Pet Safe House plants
2 things I love in life, my furry 4 legged friends and house plants. But so many house plants are actually toxic to dogs and cats if ingested. After spending a few days at the emergency vet with my little girl Millie after she ate some raisins recently, I’m triple checking all the lists of things dogs should NOT ingest. I’ve been lucky so far and she hasn’t shown any interest in my many house plants but I will be sure to make sure they are out of her reaching going forward!
Benefits of House plants
The benefits of house plants are amazing!!! First and most importantly they can clean the air (see this Nasa study) Poor indoor air quality has been linked to health problems, especially in children!
Another benefit: This Study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found if you have plants in your home or office it can actually make you feel more comfortable, soothed, and natural!
What houseplants are safe for pets?
Here’s a list I’ve put together of House plants I’ve done the research on and found to be generally safe with pets. That said, if your pet tends to eat plants I’d still keep them out of reach.
Some plants are sprayed with things or have fertilizers in the soil that could still be harmful.
List of Pet safe house plants in alphabetical order
African Violet
African Violet was always a favorite of my mom and grandma’s!
These are a tougher one to keep alive from a lady who doesn’t kill many plants.
Indirect sunlight, fertilize and water regularly.
Don’t get the leaves wet on this one, just the soil. Snip off dead flowers and leaves.
If you do it right they will bloom year round and are so pretty!
Plants, seeds and supplies
Bird’s Nest Fern
How to care for it: water 2-3 times a month or when soil is dry.
Does great in bathrooms and areas of your home where the humidity might be higher.
Boston Fern
How to care for it: indirect light, fertilize every few months. It loves humidity. Water often, soil should stay damp.
Bromeliad
These have beautiful blooms 1x a year.
How to care for them: indirect sunlight daily and water them well, about 1/2 cup a water 1x a week.
Calathea Orbifolia
How to care for it: needs shade so does well in low light rooms. Mist leaves 2-3x a month and water weekly.
&
Gloxinia
How to care for it: These need full sun but not direct.
Fertilize every 1-2 weeks and water regularly.
Blooms such beautiful colors!
(very easy to grow from seed)
Parlor Palm
How to care for it: Only a few hours of indirect sunlight, very slow growing. Water regularly.
Polka Dot Plant
How to care for it: They like Bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist at all times.
Ideal temperatures are 70–80 degrees.
Feed once a month during the growing season.
Ponytail Palm
How to care for it: They only need to be fertilized 2 or 3 times a year and require very little water so this is great for those who kill everything.
I have one of these and it is now a full on tree in my house.
Rattlesnake Plant
How to care for it: Fertilize monthly, indirect light, water when soil is dry.
Super easy to care for and good for those that don’t have a green thumb.
Spider Plant
One of top air purifiers for your home and super easy to keep alive!
How to care for it: They don’t need direct sunlight (and don’t do well in it either) and water weekly.
Succulents
Succulents that are safe: Haworthia and Echeveria, great for countertops, tables, desks etc.
Super easy to care for, they don’t require much water or a ton of sunlight.
Haworthia
Echeveria
Venus Flytrap
How to care for it: It does need a few hours of sun daily, and keep the soil moist at all times.
Clean water (not tap) is preferred, distilled, reverse osmosis or rainwater works.
It does need 1-2 bugs a month so if you have a fruit fly issue it will help you and the plant.
If not put it outside for a day or 2 each week to catch some bugs.
&
& Fertilizer
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435
They were beyond helpful when my Millie girl ate those raisins. There was a fee to speak with them but they were able to guide our local emergency vet on what to do with her.
All other plants
If you’re shopping for any other plants, hands down my go to brand is Costa farms.
They not only have the best prices, I’ve found them to send the healthiest plants too!
Quick note, if you are shopping durning super cold months, they may not ship them until it is safe to do so, so they don’t die before arrival.
Follow me in all the places! click the image below
Heather Rose Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for any reproduction anywhere without prior written authorization.
If you like what has been posted, please feel free to share the post and link directly to this site.
This post may contain affiliate links to the products mentioned. See our disclosure policy Here
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.