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Pet-Friendly Houseplants for Your Apartment
 

Houseplants can refresh your apartment and make your space more attractive. They can also provide health benefits for you, your children, and your pets! Houseplants regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air you breathe, reduce certain air pollutants, and boost the humidity in the air. Plants can also reduce airborne dust in your apartment. Furthermore, green light waves from plants seen by your eyes trigger pain-reducing areas in your brain, reducing inflammation in the body and making you feel better.

Plants can also present risks to children and pets – some plants can be poisonous when eaten. It can be difficult to keep curious pets and tiny hands from getting into the plants in our apartments, but you can protect your loved ones by choosing plants that are non-toxic, and won’t harm your children and pets if eaten. Below are some suggestions for houseplants that can refresh your apartment while keeping your loved ones safe.

Air Plants
These pet-friendly, low-maintenance houseplants do not require soil to grow – many people place them in attractive glass containers that keep them safe from pets (and create a pretty decorative touch). These hardy little plants rarely grow past 12 inches and thrive in bright, indirect light, and don’t need more than a quick watering once a week.

Pet Friendly Apartment PlantsAfrican Violet
These pretty, fuzzy-leaved little plants grow and bloom in low light and enjoy the same moderate temperatures and average humidity common to most apartments. They are particularly fond of Eastern windows. Use a high-quality fertilizer to feed it, and enjoy blossoms year-round.

Areca Palm
The pet-friendly, low-maintenance Areca palm is ideal for beginners. These lovely, delicate tropical palms enjoy bright, indirect light, but also do well in low light areas. Water the palm when the top inch of soil feels dry, and your palm could grow to a height of eight feet (although four feet is more common).

Spider Plant
You have probably seen a spider plant in your grandmothers’ house, or perhaps you have been gifted one by a friend or coworker. This perennially popular houseplant is happy in a hanging basket and is harmless to curious pets and children. The “babies” that form on the trailing vines can be replanted and grown as new plants, giving you a fun source for gifts.

Pet Friendly Apartment Houseplant OptionsVenus Fly Trap
Carnivorous plants provide a funky focal point in your apartment, and the flytrap is safe for pets and children. It may even eliminate stray flies in your apartment! These fascinating little plants do well with a little fertilizer and distilled water, but the occasional fly that wanders into your apartment makes for a special treat (and an interesting show).

Calathea
Calathea spp. plants are often called zebra plants or peacock plants due to their showy foliage. Large tropical leaves display colorful stripes or stippling and provide a beautiful accent to your apartment décor. They are also perfect additions to the shadier parts of your apartment – too much light can bleach the plants.

Houseplants for a Pet Friendly AparmtmentOrchid
If you have trouble remembering to water your house plants but yearn for colorful flowers during the winter months, orchids are an excellent choice to add beauty to your apartment. These flowering plants usually provide pretty blooms during the winter months when the days are short, and they require very little water or attention.

Bromeliad
Bromeliads are easy to take care of and pet-safe. The unique, colorful plant requires nothing more than a bright window and a little extra humidity (provided by a sprayer). Bromeliads can grow without soil by attaching to a log, creating a stunning display and providing an attractive option for pets that are prone to digging in potting soil.

Always be cautious when introducing a new plant your pets and children. If you don’t know that a plant is safe, try hanging the plant or placing it on a shelf out of reach. You can also determine if the plant is poisonous on the House Plant Expert site by clicking here.

If you are concerned that your pet may have eaten a poisonous plant, please visit the ASPCA Poison Control Center or call their hotline at 888-426-4435 immediately. If your child may have ingested a poisonous plant, visit the American Association of Poison Control Centers or call 800-222-1222.

Refresh your apartment and add a little greenery with these safe, low-maintenance houseplants, and enjoy decorating your apartment without worry!