Hello! Well, we’re finally into the final stretch! All those months and weeks of planning for the big day!
Some people are happily done with all of their Christmas shopping; some are still scurrying around searching for those last minute gifts. Still others have yet to start their rounds to all the stores. Good luck to all those who still have to do their Christmas shopping! Time is of the essence and there isn’t much of it left! Time and/or essence!

At any rate, giving holiday plants is a great idea. This is especially true if the recipient of your gift plant has a green thumb. Many stores have tons of beautiful live plants that are sure winners that are guaranteed to add to the festivities.

If holiday plant gift giving is part of your plan, make sure that the particular plant is a good fit for the family that is getting it. Especially if that particular family has young children or pets, make sure that you tell them the name of the plant, and, of course, any plant care instructions, and by all means warn them if the plant is toxic to their children or pets. While most plants are uniquely beautiful, not all plants are created equal! Most are safe; others can be dangerous!

Today we are going to talk about some very important holiday tips to prevent plant poisonings.
The following information comes from the Central New York Poison Control Center from Syracuse.
This poison control center receives tons of calls throughout the entire year from people reporting suspected poisonings of others accidentally swallowing things that are potentially harmful, even deadly.
They report that 20% of all the poison emergency calls they receive each year involve plants.

Now no one is warning you not to give or receive certain plants. Instead, be aware which of those beautiful plants out there may cause problems, and then plan accordingly. Here are some of the potentially harmful plants that the Poison Control Center wants to tell you about.

When people think holiday plants, the first one that comes to mind is the very popular POINSETTIA.
Over the years, plant breeders have developed many other colors of POINSETTIAS besides the original regular robust red.

The POINSETTIA is also called the Christmas flower; its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima.
This poor plant has suffered a bad reputation for many years; many people have believed that the POINSETTIA is very poisonous. However, research has proved that the POINSETTIA can be harmful only if large amounts are eaten. One source suggests that this large amount equates to about a bushel full of POINSETTIA bracts! However, do keep in mind that the plant’s milky sap may cause dermatitis on a person’s skin. So, enjoy your POINSETTIA whatever the color, be careful not to get this milky white sap on your skin, and, by all means, don’t eat a bushel basket of POINSETTIAS!

HOLLY is another Christmas plant that is very attractive with its stiff green sharp spiky leaves and bright red berries. Well, HOLLY berries are significantly poisonous. Eating just 20 of these little red beauties may be fatal for a young child!

MISTLETOE is often humorously used to steal a kiss. However, MISTLETOE is also called the “kiss of death”! MISTLETOE berries, leaves, and stem are all poisonous. Contact the Poison Center immediately if anyone in your family eats any MISTLETOE parts in any amount.

All parts of BITTERSWEET are considered toxic because of a substance called Solanine. Unripe BITTERSWEET berries contain the highest concentration of this Solanine, which causes headaches, sedation, and the heart rate to drop below 60. Call the Poison Center if any part of BITTERSWEET is eaten by anyone.

JERUSALEM CHERRY has appealing, pretty bright orange to scarlet berries, but the whole plant is pretty toxic. Call the Poison Center if any amount is ingested.

PINES make for great Christmas trees. However, PINE needles and branches may be harmful if ingested in large amounts. Small amounts may cause local irritation in varying degrees, or really bad stomach upset. Small children may choke on pieces of PINE, or they may aspirate some into their lungs. Call the Poison Center if a child eats any PINE branches. Keep in mind, pinecones are not toxic, although they may cause dermatitis.

BOXWOOD is commonly used in Christmas wreaths and roping. The leaves and twigs contain a toxic alkaloid called buxene. Eating BOXWOOD could result in severe gastrointestinal problems, or convulsions, or even respiratory failure. Call the Poison Center if any BOXWOOD is ingested.

Are you now too scared to give or get any of these plants? A word to the wise – prevention! Keep children and pets away from any of these plants that can cause them harm. Up, up, and away – out of their reach. If this is impossible, then keep a watchful eye when kids and these plants are in close proximity to each other!

And if there is the situation where a person does ingest something harmful, do not hesitate to call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately for advice. You will not talk to a computer answering machine; you will not be put on hold. The Poison Control people are always there to help you through any emergency poisoning situation. They will tell you whether a trip to the emergency room is in order, or if a simple home remedy will provide the needed cure. And - simple number to remember - 1-800-222-1222 – keep this number near your phone in case of any potential poisoning emergency.

Getting back to Christmas plants….

The Poison Center does suggest a few non-toxic plants to give this holiday season.
These include:
AFRICAN VIOLETS
SPIDER PLANTS
JADE
BOSTON FERN
WANDERING JEW
SNAKE PLANTS
COLEUS
CHRISTMAS CACTUS
WAX PLANTS
(ALL OF THESE ARE SAFE AND NON-TOXIC!)

If you would like a few free, very helpful handouts on potentially poisonous plants and a Poison Control Center sticker for your phone, stop by at Cooperative Extension up on Stowe Street in Lowville or give us a call at 376-5270. We’d love to share this vital information with you.

So enjoy those holiday houseplants, but be careful of the potentially poisonous ones.

So have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and have a happy and safe New Year!

Remember – Eat Smart New York!

And – Bye – Talk to you soon!
D