Why You Should Always Wash Your Hands After Touching Your Peace Lily

A popular pick for houseplants, peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) get a lot of attention for their elegant look and age-old symbolism. They're relatively easy to care for; these plants can be kept successfully in bathrooms, hallways, or other odds spaces that don't get much natural light. However, there are a few caveats to be aware of when growing this calming houseplant that makes your home feel fresh. As pretty as they look, these plants can actually irritate your skin and cause contact hives if handled with bare hands for prolonged periods of time. That's why you should always wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling or pruning your potted peace lily.

Here's the science behind this: Peace lilies' leaves, stems, and sap contain these pesky little particles called calcium oxalate crystals, and these can cause a burning sensation or swelling if handled or swallowed. FYI, this is also true for other common houseplants that are high in oxalates, such as pothos. Some medical experts recommend that allergy-prone individuals steer clear of peace lilies for this exact reason. By washing your hands after handling peace lilies, you'll remove any lingering plant residue from your skin and minimize the likelihood of experiencing discomfort or breaking out in hives. You can also wear gloves when touching them, although if you're diligent about handwashing, this extra precaution shouldn't be necessary.

It's always a good idea to do your homework before introducing new houseplants into your space, peace lilies included. Case in point: All parts of this plant are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. If you have pets at home, and they like to munch on your houseplants, then peace lilies probably aren't the best option for you. Additionally, peace lilies are not safe for human consumption — especially for children, who can experience skin or throat irritation, acute gastrointestinal distress, or loss of appetite from eating them. If your kid starts to chew on your peace lily plant, ask them to spit it out, rinse their mouth out with water, and wipe down the area around their mouth to avoid any further skin irritation.

As for growing peace lilies successfully, doing your homework here isn't a bad idea, either. Common peace lily care mistakes like overwatering can harm your plant or even kill it. You'll have the best luck growing peace lilies (and yielding as many flowers as possible!) if you mist them regularly, water them sparingly, and place them somewhere with indirect light.