How to Protect Plants from Toddlers?

As a parent, I am too familiar with how inquisitive toddlers can be. Toddlers love to discover new things. Having witnessed the same process myself with my toddlers, I understand how it feels. Kids are curious about what they’re tasting as they develop their taste buds. In other words, they will taste and touch anything they can get their hands on. We’re not exempt from this experiment either, whether it’s your dog bowl, cabinets, or wines. If you’re toddler proofing your home, be sure you don’t forget about your plants.

The importance of toddlers proofing plants

It can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a parent to watch their children grow up. In no time, your child will discover all the corners of your home and will no longer be confined to a swaddle. Let them explore! It’s the best way to develop the brain of a toddlers. To ensure the process runs smoothly, you should provide a safe environment. When you implement toddlers proofing, you’re making your home child-friendly and safe for your little one to explore. In this sense, your kid being exposed to toxic plants certainly falls into the high-risk category. If your child eats the wrong plant, they may experience allergic reactions, poisoning, and even death. As a parent, you would like to keep a constant eye on your child, but that is simply unrealistic. The best thing to do is remove any items that could harm your toddlers.

Best Ways to protect plants from toddlers

You are so gratified when your baby shares your passion! Toddlers can be fascinated by houseplants, especially if they see us caring for them repeatedly. We should still toddlers proof, or control, their access to your houseplants, even when you let your child help. Our blog will cover a few creative ways to ensure the safety of your plants and your child. I am posting a follow-up blog with six ways to toddlers-proof your houseplants.

Avoiding soil contact with your toddlers

You are probably seeking a way to keep your toddlers from eating potting soil if your toddlers are like mine and think it’s delicious. Maybe your child is more sophisticated but still enjoys spreading dirt around and playing with it. Keep your plants and pots neat and clean without causing mud pies and dirt-strewn floors. Here are a few ideas to help you.

Wrap your potted houseplants in cling wrap to toddlers proof them.

There is not much more to say about this idea. In my experience, working around the plant itself using two sheets is the most efficient. If you use cling wrap on a potting medium that sticks to it better than others, you may need a clear tape to help keep it in place. This is a visual representation of where the first sheet of cling wrap will be placed to toddlers-proof your house plant.

It’s great to wrap the top of your pot in cling wrap since it’s cheap. Most of you probably have the materials around the house. The process is simple. Even though cling wrap can be a hassle to work with, I’m sure you know how to use it. Cling wrap is clear, so its impact on the aesthetic is minimal. The wrap can be shaped to fit most shapes of plant pots and houseplants.

While cling wrap may be a good option for your plant, it may not be the best solution for your child. In the first place, it isn’t incredibly tough. Cling wrap blockades can be broken by older toddlers. As well as watering and monitoring soil moisture being more complex, consider some of the other suggestions below if that is a problem already.

Make a plastic drip tray to fit your pot.

In essence, the idea is the same as using cling wrap. You can cut drip trays to fit around the base of your plants. The cuts may look nicer if you use an x-acto knife, but average household scissors will work. Fiddle leaf figs, for example, are excellent candidates for this method since they have a single trunk or stem. Trimming your tray can be accomplished in two ways. You could choose a drip tray that covers the top of your pot completely, which could make watering and lifting easier.

It is also possible to leave the tray untrimmed and trim it to fit inside the pot. Providing a more effective barrier, however, may make water more challenging. Another inexpensive means of toddlers-proofing houseplants is using drip trays. You can buy these trays from your local home improvement or garden center for around a dollar. Using household scissors, they are easy to cut.

The rigid nature of these sleeves makes them a better and more durable alternative to cling wrap. Typically, drip trays are clear, preserving the appearance of your plant and pot. Most drip trays can withstand the weight of a toddlers. Watching you water the plant may teach them how to lift the tray if you have a copycat.

In addition, your soil will not dry out as fast as it normally would due to the drip tray. Depending on your viewpoint, this may be a blessing or a curse. However, it would be best if you considered it as it might affect the way you water your plants. In general, drip trays are circular, so oddly shaped pots or square ones will take a bit more work to fit.

Decorative plant pot covers.

These covers are available at garden or home improvement stores as well as your favorite online retailer. This method is similar to using drip trays, where you cut the pot cover to fit around the pot and entirely inside the jar. Most people use household scissors to trim the covers. The decorated product can be secured to the soil using the small stakes included.

Grid designs are used on the covers of plant pots. You can easily monitor soil moisture with a grid, and watering is much easier than cling wrap and drip trays. And once you set it up, you shouldn’t have to move it again. Additionally, it is designed to blend in perfectly with your soil, making it an aesthetic choice. Covers for plant pots are more expensive than earlier options, but they aren’t prohibitively expensive. Care must be taken when making any cuts with this product.

Tall outer pot for toddlers proof houseplants.

If you wish, you can place your entire plant, pot included, into a larger outer container with tall sides to prevent the soil from leaking out. Plants and banks should be measured, and you should know the height at which your toddlerscan’t get in the ground. Tall plants will benefit most from this method since your outer pot will cover a larger area vertically. 

Here is an example of how you could use this bamboo laundry hamper. This option offers better protection because of its rigid sides. Pachira aquatic, also known as the money tree, is the houseplant I used it for. My toddlersis unable to grab soil with its strong roots. While I like the look, I understand it may not appeal to everyone. A tall basket is another option, which is very popular right now for plant containers.

Low effort can be achieved with the tall outer pot. Just take measurements and choose a bank that will meet your needs. You can also add something fun and novel to your décor that is undoubtedly being dominated by toys!

Depending on which outer pot you choose, they can be pretty costly. Nevertheless, making your soil drier shouldn’t be affected. Nonetheless, they can hinder traditional methods of watering. For example, I use a drinking glass to pour water into the bamboo hamper since I can’t fit my watering can inside. Be aware that it may alter the way you care for your plants.

toddlers-proofing your houseplants’ soil was the focus of this blog post. Many DIY projects and some off-the-shelf products are inexpensive. We have houseplants because we like their aesthetic appeal, so these options help to preserve that. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any creative ideas for keeping your toddlers away from your plants.

Keep toddlers away from these plants.

Having plants in your home makes it look attractive and homey. It is OK to keep a few plants, but if your toddlers arrive, you should instead get rid of certain plants. Being safe is always better than being sorry. Here are some examples.

The Devil’s Ivy

In many homes, you’ll also find this leafy plant. Eating it leads to nausea and swelling.

Oleander

 It is poisonous and is among the most toxic plants around your house. Eating it can harm your heart. It causes low blood pressure, slow heartbeats, and even death.

Philodendron

Many homeowners have these plants in their homes because they are easy to take care of. The chemicals can irritate the skin because burning, and cause swelling once ingested.

Caladium

It has vibrant colors and is another attractive plant. Every child loves bright, beautiful things. It causes swelling, eye irritation, and diarrhea if ingested.

English Ivy

Plants like this have pointed leaves, which add an aesthetic element to their appearance. Unfortunately, when ingested, it’s highly toxic. If this plant enters your toddlers’s mouth, it can cause vomiting, lethargy, and throat swelling.

Cyclamen

Although this vividly colored attractive plant looks so delicious, it can cause untold harm to your baby when consumed. Your baby may suffer from diarrhea and vomiting. Dehydration can also result from excessive vomiting and diarrhea, as you’re probably aware of.

The peace lily

The stunning white color and low maintenance requirements of peace lilies make them popular in many households. Unfortunately, they are pretty toxic.

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