Does your pet taste test your houseplants? Even worse than the tattered leaves, some common plants are just plain toxic to pets! Here are some pet-friendly houseplants to keep your furry friends safe.
Lush plant stores and even the displays of greenery at the grocery store make it oh-so-tempting to bring a new plant home! However, those plants don’t always come with a lot of information, like whether they’re safe for dogs and cats.
While some pets are nonplussed about houseplants, others believe that the best way to investigate any new addition to their home is a good chomp! Many cats, in particular, can get a taste for fresh green leaves, leaving their little teeth marks behind.
Unfortunately, many popular houseplants can be toxic to pets, causing tummy upset or more serious poisoning. That means you should keep your precious variegated monster behind closed doors for its safety and your pet’s! The good news is that there’s a whole range of indoor plants that are safe for cats and dogs that you can perch on your window sills without fear—except maybe for your plants that might get gnawed on.
Here are 10 common pet-friendly plants that you can probably find at a store in your neighborhood!
1. Pilea peperomioides
Commonly known as the Chinese money plant, coin plant, or UFO plant, Pilea peperomioides has a distinctive circular leaf shape that gives it a charming, cartoony look! These plants grow best in bright, indirect light and can be allowed to dry out a little bit between waterings, making them relatively easy to care for.
2. Peperoni
Peperomias include a variety of hardy plants with firm, waxy leaves in a whole range of patterns and colors. You can find peperoni plants patterned with splashes of green and white, or even watermelon-like stripes! They’re forgiving plants, and best of all, the entire genus is pet-safe.
3. Calathea
Calatheas may be a little more finicky than most of the other plants on this list, but they reward careful care with stunning foliage with intricate patterns of green, white, and pink. These are an ideal low-light indoor plant that’s safe for cats and dogs and does best when kept moist with high humidity.
4. Maranta
Marantas are commonly known as prayer plants thanks to their unique habit of folding up their leaves like praying hands after dark. They prefer indirect light or partial shade and moist soil. Their striped leaves in multiple shades of green (and sometimes pink!) grow on trailing vines, making them an excellent hanging plant that’s safe for cats and dogs.
5. Spider Plant
Spider plants are a classic houseplant with long, striped white and green leaves and are easy to grow in variable light conditions. They produce pups on trailing vines as they mature, making them perfect for hanging baskets.
Spider plants are pet-safe but can induce a mild hallucinogenic effect in cats, making them a favorite snack. To avoid tummy upset, keep them out of reach of cats with a big appetite and keep them out of reach of cats.
6. Parlor Palm
Technically known as Neanthe bella, the parlor palm is a hardy houseplant with feathery green fronds. They’re tolerant of a variety of light conditions and would rather be underwatered than overwatered, making them perfect for forgetful waterers. They’re also notably effective air-purifying plants that are safe for dogs and cats.
7. Areca Palm
If you love the look of a parlor palm but are looking for a large indoor plant that’s safe for dogs and cats, look no further than the areca palm! Dypsis lutescens can grow to a whopping 12 feet tall, making it a statement plant in any home. They prefer bright, indirect light and attentive watering, but they’re a rewarding plant for a devoted green thumb.
8. Zebra Haworthia
Haworthiopsis attenuata, more commonly known as zebra haworthia or zebra plant, gets its name from the raised white stripes on its spiky leaves. This popular succulent loves direct, bright light and likes to dry out between waterings. They grow slowly, meaning they won’t outgrow their pot any time soon, and they can live for up to 50 years!
9. Orchid
Orchids are renowned for their unique flowers and indoor thriving. Phalaenopsis orchids, or moth orchids, are commonly sold in stores and are pet-safe. They are easy to care for and can rebloom quickly with regular fertilizer. After their blooms die, they produce more flowers year after year for patient gardeners. Ensure to clip the stem below their last flower.
10. Air Plant
Air plants, unique epiphytes that grow perched on trees, absorb water and nutrients without soil, making them a great alternative for pet owners who have killed every other houseplant under the sun. They eliminate the need for dirt pots for pets.
An air plant can be placed on various surfaces, provided they receive sufficient light and are soaked in water for 20 minutes once a week, or as needed for humidity, to maintain their health.
Discover a variety of safe houseplants and succulents for your cats and dogs, including small and large options. Fill your house with greenery and expand your garden with outdoor plants that are safe for cats and dogs.
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