Caring for houseplants is therapeutic. Many houseplants help clean the air and they add life to your home. Some plants that are popular for home décor are not safe for pets. If you enjoy live plants in your home, check the list below to choose non-toxic houseplants.
Christmas Cactus
A Christmas cactus is a beautiful indoor plant that enjoys bright, but indirect sunlight. Allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering. The plant should never sit in water because this will lead to root rot. They produce beautiful blooms during the holiday season, making a Christmas cactus a popular and attractive gift.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Phalaenopsis is easy to grow, produces bold flowers, and will stay in bloom for weeks. A Phalaenopsis does well indoors and prefers a moderately bright windowsill, but no direct sunlight. These plants appreciate humidity, temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. They should be watered about every seven days.
Non-Toxic Houseplants: African Violet
African violets are available in a multitude of colors and they’re perfect for adding blooms in small places. Choose a potting mix made for these plants. Water the soil when the dirt feels almost dry, using lukewarm water. Avoid getting the leaves wet. African violets like bright filtered light and indoor temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees.
Boston Fern
The Boston fern has beautiful fronds that can grow up to 3 feet long. They’re commonly grown in hanging baskets or in pots on a pedestal stand. The Boston fern loves higher humidity and temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees. This houseplant grows best with bright filtered sunlight and moist soil. The feathery fronds of a Boston fern can be tempting for cats to play with. To keep your pet from damaging the plant, hang it from the ceiling or install it on a high shelf. However, it is non-toxic if ingested.
Peperomia
Peperomia is a small, slow-growing houseplant. They prefer moderately moist soil and high humidity, but don’t do well if overwatered. These plants are best grown in partial shade and like bright, indirect light through a window. Because the peperomia is slow-growing and thrives when it’s pot-bound, you won’t need to re-pot this houseplant very often.
Spider Plants are Popular Non-Toxic Houseplants
Spider plants are one of the easiest houseplants to care for. They like bright to medium light and prefer to stay moist. Spider plants enjoy normal indoor home temperatures and average humidity. In good conditions, a spider plant will grow a stem that develops small spider plants. These small plants can be left on the stem until they have grown roots of their own and then re-planted.
In a household with cats or dogs, it’s important to be careful when choosing plants for the house. The above houseplants are relatively easy to care for and are non-toxic for pets.
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