Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Could you give me some information on these succulents?
QUESTION:
I have a bowl of mixed succulents.
I cannot find any information about these plants and I am concerned that
they may be poisonous to my 1 yr old. The main one in the
bowl grows long strands (from sprouts to 24" long) that have fat little
bright green "leaves" about 1/4" long and almost round. When the "leaves"
drop from the strands, they root pretty quickly allowing that plant to take
over most of the bowl. The other plant in the bowl grows similar strands,
though not as long, and the leaves are shaped more like a diamond. They
have more of a red color and are larger than the other plants. I wish I had
more information, but the web sites I have checked out do not have photos of
this type of succulent. These succulents came from a local nursery about 7
years ago and have grown like mad over the years.
ANSWER:
Many, if not most, house plants have some toxic principle. Usually, it is limited
to the painful, irritating, but rarely fatal calcium oxide raphides such as those
found in Dieffenbachia or Philodendron (and many others). Sometimes it can be more
serious. If I were you, I would put your plants up high where kids can not get to
them, at least until you have identified the plants and checked them out.