Best 10 Smart Houseplants | That Are Non-Toxic to Pets in Home
Adding some plants to your home will make a difference to make them look even more attractive, purify the air, and even help your mood. For those who own pets, choosing the right plants is beyond looks; it’s about safety. Various plants might be toxic to pets, and sometimes even fatal when ingested. Thankfully, many beautiful low-maintenance plants are nontoxic to pets, hence ideal for a friendly home. Presently, here is a comprehensive guide on the best 10 smart houseplants that keep your pets safe as they add beauty and life to your living space.
1. Spider Plant
Spider Plant is among the favorite of pet owners, and there is every reason why. This plant is nontoxic to cats and dogs and gives an elegant appearance to your space. Spider plants have the well-known arching, green leaves striped with white, small white flowers blossoming here and there. Perhaps the best trait of this plant is that it can adjust to all types of lighting from low to bright indirect light. Moreover, Spider Plants serve as very good air purifiers, filtering out formaldehyde and xylene toxins from the atmosphere. They reduce indoor humidity, too, which in turn relaxes you indoors.
The Spider Plant is one of the easiest to care for and does great either in hanging baskets or on a shelf, where their cascading leaves can be most appreciated. They also seem quite hardy and permissive if at times they don’t get water, which fits them very well for households who may have busy owners or people learning how to take care of plants.
2. Areca Palm
The Areca Palm, also called the Butterfly Palm, is a pet-friendly plant that brings a touch of the tropics into your space. This elegant palm features feathered and arching fronds that reach 6-7 feet tall, making this plant perfect for filling in corners or creating an indoor jungle. The Areca Palm would prefer bright, indirect sunlight but will adapt to lower light conditions. It would like medium watering: let the soil dry a little between waterings.
Besides aesthetic appeal, the Areca Palm is among the best air-filtering plants. It really works great in cleansing the air of impurities such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. Because of this, the atmosphere becomes really healthier. By beauty, size, and air-cleansing attributes, the Areca Palm is great for any pet-friendly home.
3. Boston Fern
Boston Ferns are the favorite for their beautiful, feathery fronds that add a touch of grace to any room. They will not harm your pets, so they’re a great option to have around curious cats or dogs. Boston Ferns love humid environments and indirect light, thus finding the perfect spot in bathrooms, kitchens, or other higher-moisture areas.
Keep your Boston Fern happy with consistent moisture and a regular mist of leaves to maintain humidity. For those of you who live in arid climates, placing a humidity tray underneath your fern will help it get the moisture that it needs. Occasionally, this plant is helped if it is pruned since this will remove dead or yellowing fronds, promoting new growth. Under ideal care, a Boston Fern might keep gracing your space with its beauty for years. It brings in a touch of nature indoors.
4. Calathea
Calatheas have a range of flamboyant, colorful leaves; most are ornately patterned, besides a variety of rich shades of green, purple, and pink. These gorgeous plants will not harm pets and can thrive in low to medium light conditions, which makes them perfect for dark corners or rooms that get the least natural light. Several species of Calathea have also got an interesting habit: folding up their leaves at night, only to open them again the following morning.
Watering them regularly will do good, allowing the soil to be moist at all times, and misting the leaves will prevent them from drying out. What they love is warmth; thus, putting them in draft-prone areas or near cold windows is not ideal for them. With their vibrant foliage and being nontoxic to pets, Calatheas are a striking addition to any home without causing any nuisance.
5. Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail Palm is a very trendy and fashionable houseplant that is, aside from being non-toxic for your pets, very low-maintenance. Despite the name, this plant is not actually a true palm; it comes from desert plants such as agaves. The plant contains a bulbous trunk that stores water, hence making it drought-tolerant and great for forgetful plant owners. Very long, curly leaves cascade from the top, hence how the plant got its name.
Ponytail Palms prefer bright indirect light but can tolerate low light conditions. They like well-draining soil and do not need much water, about once every two weeks. This plant is ideal for anyone who wants something unique and easy to care for and won’t harm their furry companions.
6. Peperomia
Peperomias are amazingly varied, though all are compact, relatively carefree plants that are nontoxic to pets. They vary from the deep green, heart-shaped leaves of Peperomia obtusifolia to the rippled, variegated foliage of Peperomia caperata. All of them can put up with low to bright indirect light and some dry conditions.
Other striking features of Peperomias are that they have thick, fleshy leaves, which store water and generally make them relatively drought-tolerant. This quality sets them apart from other plants due to their small size, which could just fit on your desk, windowsill, or any other area. Also, Peperomias are resistant to pests and diseases, which means they are pretty low maintenance and very resilient for any home.
7. Baby Rubber Plant
The Baby Rubber Plant, part of the Peperomia family, is another pet-friendly houseplant perfect for homes with dogs and cats. It has thick, shiny, oval-shaped leaves that store water in them. That makes it one of the rare drought-tolerant plants, best suited for busy or novice plant owners. The Baby Rubber Plant prefers bright, indirect light; however, it also tolerates low light.
With its compact size and fashionable foliage, the Baby Rubber Plant adds a splash of green to any room, other than the fact that it is easy to care for. It’s also a slow-growing plant, too, one needn’t bother about frequent repotting or pruning. Thus, the tender beauty combined with resistance and friendliness to pets makes it an ideal option for almost any person wanting to add a natural touch to his or her home.
8. Parlor Palm
A Parlor Palm is an archetypal houseplant, renowned for its stately fronds that curve graciously with low lighting functionality. This palm is absolutely non-toxic to pets and is one of the favorite pieces to bring a touch of green into your indoor space. Parlor Palms have also been on the lineup for cleaning impurities such as formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
It enjoys being watered moderately and enjoys the position of indirect light. It is a slow grower, so it won’t outgrow its space anytime soon, thus perfect for apartments or smaller homes. Due to the timeless beauty and safety around pets, the Parlor Palm is versatile and intelligent for any indoor garden.
9. Haworthia
The Haworthia comes in small, succulent forms and is the ultimate for pet owners. These plants are nontoxic to cats and dogs, will thrive in bright light but can tolerate low light conditions. Most plants have rosette-shaped clusters of fleshy, pointed leaves often variegated with patterns or textures in unique ways.
Another advantage of Haworthias is that they require very little water: one needs to water them only when the soil becomes completely dry. Thus, this succulent is the best option for those people who like plants that don’t require daily care. Besides, this succulent grows quite slowly, so there won’t be a need to change its pot very often. Because of their small size, unusual look, and non-toxic properties for pets, Haworthias are a wise and stylish addition to every house.
10. Bamboo Palm
Another pet-friendly palm that brings a touch of the tropics to any indoor space is the Bamboo Palm. Characteristics of this plant are the tall and slender stems, combined with feathery fronds, which grow up to 6 feet in height. This palm prefers indirect light and wants to have its water regularly, although it can survive some bouts of dryness.
Adding to its striking looks are the Bamboo Palm’s capabilities as an air purifier of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene toxins in the air. Therefore, it will perfectly fit the need to form a healthy and pet-friendly environment, adding more natural beauty to your home.
Building a lush oasis in your dwelling doesn’t have to come at the cost of your pets’ safety. All the above smart houseplants are nontoxic for cats and dogs and, what is more important, easy to care for, which turns them into a perfect option both for newbies and real experienced plant owners. These plants assure you of everything from air purification to their easy care; that way, your home remains healthy and beautiful for you and your furry friend.
Whether you’re looking to brighten a sunny window or add some flair to your living room, these pet-friendly plants will make you smile with their beauty while keeping your pets happy and healthy.