Five houseplants that are safe to grow even if you have pets around

Houseplants, apart from adding beauty and life to a room, are known to reduce stress and to improve indoor air quality. However, not all of these are safe for your furry friends since some are toxic and dangerous to their health, especially if eaten. Fortunately, there are several plants that you can tend to without posing risks to your pets. Here’s some of them:

1. Herbs

Growing herbs indoors will make your home cooked meals more flavorful. Basil, sage, and thyme are pet-friendly herbs which you can grow indoors, provided that you have a window that gets at least four to five hours of direct sunlight every day. An exception to the list of animal-friendly herbs are lavender and oregano.

2. Calathea

This is also known as a prayer plant because its leaves curl up at night. Calathea is ideal for narrow spaces like bookshelves and coffee tables. This is harmless to pets and is one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Put them in medium or low light and they can flourish, of course, with proper watering.

3. Succulents

Popular succulents like echeverias and hens and chicks are good varieties to nurture, but studying them individually will save you from trouble since each type has its own characteristics. For instance, jade plants, although similar to other varieties, are harmful to pets. If cultivating succulents, place them in an area with lots of sun and water them once a week.

4.     Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

This is also a not-so demanding outdoor plant that’s for your pets too. You can raise more spider plants from the babies that its mother plant produces. It can grow up to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide and thrives best in bright, indirect light.

5. Air plants (Tillandsia)

If you are aiming to keep the plants out of reach (of children or pets), Tillandsias are an excellent choice. Tending air plants is easy, because aside from their being soil-less, they are also low-maintenance as you only need to quickly soak them in water once a week. They can also thrive indoors as long as you place them in a bright, indirect light.

These plants may be safe, but it is safest to place them out of reach of your pets. Assuming that your pet nibbles on your plants, despite the plants’ unlikeliness to cause health issues, keep an eye on your pets for any negative reactions and immediately consult a vet if you notice anything suspicious.

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