Are Venus Flytrap Poisonous
or A Danger! to Kids or Pets
Venus flytrap isn't a poisonous plant. Even if you end up ingesting it, it can cause indigestion at max. Not only that, the trap size of this plant is only 1.5 inches. That is why; it is not dangerous for kids as well as pets.
However, quite a few myths are surrounding the Venus flytrap plant. Today, we will cover these myths and provide you with factual information about this plant.
Venus Flytrap Myths
Some of the myths revolving around the plant include:
- Venus flytraps have teeth:
On its face, it might look like this plant has teeth, but that is not true. They do not do anything. The plant uses the digestive juices to digest the insects and pests that land on them.
- Venus flytraps can bite people:
There is a myth that these plants can attempt to bite your finger. However, this is not entirely true.
Whenever anything lands on the leaves of the plant, it will, of course, close its leaves to trap it inside. The same is true for your finger as well. However, if your or your kid's finger remains inside the leaves, it won't be damaged. Also, the human force is much higher than that of an insect, and therefore you will be able to pull out your finger.
- Venus flytraps can eat anything:
Even though the plant looks like a dangerous one, the biggest thing it can eat is a housefly. The plant cannot eat anything bigger than that.
These are the three myths that revolve around this plant, and hopefully, now you have your answers.
Why should you keep children and
pets away from Venus flytrap?
Sure enough, this plant might not be able to bite a kid's finger or harm your dog, but still, you should keep your children and pets away it. There are quite a few reasons for the same.
Harmful for the plant:
The task of closing its leaves and opening it back requires a lot of energy on the part of the plant. That is why, if your kids are doing it for fun, the plant will eventually start losing its nutrition and will wither away. That is why; playing with the leaves just for the sake of it is harmful for the plant.
Stressful for your pets:
Even though your pets will also be able to pull out their paws and fingers from the Venus flytrap, it can nevertheless be a very stressful experience for your pets like cat. The plant is non-toxic for them, but it is a good idea to keep them away to ensure that they do not eat Venus flytrap, which can cause indigestion.
Thus, even though a Venus flytrap is not dangerous or poisonous, it is a good idea to keep your pets and kids away from the plant.
Are Venus flytrap Poisonous?
A Danger! to Kids or Pets?
Before I bought a Venus flytrap, I researched any potential risks and dangers the plant could bring to humans and pets. Luckily, the plant was a safe bet; it could be a great addition to my other houseplants.Venus flytraps are not poisonous plants. Ingesting the plant won’t cause significant risks beyond indigestion. Due to their small trap size (less than 1.5 inches), Venus flytraps are harmless to humans, dogs, and cats.
It is safe to grow Venus flytrap at home. In the next section, I will explain exactly how this is true and give you peace of mind. Also, I will expand on some details about growing Venus flytraps at home and protecting them from pets.
Are Venus Flytraps Poisonous?
The Venus Flytrap, or the Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant native to the wetlands in North Caroline and South Carolina. It is famous for catching and eating insects as well as small animals. The leaves of the flytrap open wide and there are short hairs on them called trigger hairs or sensitive hairs. This helps the plant detect once an insect lands on its mouth. It is found that if anything dead lands on the plant’s mouth, it will not tightly close on it.
Recently, there are more people looking to have Venus flytraps as part of their houseplants; particularly those interested in botany. However, there is this constant concern if it is safe to have them in houses with kids and pets.Venus flytraps grow an average of five inches and pose no threat to humans; especially kids. It is said that kids and pets can cause more harm to the plant instead of the other way around. The plant is also non-toxic to pets such as cats and dogs.
However, the plant does have compounds that may be poisonous if consumed by pets. Staff from the USA’s ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center explained pets have shown almost no symptoms once they consume the plant while mild gastrointestinal upset is said to be the worst-case scenario.Can Venus Flytraps Bite?
The flytraps are able to digest human flesh, however, they cannot bite into human beings and take chunks of flesh with them. With that aside, Venus flytraps do bite as it will close its mouth when anything lands on it. However, it will be harmless to children and pets. The ones who are in danger from the plant are flies. This is due to the fact the plant secretes nectar on its mouth which insects become attracted to.
Insects become attracted to the smell of nectar and once they land on the leaves of the plant, a signal will be sent by the trigger hairs outside of the trap. The mouth will then shut in less than a second. It is also said the leaves do not tighten immediately to let smaller insects escape. Once larger insects start to struggle, the leaves will start to tighten while insect secretions will also cause the leaves to tighten further.
Tips to Keep Venus Flytraps Away From Pets
As mentioned earlier, pets are a greater risk for houseplants instead of the other way around. Keeping the plant safe will ultimately be a factor in its survival.
Just like any other houseplant, it is important to keep the Venus flytrap out of reach of pets. As it is recommended to place them near the window, the plant should be elevated to make sure it won’t be harmed by cats and dogs.
If there are areas in the house pets are not allowed to be in, it is best to place the flytrap there. This decreases the risk of the plant being harmed as the pets already know it is a prohibited area for them. Growers can also opt to have hanging pots around the house and place the flytraps there. This will ensure the safety of the plant as well as the pets as there is no way for them to reach the elevated plant.Another tip would be training the pets to stay away from the plants. Enforcing good behavior on dogs and cats is also an important factor in the safety of the plant. Being able to let the pets realize and remember the flytraps shouldn’t be harmed through playful acts will help it survive to be indoors. It is also best to be safe than sorry and this is a way to keep both the plants and pets safe.
Owners can also opt to place the Venus flytrap in a terrarium to keep the pets from constantly reaching for it and dig on the soil. This will also make it easier to control the environment of the plant as it will be easier to keep a terrarium humid. Terrariums will serve as a mini garden for the plant. The plants won’t need to constantly be watered if they are in a terrarium too due to the enclosed nature of it.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Venus flytrap is very safe for children and pets and poses no threat being indoors. Being able to take care of the plant will also be easier with all things considered.
Having the right area may be tricky at first, but after getting the hang of it, it will become easier to keep more flytraps indoors. Knowing the right soil and water is important for the survival of this carnivorous plant as well as the proper prey to feed it. It might not be easy at first, but the first times are never easy for anyone.It will most definitely be a plus having a Venus flytrap in houses, especially for those who constantly have flies going around. The plant will save them the time of swatting the flies away while the plant will be able to nourish itself through it.
