Living with pets and plants can sometimes be a struggle, but you can make life a little easier by having pet friendly houseplants.
I’ve been growing my plant collection for about two years and I recently adopted two adorable kittens. My number one priority is to keep the kittens safe and to make sure they don’t eat any plants which aren’t pet friendly.
If, like me, you already had a number of toxic plants before your fur-baby arrived, you can simply put those plants onto high shelves and into hanging baskets, so they’re out of reach of your pets.
There are plenty beautiful of pet friendly houseplants to choose from, here are some of my favourites!
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern is not only pet friendly, it’s also one of the best known plants for purifying the air and regulating humidity. The Boston Fern is an easy house plant to care for, it can cope well in bright indirect light and light shade. Try to keep the soil moist at all times and water when the surface starts to dry.
Cast Iron Plan
Cast Iron Plant, also known as an Aspiditra makes a great house plant for pet owners, they’re non-toxic and have the ability to thrive on very little care. Aspidistra’s can live in bright, indirect light to a dark shady rooms. Keep the soil moist and watered in the summer, but more sparsely in winter.
Prayer Plant
Maranta, also commonly known as a Prayer Plant, have the unusual characteristic of lying flat during the day and then closing upwards at night as if in prayer. Prayer Plants are pet friendly and are air purifying plants, and will filter airborne toxins from the air. They’re great house plants for pet owners, just make sure you keep the soil moist at all time. I’ve found that mine thrives best in the bathroom with bright indirect light.
Spider Plant
Spider Plants are non-toxic to pets however there dangling leaves might look like fun for your little fur-baby. I keep mine in a hanging basket, to keep away from my kittens. Even though it’s pet friendly, I would like to keep spider plant safe from my curious kittens.
Pilea Plant
The Pilea Plant is also known as the Chinese Money Plant, Pass it on Plant, Pancake Plant and the many other names it goes by. The Pilea Plant is pet friendly and likes bright, indirect light but will tolerate some shade. When your Pilea Plant is thirsty it’s leaves will start to droop and look a bit sad.
Blue Star Fern
Blue Star Ferns make great houseplants, they’re non-toxic to cats and are easy to care for. They’re undemanding and can thrive in low light conditions. Try to keep the soil moist and but don’t over water it, the Blue Star Fern doesn’t like to be standing in water.
Zebra Plant
Calathea Zebrina also known as a Zebra Plant, are beautiful indoor plants which are non-toxic to pets. They’re leaves are bright green with zebra-like stripes, but if you keep your plant in direct light then the pattern on the leaves will fade and loose their markings. They must be kept in damp soil but do not allow the plant to sit in water. Think little and often when watering.
Pony Tail Palm
Pony Tail Palms make a great indoor plants, they’re easy to care for and are non-toxic to pets. They do best when watered thoroughly on a regular basis, however they store water in their swollen base and stem, so it will survive if you forget to water is occasionally. Even though they are non-toxic to pets, their long leaves can look like fun play toys to your pets, so it’s best to keep them out of reach to save your plant!
What are your favourite pet friendly houseplants? Comment below!
For more plant care tips, check out A-Z Houseplant Care and follow Those Positive Plants on Instagram.
Laura x
