Be sure to read the comments as well....

I did. Some people thought the woman was being over dramatic but If that happened to me I'd be dramatic too. Even if you don't have Pencil Cactus, its a good reminder to wash your hands and not touch your eyes after gardening because other plants can cause issues or you can just be sensitive to a plant. :)

Slightly OT, but - - RE: touching your eyes - anyone else see that cable series 'Monsters Inside Me' about horrific parasites & how people got them? Many were soil borne; 1 was about a young lady who got worms in her eyes after eating lunch w/o washing her hands after working in the yard...

Raccoon feces, which appear in my weedy back area, can carry very nasty contaminants. And yet, I sometimes fail to wear gloves when working in the area. Humans can be slow to learn.

Put me down as one that is slow to learn! I am an obsessive weed picker, I admit. I do not use chemicals in my lawn or garden because I have a 7 year old who spends a lot of time outside in the yard. I pick and pull and my neighbors think I'm nuts lol. I don't know which weed or plant it is, but every other month or so I get a rash on my fingers that blisters first (insanely itchy) and then my skin sloughs off in layers like a burn victim (excruciatingly painful). Lots of blood, pus and scabs after. It even hurts to wash my hands. I try to wear gloves as much as possible but it mainly happens when I'm walking by and spot a patch of weeds and can't resist weeding right there on the spot! I'm hopeless. If anyone knows of a South Florida weed that might be responsible I'd love to know. I'm really only picking weeds that grow low in the grass. Nothing tall or funky looking.

Some people are highly allergic to a lot of different plants, even the edibles. I know people allergic to sap from a mango, fig, banana, etc. And of course the common weeds like poison ivy, sumac, oak and a lot more too many to name it. Certain plant sap will affect some but not others for example I can trim the Queens Wreath no problem but the people in the house get an instant rash, same with oleander.
It is always a good idea to keep soap nearby the garden and after working there, keep the hands wash. It only takes a minute and can save you a lot of discomfort.

Silvia

hi

Guess everything is relevant to the individual?? My wife for example is allergic to bee stings she was actually in the hospital for 3 days from a single sting!! She was unable to breathe without oxygen .. We have to keep antivenom on hand . I don't even find them particularly painful.

recently got into a debate about the use of "Sphagnum mosss" as a media . They cited actual deaths from the stuff. Only warning I can find is breathing the dust. Have used it for well over 30 years . feel certain I'm still alive ??lol

I like to find out things the hard way lol gary

Gary, when I lived in NY and old timer in my OS Club(who was also an AOS judge) always warned everyone about Sphagnum. It carries a fungus which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

He said you must always wear gloves when handling it and to wet it down well before using it to prevent inhaling the spores. He really scared me and I'm very careful about Sphag and perlite. I always hose it down before touching it with gloves.

Who knows if its true, but this guy was not fooling around.

Jane

Jane

Many years ago there used to be a guy on the PBS who used compacted long fibered sphagnum moss as a media for Bonsai. According to what I've heard he died from the use of it ?? Don't remember his name but he was based in Miami. Only mention I could find on CDC site was "irratant of lungs and some have allergic reactions to it . Bonsai has always been my primary use of it rather than orchids Have noted there is a two line warning on the label.

In any event wearing gloves would seem reasonable but since 30 years have passed maybe a bit late?? lol

Took me 53 years two lung tumors and years of treatment to decide that smoking MIGHT be dangerous lol Thanks for the warning gary

Gary, most respectfully I point out "irritant of lungs" and "two lung tumors". Not too late to stay well!

Hi

Yes I could do that but then how would I be able to say "I did it my way"?? lol gary

I would never have noticed this if it weren't for this post, but I think this is a giant pencil cactus. I saw this today, poolside at a condo, within reach of anyone lol.

Halfway-

that may seem like a giant PC but I've seen one 2 stories high!! If you started chopping on one that big you could find yourself in a world of trouble if you don't take precautions.

And let us not forget other plants in the euphorbia family. A lot of them ooze white sap. I've never had a problem but I know what I'm dealing with.