If you’re anything like us, you love your houseplants and your pets! Unfortunately, there are a lot of houseplants that can be toxic to our pets, and we don’t always know that when purchasing our newest indoor plant addition. The wrong indoor houseplant choice could lead to your pet vomiting, having diarrhea or even going into shock. This could understandably make purchasing your next indoor houseplant a little scary or maybe intimidating.
Don’t worry, all is good in the plant and pet world if you know what to look for when shopping for you next houseplant. In this article, we are going to share with you some of the most beautiful indoor houseplants that are perfectly safe for you to buy for your Benjii, Fluffy, Kona, Betty…Whoever they may be!
Calathea
These beautiful plants come in many different varieties. Pictured below are a Rattlesnake Calathea and a Medallion Calathea. Both have beautiful leaves which are red on the bottom. Calathea thrive in indirect sunlight, and while they do still like bright locations, they can still survive in low light. The require less frequent watering and can be planted in a standard potting mix soil.
Kangaroo Paw Fern
These ferns are super resilient and adaptable plants. With the little kangaroo paws poking out from the base of the plant, it can add greenery to your home while still being its own unique self.
Kangaroo ferns like consistent moisture, but make sure the soil isn’t soggy. Like a lot of ferns, they thrive in moderate to bright indirect sunlight. They also like high to moderate humidity, so they make for an excellent bathroom plant!
The toxicity of these plants is not well documented, however everything so far points towards it being safe for dogs and cats. If your dog munches on the leaves it will likely throw them up, similar to them throwing up grass, but it has not been shown to cause any lasting discomfort.
Kangaroo Paw Fern
Hawarthia
If you like succulents, then this is the plant for you. Haworthia like both indirect, and direct sunlight. It you have it in direct sunlight expect to water it once every 2-3 weeks. They are very similar to aloe vera in terms of caring for them. They stay very small, usually not exceedingly more than 6 inches in height or width. Thanks to this, they can fit into almost any home. Because, let’s be honest, plant lovers can always find room for one more succulent.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus require a bit more attention than some of the other plants on this list. To see lots of their beautiful blooms they require about 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also need a lot of water when they are in their blooming stage as the process takes a lot of energy on the plants part. All that energy is put to good use, however, due to how pretty the flowers are. In addition to lots of light and water, hibiscus like to have their roots tightly packed together in containers. If you repot them make sure to not buy a pot much bigger than the one it is currently in, but make sure it still has good drainage.
Money Tree
Considered good luck in many cultures, these trees are thought to bring prosperity. You will often see them being sold around the Lunar New Year. Their braided trunk and distinct 5 leaf pattern make them easily recognizable and a favorite for many people. Money trees like bright, indirect sunlight. However, it can also adapt to low light and fluorescent lights so it can be a great addition to an office or back corner of a room. They prefer to be watered less often, but like a lot of water. Let the top 3-4 inches of soil dry out between watering’s. Lastly, make sure you turn your money tree every time you water it to allow for even growth!
Ponytail Palm
Looking like a cute, compact tree, these plants make for a great statement piece. It is part of the Agave family and is technically classified as a succulent! Because of this, it is very easy to take care of. Ponytail Palms are very forgiving when it comes to light. The prefer bright, indirect sunlight but can handle being in lower light conditions half the time. If you keep it in a bright, sunny location during the summer months, it will be fine in almost any light conditions during the winter months. Due to it being a succulent, it likes to dry out between watering’s. Water until water flows out of the drainage holes, then discard any accumulated water.
Fishbone Cactus
This cactus is closer to a succulent than what you would usually imagine when you hear the word cactus. It has soft, almost rubbery leaves and no thorns or spikes. However, like a cactus, it is very hard to kill and is perfect for gardeners of all levels. Like many of the plants on our list, it enjoys bright, indirect sunlight. However, as a jungle cactus, it evolved in low light conditions so it can survive in a wide variety of light conditions. Being a cactus, it like to dry out completely between watering’s.
If we didn’t inspire you with these indoor houseplants, be sure to check out our full online inventory for more ideas. Next time you’re in-store, be sure to keep an eye out for our pet friendly signs to make sure it’s safe for you pet. You can even bring them in with you to help you choose the best indoor houseplant that is safe for everyone.
