Types of Plants Affected by Household Chemicals

Soaps and Detergents

• Insecticidal soaps are organic controls packaged specifically to kill plant pests. They offer safer alternatives to synthetic chemicals in closed home environments. Many people use household laundry and dishwashing soaps as insecticidal soaps with positive results. Most soaps and detergents packaged for home use are too harsh for plants and increase the possibility of plant damage. Specifically, dry dish soaps and all laundry detergents should be avoided. W.S. Cranshaw, of Colorado State Extension, lists on the university website hawthorn, sweet pea, portulaca and some tomato varieties among plants that are most sensitive to insecticidal soaps, particularly household chemical soaps.

Alcohol and Aerosols

• The tighter a house is sealed, the more it’s prone to indoor air pollution from household chemicals if not adequately ventilated. Kathleen Parrott on the Montana State University website, suggests not using aerosol products if possible. They disperse more chemicals into the air through light, airborne mists that cannot escape a tightly sealed home. These particles can travel away from intended household targets onto nearby houseplants where they accumulate on leaves. Aerosols and alcohols can burn plant leaves. Houseplants susceptible to chemical burn include maranta, calathea and dracaena spp.

Chlorine and Fluoride

• Often-overlooked sources of phytotoxicity are chlorine and fluoride. Added by municipalities to drinking water, these chemicals may benefit people but not plants. Using water filters, boiling water (and cooling before watering) and using rainwater are safer water sources for plants. Dr. Bodie Pennisi states on the University of Georgia website that spider plant (Chlorophytum spp.), dracaena and other plants with long linear leaves are most susceptible to tip burn and leaf scorch injuries from chlorine and fluoride. "Baby Doll" is the most susceptible cordyline cultivar that succumbs to leaf necrosis from water containing fluoride.

Leaf-Shine Products

• Plant leaf-shine products are designed specifically for houseplants. When sprayed or wiped onto plant foliage, these agents supposedly clean dust from leaves and leave behind glossy shines. According to Elizabeth Davison of the University of Arizona, these products should be avoided for three reasons: they attract dust, reduce light available to leaves and can be toxic to the plant by blocking the stomata on leaf surfaces. Stomata are cells on leaf surfaces that facilitate exchange of gases. They let in carbon dioxide and let out oxygen and water. When stomata are blocked, gas exchange is impossible, photosynthesis ceases and plants die. Common plants that suffer from chemicals in these products are ficus species, ti plant, philodendron and pothos vine.