Found out my favorite desk plant was slowly poisoning me

So I've had this little desk succulent on my workspace for about 8 months now. It's this cute aloe-looking thing I picked up at a farmers market for $12. Last week I got curious and actually looked up the species. Turns out it's a Euphorbia, not an aloe at all. And these things have this milky sap that's actually toxic. Can cause skin irritation and eye problems if you mess with it. I've been repotting it with bare hands like an idiot! The article I found said some varieties even cause temporary blindness if the sap gets in your eyes. I checked my hands and sure enough I've had this weird rash for weeks that I thought was dry skin. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Has anyone else accidentally brought a toxic plant into their workspace?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul11722d ago

Actually I just watched a YouTube video last week about common toxic houseplants that people keep without knowing it. The guy who made it had this whole section on euphorbias and how the sap can cause blisters that take forever to heal. He said some people end up needing eye surgery if they get that sap in their eyes and don't flush it out fast enough. Your desk plant situation is scary because you probably touch your face or eat lunch at your desk without thinking about it. If I were you I'd either put it in a sealed terrarium where you can't accidentally touch it, or just rehome it to a friend who can handle it safely. The rash on your hands sounds like it could get infected if you keep messing with it, maybe see a doctor about that first.

wren_rodriguez22d ago

Did you end up seeing a doctor about that rash? I've dealt with some nasty plant reactions before and they only get worse if you ignore them. Hope you get it sorted out soon.