Pet Friendly Indoor Plants for Cats & Dogs

21 Jan 2021 Deepika

An easy way to add colour and life to your home is with houseplants. When you live with pets though, keeping plants can come with a range of dangers. Many plants are extremely toxic to your furry friends, so make sure you only buy pet friendly indoor plants.

Curious cats and dogs might be prone to chewing on leaves, uprooting the soil or attacking the plant in play. All of these resulting in chaos for you and tummy trouble (or worse) for your pet.

 

1. Boston Fern

The shaggy fronds of a Boston fern may look enticing to playful pets, but this indoor plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Growing up to 3 feet indoors, this popular fern type looks good in a pedestal plant stand on the floor, in a hanging basket or draped over a shelf.

Why it’s great for pets

As well as being non-toxic, the houseplant fares well in a lot of different conditions. So, if you’d rather remove the temptation of your pets to play with the rich foliage of the Boston fern, you can keep yours safely out of harm's way on a shelf or in a raised pot.

How to look after it

Boston ferns prefer moist, well-drained soil and plenty of bright, indirect light. Keep yours in a humid bathroom or add some leafy texture to a corner of your bedroom – just be sure to mist it routinely.

2. Spider Plant

With its luscious leafy ribbons, the spider plant not only looks great but it’s also one of the most readily available pet friendly indoor plants. The stripy mid- and light-green leaves will add a touch of colour to any corner of your home.

Why it’s great for pets

The spider plant is a popular air-purifying plant. It’s very effective at removing toxins from the air in your home, leaving it fresh and clean. This a particular bonus when you share your living space with pets.

How to look after it

A great choice if you’re a plant novice or have a busy schedule, spider plants require very little attention. The plant tolerates a diverse spectrum of light and moisture conditions. So you can keep yours in a shady corner, steamy bathroom or sunny windowsill alike.

Pets and plants quintain living wembley park

3. Banana Tree

Beautifully leafy and exotic looking, banana trees will leave you daydreaming of more tropical climates. Although technically not a tree, this large pet-friendly indoor plant is the perfect addition to a bare spot in your living room.

Why it’s great for pets

Unlike many other large houseplants, such as the weeping fig and the snake plant, banana trees are not toxic to animals. Make a clear statement in your home without the worry of harming your pet.

How to look after it

As you would expect, banana trees grow best in warmer weather; however, yours can still thrive as a houseplant. Place the plant in a sunny spot with lots of bright light, make sure you water and mist regularly, and keep it in rich soil to best emulate its jungle home.

4. Cast Iron Plant

The cast iron plant gets its name from its sheer resilience. Almost impossible to kill, this is an excellent choice if you’ve had little success with houseplants in the past. This long-lasting plant is always a luscious green colour and requires very little maintenance.

Why it’s great for pets

The cast iron plant is a great alternative to the snake plant, which is extremely toxic to animals. Similar in style, the upward growing leaves of the cast iron plant will add a touch of serenity to your home, without the poisonous properties of a snake plant.

How to look after it

Place your cast iron plant in any spot within the home, but avoid direct sunlight (which can scorch the leaves). The plant tolerates irregular watering, so you don’t need to worry if you forget about it for a few days. Routinely misting and wiping the leaves clean of dust will help keep the plant healthy.

5. Chinese Money Plant

With its iconic circular, coin-shaped leaves, the Chinese money plant (otherwise nicknamed the ‘UFO plant’ and ‘pancake plant’) will add a unique touch of greenery to your home. Native to southern China, the plant has become particularly popular in recent years due to its non-toxicity and ease of growing.

Why it’s great for pets

Since it won’t grow as big as some other popular indoor plants, the Chinese money plant is a good choice for pet owners with restricted space – and overly energetic pets!

How to look after it

Low maintenance when it comes to watering, you only need to water your Chinese money plant when the soil is dry to the touch. Keep your plant anywhere in the home that gets lots of indirect light. Avoid overly sunny windowsills. Regularly rotate the plant to keep it looking symmetrical.

plants quintain living wembley park dogs

6. Prayer Plant

The eye-catching pattern on its leaves will make a prayer plant the focal point of a room. The combination of pink and green leaves is a plant lover’s dream, plus this indoor plant is pet friendly.

Why it’s great for pets

Despite its attractive leaves, you can rest assured the prayer plant is not toxic to your curious four-legged friend. The similarly brightly coloured elephant ear plant is very toxic to pets, so the prayer plant is a safe alternative.

How to look after it

Heralding from the rainforests of South America, the prayer plant likes humid, steamy conditions best. Keep yours in a bright bathroom so it can enjoy the humidity. Alternatively, place the plant elsewhere in a sunny spot of your home away from direct sunlight and regularly mist.

7. Areca Palm

With its long, graceful fronds, the areca palm will take centre stage in a room. Growing up to 5 feet tall, this plant is best suited to a spacious corner where it can really thrive. Reminiscent of bamboo canes, the ‘butterfly palm’ will add a touch of the tropics.

Why it’s great for pets

The ribbon-like leaves of the areca palm may entice playful swatting from your cat or dog, but you can enjoy peace-of-mind that this indoor plant is not toxic. Due to its size, it’s also a sturdy floor plant that will withstand knocks from your pets.

How to look after it

The areca palm isn’t the easiest houseplant to look after, but it is a rewarding challenge for plant lovers. Grow your plant in a bright room with rich nutrient-rich, moist soil. Water frequently before it reaches full size and then regularly water when the top two inches of soil are dry.

plants quintain living wembley park cats

8. Orchid

If you’re looking for something a bit different from typical leafy plants, an orchid is a beautiful alternative. These pet friendly indoor plants are not to be beaten when it comes to elegance; choose from a number of different varieties including pink, yellow and the iconic white orchid.

Why it’s great for pets

Many popular flowers (including tulips and daffodils) are toxic for pets, but orchids are one of the exceptions. Give your home a touch of the Far East with this unusual and graceful-looking flower.

How to look after it

Orchids thrive in strong light, but not direct sunlight. During the summer, water yours weekly and heavily to mimic the heavy rain seasons of its native land. Good drainage is essential and easy to create by placing the plant in a pebble tray. In the winter, keep your plant warm and mist it every so often.

Where to Buy Pet Friendly Indoor Plants

Create your own urban jungle in your home without harming your pet. There are numerous places to buy non-toxic houseplants. Visit local farmers’ markets or an independent plant shop to start your plant journey. Traders will be able to advise on the best plants to suit your home.

Alternatively, enjoy the ease of ordering online from the likes of Patch, Beards & Daisies and Canopy Plants. These websites include filters to better help you select a pet friendly plant and feature step-by-step care guidance. Enjoy the beauty of living with plants and keep your pets healthy and happy too.

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