Are cactus posionous

Are Cactus Poisonous? Learn the Truth about Cacti Plants

Cacti are among the most exciting cactus species on the planet. They are prevalent to spot in deserts. But nowadays, they’re also common to see indoors. They can survive with little to no water for an extended period and can thrive in some of the harshest conditions out there. If you spot a cactus, you’ll immediately notice its sharp needles, which are also known as Glochids. Now, the question is, are cactus poisonous? Can you get hurt by their glochids? Let’s learn the truth about cacti plants and answer these questions. 

Read on!

Are Cactus Poisonous?

You’ve probably landed on this post because you are curious whether a cactus is poisonous or not.

The short answer to that is yes and no. 

Some cacti species are poisonous, and some are not. Also, keep in mind that certain cactus spines can be dangerous such as the Cholla spine. 

For now, let’s talk about cacti that are not poisonous. And later on, I will give you a list of poisonous cactuses that you should be aware of.

Now, the problem starts when the spines of non-poisonous cactus get deep into your tissues. They can cause bruising, bleeding and even resulting in death of tissues.

Furthermore, cacti can become dangerous if you consume them as they can cause diarrhea and stomachaches. One good example is the fibrous plant material of the Christmas Cactus or Holiday Plant, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting in mass quantities.

And also, some individuals may have allergic reactions to the spines on cacti, so keep that in mind as well. 

Why Do Cacti Have Needles?

Cacti have needles for specific reasons. Some of them are for:

Protection Against Predators

Animals such as bighorn sheep, wild pigs, rabbits, or desert tortoises consume cacti for food. Cactus spines do an outstanding job safeguarding the main body. The spines can pierce the skin upon contact, and some variety like the Cholla can even fly to your face and can hurt you.

Provide Shade to Conserve Cactus Water Content

Cacti need all the shade they can get to protect themselves from the hot desert sun. A single cactus plant is equipped with thousands of needles, and they collectively work together to protect the plant from the scorching sun that may increase moisture loss.

are cactus poisonous?

Trap Air and Collect Water in Foggy Areas

Cactuses can take advantage of uncommon situations to quench their thirst. For instance, a cactus plant can accumulate water from the atmosphere using its needles in foggy areas. When the fog settles on the spines, it later condenses and falls on the ground below. Then its roots absorb the water and conserve it.

Thanks to the spikes, moisture loss is minimal for cacti. The spines create a buffer that restricts airflow around the cactus, saving the plant from losing water.

Are Cacti Poisonous to Humans?

Cacti are not poisonous to humans. But if you consume one, like a Christmas plant, you might get diarrhea and stomachaches. Additionally, some individuals may get allergic reactions because of the cacti needles, so don’t touch the needles as much as possible.

Cactus Thorns— Spikes and Glochids

Cacti spines are modified leaves that are found in most cacti species. They are typically found on the outer edges of cactuses, and they can be either soft or sharp. The needles aid to protect the plant from predators by inflicting pain if touched. There are various types of cactus needles, which include bristles and glochids.

Compared to glochids, bristles are not very sharp and will cause minimal irritation.

On the other hand, glochids look like tiny hairs that can be found on different cacti species in dry climates, including desert flora and prickly pear cactus. These glochids can irritate if your skin contacts them because they hook onto your skin.

Cacti spines being poisonous is actually a common misconception because of the spines on some varieties such as Hedgehog or Saguaro. But this is not true for most other types, such as the Prickly Pear Pads, which are equipped with soft bristles.

Though the needles don’t generally contain any toxins or venom, it is still essential to be careful when handling a cactus because they might irritate your skin.

What Do You Do If You Get Pricked by a Cactus?

If you get pricked by a cactus, it is crucial to wash the spot with water and soap as soon as possible.

spiked by cactus

If you found any debris on your skin or some dirt has gotten into an open wound, immediately clean the spot.

To be sure, you must also apply an antibiotic ointment to protect yourself against infection because of all those tiny needles. 

Neosporin Original First Aid Antibiotic Ointment with Bacitracin, Zinc for 24-Hour Infection Protection, Wound Care Treatment and The Scar Appearance Minimizer for Minor Cuts, Scrapes and Burns.5 Oz

How to Remove a Cactus Needle from Under the Skin

You may be calmly watering your cactus or transplanting it from a pot, and without realizing it, some needles have already stuck in your finger.

So, what should you do? The first thing you would want to do is stay calm and get some tweezers if the needles are long or adhesive tape if they are tiny.

Just remove the needles stuck in your skin using tweezers and pull them out. Alternatively, you can wrap duct tape on your opposite hand and pass it over where it got stuck.

If the spines have been broken or have remained entirely stuck inside the skin, then I suggest you take a sterile needle and poke around a bit until the needles are extracted.

How to Remove Cactus Stuck in Skin – General Step by Step

1.) Examine the affected area and find the spots where the needles are stuck.

2.) Mark where the cactus spines are.

3.) Inspect your shoes, clothing, and other gear that you have worn at the time you touched the cactus plant. The spines can poke through pants and socks and irritate the skin without directly contacting your skin.

4.) Pinch and extract the cactus spines using tweezers if you can see them. If they’re hard to spot, you can use a magnifying glass.

5.) Swipe the tweezers on a paper towel every time you extract a cactus spine. The spines can become sticky, and each one should be removed from the tweezers before pulling the other spines. Don’t let the paper towel touch any other surface, or you’ll never finish the task! Throw the paper towel after you’re finished.

6.) Put a cooling facial toner like Witch Hazel to relieve inflammation in the affected spot. 

Removing Cactus Needles Using the Glue Method

  • Apply a thin layer of water-soluble rubber cement glue over the affected spot. The glue will remove the needles that are poking out of the skin. If you don’t have rubber cement glue, you can use white craft glue or masking tape.
  • Carefully peel up one edge of the adhesive. Lift the edge using your fingertips, then swiftly rip it off your skin. This cactus spine extraction method is very similar to using hot wax to remove unwanted body hair.
  • If you’re using tape, just repeat the step with a new tape. Don’t use the same tape again because it will not have the same adhesiveness, and you might reinsert the spines into your skin again.
  • Lastly, dip a cotton ball with a cool facial toner and apply it to the affected spot to soothe the inflammation.

Removing Cactus Needles Using the Pantyhose Method

  • Wear a pair of thick disposable gloves.
  • Wad up a pair of old, unused pantyhose and brush in one direction over the affected spot. With each swipe, the pantyhose will extract the spines from your skin. You might need to swipe multiple times. You should not feel the spines stuck in the pantyhose as long as you swipe in one direction.
  • Now, brush the pantyhose in the opposite direction. This should be repeated numerous times. Make sure you stick to one direction to avoid reinserting the spines into your skin.
  • Create a new plug from the pantyhose and brush the affected spot in a clockwise direction. More than one swipe may be needed to get rid of the cactus needles, but stick clockwise to prevent reinserting the needles into your skin.
  • Cover the affected spot in a counterclockwise direction. You may have to repeat this direction to entirely get rid of the cactus spines. Continue counterclockwise until all the spines are extracted.
  • Throw the tights and gloves in the trash.

Do Cactus Needles Dissolve? The Wait-and-See Method

Is the cactus spine deep in your skin, and you really don’t have a way to extract it?

Don’t worry, because chances are it will come out on its own after a while. If you’re in pain, you can use a pumice stone to polish the spines of your skin in spots that are not too sensitive, such as under your feet. You don’t have to pull the spines out of your skin, but you must grind out the tips.

So basically, let the cactus needles remain in the affected spot if it’s impossible to pull them out. Wait for the spines to get dissolved or fall. Observe for irritation or infection while waiting. If there’s redness, put some Witch Hazel to cleanse and soothe the affected spot. If irritation persists, you should consult a doctor.

Glochids— How To Pull Them Out

If you get glochids stuck on your skin, you will immediately feel an itchy, burning, and stinging sensation, followed by inflammation.

In some individuals, an allergic reaction causes this to develop into blisters, welts, or pustules.

If you can’t extract the glochids from your skin right away, they can cause skin irritation for months!

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get around 95% of the glochids stuck on your skin. But keep in mind that extracting them all out is almost not possible.

Here’s how to pull glochids out of your skin:

  • Grab a magnifying glass and tweezers to extract out as many glochids as possible.
  • Put duct tape over the affected spot and quickly pull it off.
  • Wrap the affected spot with gauze and then soak the gauze with white glue. Let the glue dry and quickly pull off the gauze.

You can use any of these methods, but doing them all should extract most of the glochids.

If itching, irritation, and inflammation persist, applying a paste made of water and baking soda or ice can soothe the inflammation.

If you’re one of the unlucky individuals who develop long-standing glochids-induced dermatitis, you should see your doctor for more aggressive extraction of the spines and treatment of inflammation and other symptoms.

Can You Get An Infection from A Cactus Needle?

Cactus spines can be harmful since they are sharp and have plenty of surface area. They can cause puncture wounds, skin infections, and other injuries. The spines contain chemicals that can irritate the skin or eyes.

So basically, you won’t get an infection from cactus needles themselves. But you’ll get an infection from the wound or puncture caused by the spines. So make sure to disinfect the area immediately.

Are Cacti Poisonous to Pets?

If you’ve got pets at your house and are curious whether cacti are poisonous to pets, the short answer is no.

But remember that some cactus spines can cause irritation to pets and can lead to allergic reactions if they often come into contact with the needles. Additionally, your pets might ingest any of the cactus’ parts, so keep that in mind too.

Are Cacti Poisonous to Pets

Now, if you’ve got dogs at your house who love to dig up plants around your garden, watch them as they might end up getting pricked of fallen spines. Or worse, eat random stuff that has cactus needles in it.

How to Deter Your Pet from a Toxic Cactus?

You love pets, but you love cactus too! That’s why you need to come up with ways to let these two co-exist together. If not, your pet might get hurt.

So, with that said, here are the things you can do to deter your pet from a toxic succulent cactus:

Cages, But of Course Not for Pets

If you’re into indoor planting, you can place all your cactuses in one big cage. Or you can put this variety of cacti in a separate cage and the other variety in another cage. 

cage around cactus

Then put them on windowsills or shelves, or you can also hang them through your ceiling to have a more dramatic effect.

If you’re going to hang them, just make sure to keep them low enough, so they are within easy reach for watering. But of course, most cacti like the soaking method, which is once or twice a month. 

A lot of cacti don’t mind being crammed together. Just don’t put those spikey ones too close to the smooth ones. You’ll need to water them even less due to the high humidity levels when you have crammed the plants together.

Use Terrariums

You might want to consider putting your cacti in closed or open terrariums to keep them protected from your pets if you’re into indoor gardening and decoration. However, there’s a slight disadvantage if you choose terrariums that are big because they are quite hard to move around.


But the good thing is that if your terrarium is heavy, that means it will be stable enough that your pets will not be able to topple them over. Terrariums will give shelter to your cactus from your furry troublemakers, and you’d have to water them even less. If you’re a busy person, then a terrarium is a pretty good investment.

Use Repellent Sprays

This method is the cheapest viable option for any pet owners out there who also love cactuses. There are various pet-repellent sprays available in local and online pet stores that you can spray on your cacti without any harmful effects on your plants.

repellent sprays

But just in case you don’t have enough budget to spend on a pet-repellant spray, don’t worry because you can make your version at home.

You only need chili pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon, orange, and vinegar. Just sprinkle pepper on your cacti, or better yet, mix it with water and spray it on your plants.

The same step can be done with citrus fruits. Take diluted white vinegar, orange, or lemon juice. If you’ve got some essential oils at hand, just fill your spray bottle with ¾ parts water, add 13 drops of essential oils, give it a good shake, and then spray it. 

Tip: Lemongrass, lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint are good essential oils that your pets hate.

You might need to repeat the procedure at least two times a month because the smell will eventually disappear.

Use Moth Balls

Aside from insects, mammals also don’t like the smell of mothballs. So you can use them in your pots or garden to deter your pets from your toxic cacti. To save money, just use the ones you have left in your closet!

Use Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are another pantry staple in most houses. Just sprinkle some coffee grounds on your soil along with some lemon or orange peels around to keep your pets away from getting near your cactus. This method not only deters your pets away but also acts as an organic fertilizer to help replenish the soil’s nutrients.

Aluminum Foil

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Aluminum foil is readily available in most kitchens. To use it, just wrap a layer around the top part of the cactus pot. You can also put small pieces of aluminum wrap on the soil since pets, particularly cats, don’t like to walk on aluminum foil. Additionally, you can utilize pine cones for this method by surrounding your cacti with them so your pets won’t get near the plants.

What are Poisonous Cacti?

If you’re a cactus lover and, at the same time, an animal lover, it’s essential to know what are cacti species that are poisonous.

List of Poisonous Cacti

There are several cactus and succulent plant species that are labeled poisonous or harmful, which include the following:

The Peruvian Torch (Echinopsis Peruviana) Cactus

This one is a type of succulent cactus that can be found in the wild throughout South America.

It is a toxic plant since it contains alkaloids, which can cause nausea when ingested orally. And just like the San Pedro Cactus, the Peruvian Torch Cactus can cause delusions and hallucinations if consumed.

The San Pedro Cactus

This variety of cactus grows in the wild of South America, Central America, and Mexico. The San Pedro is a cactus species that is used in the production and distribution of cocaine.

Similar to the Peyote Cactus, this succulent is poisonous because it contains mescaline, which can cause delusions or hallucinations if ingested by humans. Additionally, it can cause nausea when consumed orally with alcohol.

The Prickly Pear

The Prickly Pears are equipped with needles on their pads. But these don’t contain any actual toxins. What the needles have is latex sap from their stems, which could irritate your skin. The good thing about Prickly Pear cacti is that they produce an edible cactus fruit called prickly pear fruits that are used in making jellies and jams.

Prickly pear
Photo by David Stanley

Barrel Cactus

This succulent variety contains toxic sap that can be found on the cactus’ ribs and can cause skin irritation. The Barrel Cactus is also equipped with sharp spines on its pads, which protect it from predators. Its spines are not poisonous but produce latex-like juice, which can irritate your skin.

Saguaro Cactus

Though this one is not a poisonous cactus variety, I’ve listed it here because it can hurt you if you’re not careful.

The Saguaro Cactus is equipped with numerous sharp, pointy needles that can cause some discomfort to both humans and animals.

The Saguaro Cacti are best common in Arizona and can provide good shade from the scorching sun.

Cholla Cactus

The Cholla cactus is a unique variety as this is a cactus that shoots needles. 

This cactus’ spines don’t produce any latex-like juice, but they are poisonous to humans and animals.

The Cholla Cactus can easily be found in Mexico, Canada, and North America, where they thrive best at elevations between 2000 feet up to 7000 feet above sea level, with temperatures ranging from 20 degrees Fahrenheit in winter season or up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit depending upon your location within this range.

Pencil Cactus

The Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia Tirucalli) or also known as milk bush, pencil tree, naked lady, Indian tree spurge, aveloz is a cactus species that grows in semi-arid tropical climates. It is a hydrocarbon cactus that produces a poisonous latex, which can cause temporary blindness. Among the other poisonous and harmful cacti on this list, the Pencil Cactus is probably the most poisonous plant.

Euphorbia sap is highly irritating and toxic to the mucosa and skin. Skin contact can cause severe burning sensation, redness, and skin irritation. If ingested, it can cause burns to the tongue, lips, and mouth. You should wear gloves and eye protection gear for handling the plant.

Peyote Cactus

The Peyote Cactus or Lophophora Williamsii is a spineless cactus species that thrive in the Southwestern part of Mexico and the United States. The top of this cactus is called “crown,” which contains the psychoactive compound mescaline.

This mescaline compound is why the Peyote Cactus is a toxic cactus species, as it can cause hallucinations if ingested.

Jade Plant

This cactus species is mildly poisonous to humans upon ingestion, which can cause minor symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.

jade plant

But when it comes to pets, the Jade plant is included in the list of highly poisonous plants for cats and dogs, according to ASPCA.

If your dog or cat is lured into taking a bite of this plant, your pets can develop symptoms of jade plant poisoning.

Coral Cactus

This one does not belong to the cactus species but is two succulents joined together to make one beautiful coral-looking plant. Coral Cactus is also known as crested elkhorn, crested euphorbia, crested candelabra plant, and candelabra plant.

coral cactus is poisonous

Its sap or latex is toxic and can be a bit dangerous. The latex is white and thick and can cause skin irritations and conditions such as dermatitis. If the sap gets into your eyes, it can cause eye irritation or, worse, even temporary blindness. If ingested, it can cause vomiting or nausea.

Snake Plants

Though not considered cactus, since they are popular houseplant along with aloe vera and belong to the succulent family, I’ll include them here.

Snake plants are also poisonous if ingested. Large doses can cause vomiting and nausea. Additionally, the poison found in the plant has a numbing effect that can cause the throat and tongue to swell.

Panda Plant

All parts of the Panda Plant (a.k.a. Kalanchoe Tomentosa) are toxic when ingested. Common symptoms include lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be deadly if consumed in large quantities.

Want to learn about another exciting type of cactus, called Monkey Tail Cactus? Check this out!

Last update on 2021-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API