The only thing worse than your favorite plant being eaten is taking your furbaby on an expensive and stressful trip to the vet. Keep your furry friends safe by choosing pet-friendly houseplants that will add color and texture to your home.
There are two things we love so much: pets and plants. However, a lot of common houseplants are not safe for cats and dogs. Sometimes, toxic plants can cause seizures, tremors, or worse, an expensive and stressful trip to the vet. And, most of the time, houseplants are also not safe from being eaten by your cats and dogs. Yes, it can be difficult to keep houseplants away from your furry friends who wants to chew them whenever they are bored.
Luckily, there are pet-friendly houseplants that can breathe life into your home, clean your air, and improve your mood. Remember, it’s up to us to ensure that houseplants should be non-toxic and safe for cats and dogs. Check out our favorite pet-friendly houseplants recognized by the ASPCA.
African Violet
African Violet is one of the most beautiful and wonderful pet-friendly houseplants you can grow. However, it may require a little TLC, but nothing overwhelming. Most of the time, people would mistake them for Violets because they resemble Violets’ color and shape, but they are not actually related to any Violet species.
African Violets symbolizes modesty and sweetness, as well. These tropical houseplants are known for their violet-like flowers in shades of blue, lavender, pink, purple, or red. It can instantly cheer up your home and make you smile.
If you’re planning to purchase African Violets, we recommend you to choose the plant that has a single crown (one single center of growth) because they bloom and grow best with only one crown per pot. Moreover, carefully check if the leaves are deep green, growing symmetrically around the center, and spot-free. These are the signs that your African Violet is healthy.
African Violets can bloom all year round with proper care. Since it’s a tropical houseplant, they require bright, indirect sunlight, such as from the south or east-facing window. They can also thrive under fluorescent lights placed 12 to 15 inches above the leaves, but it’s still best to put it in a warm spot if you want to see your African Violets bloom.
As a general rule of thumb, water your plant when the soil is dry. Also, it’s important to place your African Violet in a humid environment of at least 50-60% in your home. They also prefer a warm temperature between 65–80°F. Lastly, avoid overwatering and do not place it in a low humid environment since they are prone to powderly mildew.
Air Plants
Air Plants, also known as Tillandsia, are one of the easiest pet-friendly plants to care for. Seriously, they are easier to care for than succulents. They don’t need soil at all to grow. Plus, they’re perfect as decor to your home. These low-maintenance plants get their nutrients from the air around them, so placing them in the right environment is very important.
Air Plants need proper air circulation, so avoid placing them in an enclosed terrarium as the closed vessel will keep them too wet, causing them to rot or get a fungal disease. They need bright, indirect light to thrive. It’s best to place your air plants in rooms with southern or eastern facing windows. If you’re planning to put your air plant where it will receive loads of light, you should increase the humidity of the place by misting it more often, like twice a week or even daily. A perfect place in your home would be your bathroom because the humidity from your shower will take care of most plant misting for you.
Water your air plant thoroughly like 2-3 times per week, especially if you live in a hot, dry environment. Water it less often when the is season cool and humid. We recommend that you use filtered water or tap water that has sat long enough for the chlorine to dissipate. You can also use bottled water for your air plant. After watering your air plant, you must give it enough light and air circulation to dry.
Bromeliad
Add an exotic touch and tropical vibes to your home with the gorgeous and unique Bromeliad. They can easily adapt, easy to grow, and low maintenance pet-friendly houseplants. Moreover, this plant can even grow well in low light conditions. Similar to air plants, Bromeliad does not grow in soil, but they grow on rocks, trees, or other plants.
Bromeliad requires a different type of care, but it’s pretty easy and doable even for beginners. Put it in a bright, sunny space where it can get bright, indirect light. Bromeliad is a drought-tolerant plant, so it’s best to water it once a week. It’s important to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. You can water it by filling the central cup, especially if the weather is hot. Be sure to remove the water every so often to remove any built-up salts. Lastly, it prefers temperatures between 70–75°F during the day and between 60–65°F at night.
Calathea Medallion
It’s arguably one of the most beautiful low-light and pet-friendly houseplants. They are pretty popular to plant enthusiasts because of their large, “medallion”-like leaves: a brilliant green pattern on top, and a deep burgundy underneath.
Calathea Medallion is part of the prayer plant family that sometimes people call it prayer-plants, but they are not true prayer-plants. They are tropical plants that can grow from 6 to 36 inches at most. This plant loves medium to bright indirect light. It’s also important to keep your Calathea Medallion moist by maintaining a regular watering schedule. Lastly, it prefers an environment with higher humidity, so it’s best as a bathroom plant or kitchen plant.
Echeveria
Echeveria is one of the easiest pet-friendly houseplants to care for. Plus, they are cute, and you can place it anywhere in your home. It has attractive rosette-shaped foliage and dramatic flower stalks. Echeveria succulents can tolerate cold snaps, drought, and heat. If you are interested in growing Echeveria, you’ll have to live in a fairly warm area. It needs at least 3–6 hours of direct sun every day, preferably during the morning. It’s best to place it in a warm spot, like near a window. Water your Echeveria succulents only when the soil is dry.
Haworthia
Haworthia, commonly called Cushion Aloe, Pearl Plant, Star Window, or Zebra Cactus, is another type of small succulent plants that originated in the Republic of South Africa. You can easily recognize it because of its adorable polka dots. Haworthias are easy to grow and rarely requires a pot larger than 4-inches in diameter.
If you know how to care for Aloe Vera, you’ll be an ace at growing Haworthia, as they have very similar needs. It loves bright, indirect sun. Also, it needs to need to be watered when their soil is completely dried out.
Money Tree
Money Tree is a popular indoor plant because of its symbolism that they bring good luck and financial success. Experts believe that Money Tree can attract abundance. It’s strongly advised that you should place it in the east or south area of your home to attract fame and health.
It is one of the easiest and pet-friendly houseplants to grow indoors. Money Tree grows best under bright, indirect light. Also, water it when the top 2″ to 4″ of the soil is dry. Remember that it needs a lot of humidity to survive, so it’s best to place it in a spot that has at least 50% humidity.
Parlor Palm
Create a lush, tropical vibe in your home with Parlor Palm. Characterized by its elegant, featherlike leaves, and vivid green coloring, Parlor Palm can grow three or four feet indoors. It can also adjust well to low light conditions, however, it prefers bright, indirect light. It loves a humid and warm environment, but it will be fine in typical indoor temperatures. It’s best to plant your Parlor Palm in a tall container with well-drained potting soil. Make sure to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering.
Polka Dot Plant
The Polka Dot Plant is an eye-catching houseplant with brightly spotted leaves. For example, leaves with a pink base color and green spots. It’s one of the most beautiful, easy to care for, and pet-friendly houseplants you can grow, especially if you live in a humid and warm environment. It needs bright or medium-light to thrive well. It’s also important to keep the soil slightly moist. Water when the top ¼ to ½ inch of soil is completely dry. Lastly, keep your Polka Dot Plant in a warm location. Don’t forget to increase the humidity.
Spider Plant
One of the best air-purifying and pet-friendly houseplants you can grow. It produces a rosette of long, thin, arched leaves that is solid green or variegated with white. Spider Plants are easy-to-grow, and they look nice in a hanging basket. Spider Plants prefer bright to moderate indirect sunlight. It’s a perfect bathroom plant as it likes moisture, but they don’t like to be too dry or too wet. We suggest that you keep Spider Plants in your bedroom table or home office desk to reduce indoor pollutants.
Staghorn Fern
Staghorn Ferns are stunning pet-friendly houseplants. It’s easy to care for and propagate, too! Similar to air plants, Staghorn Ferns are epiphytic plants, which means that they grow on other plants or trees. They absorb nutrients and water through their fronds. Staghorn Ferns prefer bright, indirect, or diffused light to thrive since they are native to the tropics. However, you must protect it from the harsh rays of the direct sun.
To water Staghorn Ferns, you can either mist it or soak it, at least once a week in dry, hot times and once every two to three weeks during cooler months. Mist your Staghorn Ferns by using a spray-bottle that emits a fine, ambient mist. Focus on the underside of the antler fronds and the shield fronds. Soak in a sink for 10-20 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated.
At last, you can finally ease your mind (and trips to the vet) with these gorgeous pet-friendly houseplants! Grow your plant knowledge. Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
