Pet lovers and plant lovers share their love for nature and taking care of things, but when you are both at once, you want to keep your pets’ safety in mind. Some plants are incredibly toxic to pets and can make them very sick. However, not all hope is lost, because there are quite a few popular plants that you might already know of that happen to be a safe option to have inside your house just in case your pet gets a little too curious about it.
- Pilea (Friendship Plant)
A friendship plant is a great choice for a houseplant. It’s trendy, looks adorable, and most of all, easy to take care of. This plant produces many offshoots/babies/pups that you can easily propagate via water or soil.
This plant prefers bright indirect sunlight and temperatures of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to prevent fluctuations or drafts, as you would with any plant. Let it dry out between waterings (make sure its pot has good drainage), and periodically rotate it since this plant tends to reach towards sunlight sources.
- Orchids
The orchid is a beautiful houseplant that is known for its colors and blooms. Because not many flowers are pet-safe, the orchid makes a great option for anyone who wants a splash of color in their home while keeping your furry friends out of harm’s way. Orchids come in many colors, which include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, and white. The different colors of orchids come with different meanings, for instance, the purple orchid meaning is royalty, admiration, and authority.
It is best to avoid overwatering your orchids, as root rot will happen with soggy soil. Orchids generally require water when the soil is dry. Again, make sure that its pot has adequate drainage. Your plant will thrive best in temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spider Plant
Spider plants are amazing beginner plants that not only look good but are safe for your pets. Its name is “spider plant” because of its spider-like leaves. This plant looks good sitting on a shelf, in a hanging pot, on a desk or bookcase, you name it. Even if your pet does get their claws or teeth in this plant, it will be fine. Spider plants can tolerate more than you think.
Spider plants prefer temperatures of around 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. A good rule of thumb is to let the plant’s soil dry out between waterings. Make sure that the pot has suitable drainage holes, and know that it’s time to repot if you can see the roots sticking out of them.
- Parlor Palm
The parlor palm is another popular indoor plant that is native to the rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala. Indoors, it reaches from 2 to 6 feet tall, while outdoors the plant reaches heights of an amazing 6 to 16 feet tall. Parlor palms are also easy to take care of as they require low light and don’t have to be watered too often.
Parlor palms prefer temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Water once the top inch of soil feels dry. This is not a plant that you want to overwater. Again, make sure that it’s in a pot with good drainage, and make sure that it has bright but filtered sunlight.
Conclusion
Just remember that even non-toxic plants can make your pet feel sick if they consume enough of the plant. If you have a pet that cannot seem to leave houseplants alone, it may be advisable to stick with outdoor plants. There are endless plants to choose from that you can enjoy, from the beautiful blooms on Cabbage Roses to attracting pollinators and birds with plants such as a Butterfly Bush.
Oh definitely important to have pet safe plants since they like to chew them!
I love the orchids in different colors. I’m planning to buy them especially now that the weather is getting warmer.
Thanks for this blog! My coworkers birthday is coming up and she has pets at home.
We have spider plants because they are so easy to take care of. They are all up higher than the dog but good to know I could have some at her level safely.
I love Orchids and Spider Plants. It’s good to know that they are pet-safe plants. I am planning to buy some this summer.
This is timely. I wanted to put more indoor plants at home but I am a bit concerned if they are safe for my furbabies.
Looking forward to getting a parlor palm or some orchids. Thank you for sharing.
didn’t realize there are so many indoor plants that could be toxic to pets.. thanks for the information.. those orchids look beautiful
We had spider plants because they were pet safe, but the downside to that is our cats loved to chew on them and would knock the pots onto the floor creating a mess, so we have learned that we can’t have houseplants with our cats
Great options!! I definitely am going to look into the spider palm, love how big it gets!
I love plants and have all of these pet safe plants!
Orchids are great, but also love the friendship plant. Great post, I don’t think a lot of people actually consider effects that plants could have on pets. It most certainly didn’t cross my mind. Thanks for sharing.
I did realize the effects that certain plants can make pets sick. I grew up with cats who loved to eat grass. Great post!
I have a cat who loves to get into trouble so this is super helpfu!