Why is plant shopping so hard?

Yemen08

Yemen08

Member
Went to a discount store today where they had 5 different plants at VERY reasonable prices, only problem is I am yet to find a reliable source (including the search button):D that claims these sub species to be non-toxic.

So if there are any green fingered wizards out there please help me:-
As Labeled
Ficus Retusa Bonsai
Ficus Natasja
Livistonia (Confirmed as toxic
Dracaena Sanderiana
Zamloculeas.
Banana Plant (Musa Dwarf Cavendish)

Thanks in Advance :)
 
i use the ficus bonsai.
also i have heard of the Dracaena Sanderiana being ok to use..
dont trust me though! just a beginner:D
 
Dracaena Sanderiana is ok from what I've read. I don't think I've seen an dracaena that aren't ok.

Ficus Natasja from what im reading seems to be the normal ficus benjamina/weeping fig - some will say its ok and they have had no problems but to be careful about breaking leaves and whatnot (milky white sap will come out and can be harmful or irritating) so just keep an eye on it.

banana plant should be fine
 
Yemen08 said:
Went to a discount store today where they had 5 different plants at VERY reasonable prices, only problem is I am yet to find a reliable source (including the search button):D that claims these sub species to be non-toxic.

So if there are any green fingered wizards out there please help me:-
As Labeled
Ficus Retusa Bonsai
Ficus Natasja
Livistonia (Confirmed as toxic
Dracaena Sanderiana
Zamloculeas.
Banana Plant (Musa Dwarf Cavendish)

Thanks in Advance :)
Click to expand...

Several reasons this is hard including:

The definition of "non-toxic"
Non-toxic for who or what?

At best you might find one described as non-toxic for human babies, cats or dogs. This may never consider reptiles.

Non-toxic in what way?
Ingested, rubbed on skin, stuck in your eye, volatile oils, acids or alkaloids?

If you have a cham species that doesn't tend to chew on plants it may not matter if the plant is toxic if eaten, but it may matter if the plant releases volatile alkaloids when the leaves are overheated directly under a basking lamp. There are plants in the wild whose leaf acids only cause skin irritation if you expose the same skin to bright sunlight. Cherry pits may have toxic levels of cyanide if eaten but handling a cherry tree is safe.

How are they measuring toxicity?
Toxic if tiny amounts are ingested or touched. Toxic but you'd have to eat a bushel of it.

And, the store staff surely don't know and websites dealing with plants may not know for every species in a genus.

I'm pretty sure most of the Ficus we see in shops are OK. Just do any pruning, let the sap run and seal the cuts, wash the plant off, then put in the cage after its dry. I like to use sturdier Ficus such as Ficus alli because the twigs and leaves don't break and ooze sap as easily.
 
Thank you, anybody use a soil/sand mixture for better drainage?? what ratio do you find works best ?
 
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