Pet-friendly houseplants come in many different types than people realize. There are over 1,000 types of plants that are listed as pet-safe by the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center; therefore, you can safely pick either a plant or your pets. In this post, I will go through the top pet-friendly houseplants that grow indoors, including some low-maintenance succulents, flowering plants, and give you all the information you need to properly take care of them (including how to keep them out of reach), where to put them, and what to do when your pet decides they want to taste a little bit of their leaves.
why pet friendly houseplants matter
There are some alarming statistics. Each year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives calls about potential pet poisonings — a staggering number of approximately 233,000. Of those, plants account for 6% of the total. Furthermore, it is reported that 25% of annual pet poison cases involve the ingestion of toxic plants. More importantly, there are over 700 identified plants that contain compounds toxic to pets. Therefore, identifying the most toxic varieties becomes increasingly important for pet owners.
common toxic plants to avoid
Several popular houseplants have extremely high risk to pets. For example, lily varieties are considered one of the most deadly to cats due to their toxicity; exposure as low as one leaf can be fatal to a cat (50%). Similarly, sago palm varieties also present a lethal threat to both dogs and cats resulting in liver failure at an estimated mortality rate of 32-50%.
Additionally, the following plants are commonly found in many homes:
- 1. Pothos & Philodendron: Both plants contain calcium oxalate crystals causing oral irritation including burning sensation, excessive drooling, and vomiting.
- 2. Aloe Vera: While beneficial to people, this plant triggers vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy when ingested by animals.
- 3. Jade Plant: This variety will lead to symptoms such as depression, vomiting, and loss of coordination.
- 4. Dieffenbachia: Consumption of these leaves causes extreme swelling of the mouth and difficulty swallowing.
- 5. Snake Plant: These plants cause a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
how plants can affect your pets
The toxins produced by houseplants fall under four categories. Major toxicity plants can cause serious illness or death. Minor toxicity plants typically induce vomiting or diarrhea. Oxalate containing plants create calcium oxide crystals that irritate skin and internal organs. Dermatitis causing plants produce a rash when touched.
While every plant is different based on how much your pet consumes and what variety of plant they consume; pets often exhibit symptoms ranging from vomiting/diarrhea/foaming/excessive salivating/difficulty swallowing/lack of energy/tremors/convulsions. Additionally, while rare, non-toxic plants can also trigger allergic reactions. Like human food allergies, pets can develop plant allergies and pets can react to fertilizers or other chemicals added to soil products.
Pet Friendly Houseplants: Choosing the Right Ones for Your Home
Non-toxic pet-friendly houseplants provide you with the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of having houseplants, such as cleaning the air (removing toxins), improving your home air quality (reducing dust by up to 20%), increasing productivity and sparking creativity, and improving memory and concentration. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, there are over 400 known plant species that are toxic to cats and dogs. However, most toxic plants will not harm your pet if they can’t get to them. Therefore, choosing pet-safe houseplants is an obvious choice because pet-friendly houseplants have all of the same aesthetic and health benefits without the risk associated with traditional houseplants.
Pet-Friendly Houseplants
Understanding what types of pet-friendly houseplants will grow best in your home or office depends on how much time you spend at home and how often you want to care for your plants. Below is a list of some of the most popular pet-friendly houseplants grouped by type and care required.
Easy-Care Succulent Options
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance option for your pet-friendly houseplant collection, consider Echeveria succulents. They create beautiful rosettes, can be neglected, and should only be watered once the soil has dried out. The Haworthia is another pet-safe option. It looks like Aloe Vera but it is nontoxic. It features spiky leaves with white bands. Haworthia produces many “baby” rosettes each year, and it does not require much maintenance. This plant thrives in direct sunlight. If you prefer a flowering plant, the Christmas cactus is easy to care for and blooms during the winter months. After it finishes blooming, it needs very little care until it starts to bloom again. Hens & chicks (Sempervivum) are also great choices for a pet-safe, low-maintenance option. These plants produce many “babies,” so they quickly become a cluster of plants.
Low-Maintenance Pet-Friendly Flowering Plants
Both African violets and phalaenopsis orchids (moth orchids) are pet-safe, relatively low-maintenance flowering plants that will add color and interest to your home or office. African violets will bloom continuously throughout the year with proper care. To keep your African violet happy, place it in a pot no larger than one-third its diameter and keep the water level high enough that excess water drips down through holes in the bottom of the pot. Phalaenopsis orchids will continue to bloom for three months or longer per flower spike. Both African violets and phalaenopsis orchids prefer bright, indirect light.
Plants that Trail & Hang
Spider Plants have a long-lasting habit of producing small plantlets on ends of arching stems. This habit allows for creating new plants. The Burro’s Tail has large, bluish-green, fleshy leaves on the end of each stem that is great for hanging baskets. String of Turtles is made up of many small leaves with shell like markings that drape down along the length of the vine. Many types of Hoyas are available as flowering houseplants. They display beautiful white or yellow, star-shaped flowers.
Houseplant Foliage and Ferns for Your Pets
Maidenhair Ferns require high humidity to thrive. Bathrooms and kitchen areas provide ideal locations for them. Bird’s Nest Ferns feature large, flat leaves attached at base forming a rosette. Prayer Plants (Marantas), will fold their leaves up at night. In addition, they do well if you forget to water them from time to time. Boston Ferns are able to reach a height of three feet, which makes it one of the best choices for purifying air.
Pet-Friendly Plants for Bright Conditions
African Violets and Haworthia, Echeveria, and Graptopetalum all require full sunlight. Therefore, place these plants where they receive bright indirect light such as south or west-facing windows. Additionally, these plants require less frequent watering.
Low-Light Houseplants for Your Pets
Many low-light options exist including Cast Iron Plants, Parlor Palms, and Boston Ferns. These plants are adaptable and therefore may be placed in low-light rooms. Although Spider Plants and Prayer Plants prefer to not be directly exposed to sunlight, both may be grown in rooms receiving indirect sunlight.
Basic Care Instructions for Your Pet Friendly Indoor Houseplant
Taking proper care for your pets as well as keeping your houseplants healthy does not have to be a difficult task. While many of the same basic care guidelines apply to all of these types of pet-friendly houseplants, knowing the individual characteristics that make up each type will help you identify potential problems and mistakes.
How Often To Water Depending On The Type Of Plant
Never water based on a calendar date. Always check if the plant is thirsty by sticking your finger into the dirt about an inch (or more) down. If it is dry, then give it enough water so that excess drains from the bottom. You should allow spider plants and ferns to almost completely dry out between waterings. For example, do not water the Peperomia unless the soil has become totally dry. You can determine if it is time to water by gently pinching at the tips of the leaves — flexible or soft leaves are ready for water. , and Calathea prefer slightly moist soil. , and Bromeliads also prefer to dry out completely between waterings. However, Palms can go longer periods without being wet, but don’t let them get too dry. Also, African Violets require bottom watering; simply put the pot in a shallow saucer of water for 30 minutes. This will allow the roots to drink in as much moisture as possible. A good rule of thumb is to frequently spray these plants with a fine mist in dry homes. As for Bromeliads, they typically only need thorough watering once a month to two months.
Placing Your Plants In Bright Light And Other Conditions
While there are some exceptions, most pet-safe indoor plants grow best under bright, indirect light. , place your African Violets near the northern or eastern exposure window to keep their temperature around 65 – 75° F. Orchids grow very well in eastern exposure windowsill, especially in areas that provide high levels of natural humidity such as bathrooms. , position your Pilea plant near bright indirect light and rotate it approximately 180 degrees after each watering to encourage even growth. , cast iron plants are adaptable to low or moderate lighting conditions and are ideal for placing in dark corners.
General Humidity & Temperature Needs
Most plants grow best in temperature’s between 60 – 80° F. , however, Calathea prefers a slightly cooler temperature range (around 60 – 80° F), but may not survive temps below 55° F. , although most plants are relatively tolerant of humidity, plants grown in low-humidity environments tend to benefit from regular misting.
Fertilizer for Pet-Friendly Houseplants
Give your actively growing pet-friendly plants regular (monthly) fertilizers during the Spring and Summer months. Then cut back or discontinue fertilizer applications in Fall and Winter. Only fertilize ponytail palm’s every other month. Use only pet-friendly, natural products to prevent pet toxicity from chemicals.
Pet Friendly Indoor Gardening
Strategically placing houseplants will turn your home into an environment that is suitable for both your houseplants and your pets. Hanging planters attached to macramé hangers can be used as planters for the many trailing types of houseplants. This keeps them out of reach of your pets. If you have high shelves, they are a great place to put lots of plants together so there are no areas for cats to jump up onto. Tall plant stands are also available for hanging your floor plants off of the ground, creating no area for pets to land on. Set aside a “plant room” in your home if possible and make sure it is closed off to all of your pets. Grouping several plants together on a single surface may deter pets from jumping on those surfaces instead of spreading the plants around.
Methods to Position Your Plants to Prevent Damage to Both Your Plants and Pets
Place your plants near entryways where dogs usually rush to greet you to help prevent excitement related damage to either your dog or your plants. Another option for vertically positioning plants is wall-mounted planters. Plant some cat grass or provide chew toys for cats, this should redirect their focus from your plants to the new play items.
Choosing the right planter and container
Floor plants are difficult to get to because their soil is deep. Pots that weigh a lot won’t tip over when pushed. Pine cones, rocks or shells may be used to cover topsoil. The use of these will keep the pet from digging but they will allow for proper drainage. When a pet uses them it feels uncomfortable on their paws so they tend to avoid using the area to dig.
If Your Pet Eats A Plant
Call your vet or call 888-426-4435 (ASPCA) now. Let your vet know what type of plant your pet ate and how much of it. Watch for signs such as vomiting, excessive salivation, drowsiness, or difficulty breathing. Do NOT induce vomiting unless told to do so by your vet. Take pictures or bring the plant(s) to your vet.
Conclusion
You don’t have to sacrifice your pet’s safety to create a beautiful interior garden. There are many ways to decorate an area with plants that are safe for your pets. Over 1000 different types of plants are non-toxic; there are many choices to pick from. Try some of the easier to care for plants such as spider plants or cacti/succulents first, then try new ones once you become more confident. As long as you pay close attention to where you put your plants and your watering schedule, you can enjoy a luscious indoor garden and still take good care of your pet.
Faqs
Q1. What plants are safe for my indoor plants if i have cats and dogs?
There are well over 1000 non-toxic house plants that are safe for pets. Some of the popular ones include spider plants, Boston ferns, African violets, orchids, prayer plant, pet-friendly succulents (like Echeveria, Haworthia, & hens & chicks) etc. These all offer the aesthetic and air-purification benefits that many people look for when they choose houseplants, but they will not harm your furry friends!
Q2. What are the most toxic houseplants for my pets?
Lilies are extremely toxic to cats, resulting in a mortality rate of 50%, while sago palms cause liver failure in both cats and dogs with a mortality rate between 32-50%! Pothos, philodendron, aloe vera, jade plant, dieffenbachia, snake plant etc. Can all cause symptoms ranging from vomiting/diarrhea/excessive drooling/etc., all the way up to severe organ damage.
Q3. How do i know if my pet has consumed a toxic houseplant?
Watch for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, lethargy, tremors or convulsions. Contact your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested any plant. It would also be helpful to identify the specific plant they ate and estimate how much was consumed.
Q4. How can i prevent my pets from accessing my indoor houseplants?
Use hanging planters that have macrame holders, place plants on high shelves that don’t allow them to land when jumping off of them or simply use tall stands. You can also mount planters against walls or use heavy pottery that resists tipping. Cover soil with pinecones/rocks/shells to deter digging; provide cat grass or chew toys for your pets to keep their attention away from the plants.
Q5. Do pet-safe plants require special care compared to other houseplants? Pet-safe plants don’t require special care—most share similar needs with other houseplants. Water when soil feels dry about an inch below the surface, provide bright indirect light for most varieties, and maintain temperatures between 60-80°F. Feed actively growing plants monthly during spring and summer, and always use pet-safe, organic fertilizers to avoid toxic chemical exposure.
