ingest, and make sure you only burn incenses in a well ventilated room or outside.