Basically, most types of ferns found in nature or cultivated indoors are poisonous to some extent. You don't necessarily have to shy away from cultivating the plants indoors, but you should at least act cautiously in certain cases.
Fern spores are always poisonous
Be careful with children and pets
Although the mere touch of most indoor fern species is rather harmless, accidental consumption by pets or even small children can cause diarrhea, vomiting or even worse symptoms of poisoning. Therefore, before purchasing a room fern, you should definitely:
- determine the exact type of specimen
- consult the plant description for toxicity
- Consider a safe location
Due to the somewhat reduced incidence of light and the higher humidity, room ferns generally appreciate a location in the bathroom. A slightly elevated location of the plant in the bathroom can be sufficient to avoid dangerous situations for pets or small children.
The spores of various types of ferns can also be dangerous
Although young fern shoots are even eaten in some regions of the world, the dangers posed by some types of fern should not be underestimated. Even the yellowish or brownish spores (collect as a fine powder on the window sill) can cause poisoning when inhaled or even have a carcinogenic effect.
tips
In order to avert harmful effects from the spores of indoor ferns as best as possible, the spores produced for reproduction should be swirled around in the air as little as possible and instead wiped away with a wet cloth.