Houseplants have become incredibly popular in interior design, and in Florida it is a great way to bring the beautiful outdoors in. Green plants have been proven to brighten your mood, relieve stress, and promote concentration. However, if you have pets, be warned–many common houseplants are toxic when consumed. That doesn’t mean your decorating dreams are doomed though. Keep your dogs healthy by adding these non toxic, pet safe houseplants to your home.
Aluminum plant: Often called “watermelon pilea” due to their variegated leaves that resemble the fruit, these are a gorgeous option for a pet-safe houseplant.
Bamboo palm (aka Parlor palm): These palms grow slowly and can live for many years. What may begin as a small tabletop decoration will become a beautiful 3-4ft plant if you give it time and care. Remember though, dogs like to dig – and a large pot of soil may be too tempting to resist.
Boston fern: These bushy ferns have become quite popular. Boston ferns are fairly low-maintenance–they grow best in full shade (but with indirect light) and cool, humid areas. Keep the soil moist and mist once per week, and it will be a happy plant – and completely safe for your dog.
Cast Iron plant: As its name implies, this plant is extremely difficult to kill, so you don’t have to worry about your canine doing it damage. With these plants, it is better to forget to water than to overwater, as moist soil causes root rot and fungus growth. Allow the soil to dry out completely before you water it thoroughly. These plants grow well in full shade with little indirect light, so they can be placed in almost any room of your house without worry about Fido.
Christmas cactus: This succulent makes a beautiful replacement for poinsettias, which are toxic to dogs and cats. Christmas cacti produce lovely red-pink blooms in the wintertime and are completely safe for Rover to be around.
Friendship plant: The bumpy texture of this plant’s leaves will intrigue all your guests. It is native to Central and South America, so it enjoys warm temperatures with high humidity. They are called friendship plants because they easily and quickly sprout roots when you take a cutting, rendering them an ideal plant to propagate and gift to friends.
Money tree: This plant comes with many legends and lore. Money trees are believed to bring good luck and fortune to the owner, and their hardiness serves as a reminder that in times of trouble we, too, must remain strong and resilient. The money plant is the perfect analogy for our dogs, who stand by us through thick and thin.
Moth orchid: When purchasing an orchid, pay close attention to what kind you buy. Some orchids are toxic for your animals, while some are not. The gorgeous moth orchid blooms thrive in humidity and low light, so they are often used as a lovely addition to bathrooms – and you won’t have to worry about your dog getting sick if he can’t resist the colorful blooms.
Spider plant: Like the cast iron plant, spider plants are easy to keep indoors, and are safe to have in the home with your dogs.
There are many ways to keep your dogs safe and to make sure their environment is appropriate. Obedience training is a basic need for any dog, as they thrive on knowing rules and boundaries. Call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training for the best classes for Sarasota and Bradenton area dogs.
