Indoor plants can bring a room together and benefit the well-being of everyone in the home. Plants improve our living spaces, boost air quality, and reduce stress. If you live in a house with cats or dogs, choose non-toxic plants. To help you select greenery for your home, here are ten pet-friendly houseplants.
Pet-Friendly, Non-Toxic Plants
1. Orchids are Beautiful Pet-Friendly Houseplants
Few houseplants are as elegant and beautiful as an orchid. They have dramatic leaves and colorful blooms, and these stunning plants aren’t harmful if ingested. Orchid blooms can last as long as four months and do well with normal indoor lighting conditions. Keep your orchid near a window with filtered light and water the plant once a week.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants get their name from the unique growth habit of their hanging leaves. These plants are pet-safe, though cats sometimes enjoy playing with the long leaves and offshoots of the plant. A spider plant does well with medium light. As a bonus, they are great air purifiers for a home.
3. Watermelon Peperomia
This plant gets its name from the distinct patterns and colors of its leaves. This plant is part of the Peperomia family and needs to be kept from direct sunlight. The watermelon peperomia is an easy-to-care-for and low-maintenance plant.
4. Pet-Friendly Houseplants Include the Boston Fern
The Boston fern is another plant that is incredibly low maintenance. These plants only require food every two months and are safe for cats and dogs. The Boston fern enjoys humidity and will grow well in a bathroom with good lighting.
5. Parlor Palm
Parlor palms are slow growers and take several years to reach 3 to 4 feet in height. These plants need quite a bit of water to keep the soil moist. They enjoy bright, indirect sunlight.
6. Polka Dot Plant
This plant gets its name from the spotted variegation of the leaves. Originating in Madagascar, this plant grows between 10-12 inches tall and requires moderate moisture.
7. Colorful Gloxinia
Gloxinias are beautiful, colorful plants great for window sills as they love bright, indirect sunlight. These beautiful plants bloom in bright purple, red, blue, and pink shades. It is essential to keep the soil moist but don’t get water on the leaves and feed your gloxinia liquid plant food every two weeks.
8. Venus Flytrap are Pet-Friendly Houseplants
The Venus flytrap is pet-friendly and easy to maintain. This plant only requires about 4 hours of sunlight per day and minimal water. It is recommended to use distilled or rainwater for this carnivorous plant.
9. Rattlesnake Plant
The rattlesnake plant (Goeppertia insignis) gets its name from the distinct patterns and colors of the leaves. These plants are finicky to maintain but can grow up to 30 inches tall. They prefer bright, filtered light and well-draining soil. A rattlesnake plant needs an indoor temperature between 60 and 75 degrees and high humidity to thrive.
10. Pet-Friendly Houseplants: African Violets
The African Violet is a small plant that makes a colorful addition to any well-lit countertop or windowsill in your home. This plant blooms in low temperatures and requires moderate water under its leaves. These plants can produce flowers year-round, making them an attractive and pet-safe indoor plant for your home.
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