Pet-Safe House Plants

It’s no secret that adding plants can completely transform a space, bringing more liveliness into it - and while you have complete freedom to choose whichever plants you like best when you don’t have pets, the situation gets more complicated as a pet parent. This is because many of the popular plants can be toxic to dogs, cats and other domesticated animals.

Aloe vera, ivy, Yukka, dumb cane - these are all very common house plants, but they, unfortunately, can be poisonous to your pet. Lilies, often gifted as part of a bouquet, can also be very toxic, especially to cats, even leading to kidney damage, which in severe cases can even lead to death. Those are just a few examples, but there are many more.

It’s safe to say that when considering house plants as a pet owner, you need to be very careful about which ones you pick. That’s why we prepared this list - here, you will find a number of pet-safe house plants that not only keep your furry friend safe but also look great, adding brightness to your home.

#1 Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica)

Money trees, aside from being pet-friendly, are also said to bring good luck and good fortune to those whose space they inhabit, especially if they are placed in a space concerning money. They are also quite striking visually, with their main characteristic being a usually braided trunk.

Since money trees can survive with minimal care, they are a great choice for anyone who either doesn’t have a green thumb or is absent from home for days at a time.

Their requirements are truly minimal - water it every one to two weeks or when the soil looks dry, and avoid putting it in direct sunlight, as it can cause the leaves to yellow. They will thrive in bright, indirect light.

Since it can grow quite significantly, even as a houseplant, we would suggest either rectangular planters or round planters, but look for those on the shorter side.

#2 Hoya Plants

The beauty of hoya plants is that there are dozens of varieties you can choose from, all of which are both pet and human-safe.

• If you prefer a classic, then Hoya carnosa would be a great choice with its thick leaves and star-shaped flowers appearing in clusters.
• Hoya kerrii is a good addition for anyone who appreciates plants with little details - also known as Sweetheart hoya, it takes its name from heart-shaped leaves.
• For a dramatic effect, we recommend the Hoya latifolia. With its thick foliage and plenty of flowers, this plant will definitely make your guests question where you got it.

As far as care goes, a lot will depend on the specific Hoya variety that you decide to add to your home. They usually like indirect sunlight, and that’s where they thrive. The more sunlight they get, the more frequent watering will have to be - although the rule of thumb is that the next watering should happen after the soil has dried from the previous one.

Depending on the variety of hoya you choose, they can grow quite large, so we would recommend first placing them in a smaller pot and letting them grow, and once they no longer fit in it, you can repot them into a large planter.

#3 Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)

A common house plant, the Bromeliad is a good addition to your home when you want to add a touch of color while keeping your pets safe. And just like a money tree, this one also doesn’t require excessive care, but it will keep your room bright and colorful even for months with its bloom.

Another advantage, although specific to only a number of varieties rather than all of them, is that you can find Bromeliads that grow as soil-free epiphytes attached to a log - and since it doesn’t have soil, it means less work for you in case one of your pets accidentally knocks it over.

When placed in bright, indirect sunlight, these plants can be watered once every one or two months. If your home is particularly dry, opt for misting it rather than watering, or, if you have one, place it near a humidifier.

Contrary to the two previous plants we mentioned, Bromeliads tend to stay quite small, so when looking for a planter for them, your focus should be on indoor planters, but those on the shorter side - otherwise, unless it is combined with some other plants, the planter will overpower it.

#4 Orchids (Orchidaceae)

Orchids are another type of pet-safe house plant. If you’re looking for a houseplant that will add a touch of elegance to whatever space it is placed in, then there’s probably no better choice than an orchid. They come in a variety of colors, from pink and purple to key lime green and yellow.

There are also blue orchids available in many places, although this one is actually achieved artificially using originally white flowers and a dye - we wouldn’t recommend this particular color variety, as the dye used could potentially be toxic to your pet.

As for how much care orchids need, again, they are pretty resilient and don’t need to be tended to that often. Most orchid varieties will thrive in bright indirect sunlight and regular watering and misting (every 7 to 10 days should be enough).

Tip: When watering and misting, use rainwater or boiled water instead of tap water.

When it comes to the planter you should choose for your orchid, since they are quite small, we recommend using a plastic pot first and then placing it in an outer pot.

#5 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

A spider plant is not only pet-friendly, but it also acts as a great air purifier, helping you improve the quality of your indoor air. Due to its overall look and cascading foliage, it is more suitable for hanging baskets or floating shelves.

No surprise here, this plant also does not require special treatment to survive. It is rather hardy and can survive with minimal care. Loose, loamy soil, regular watering, and partial shade are all it needs. When exposed to direct sunlight, their leaves can scorch, so try to avoid it.

#6 Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula)

Venus flytrap is a perfect solution for those looking for a pet-safe plant while also dealing with annoying pests, especially flies and mosquitos, which in some regions are unavoidable during the summer. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors, although if you place it outdoors, it will probably have access to more prey.

If you’re growing it inside, you will probably have to feed it yourself every once in a while - when doing so, remember that the insect you give it shouldn’t be bigger than one-third of the trap, as it might not close properly and the plant won’t be able to start digesting food. Also, if you can, opt for live insects rather than dead ones.

Again, just like most plants on this list, this one is also very low maintenance. As long as it has access to at least six hours of direct sunlight a day (or four hours of direct sunlight and bright indirect light the rest of the day) and you keep watering it with distilled water, your Venus flytrap will be more than fine.

Now, for the pots and planters for them - they don’t grow very large, so instead of width, you should focus on depth, so that their roots have room to grow.

#7 Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya)

Also known as the freckle face plant, the polka dot plant gets its name from the splashes of color all over its foliage. Typically green, pink, red or white, these plants are a great addition to any space in need of a pop of color.

Polka dot plants thrive in bright indirect sunlight and with organic matter-rich soil. The soil should be kept moist - if you don’t know whether to water it, check if the top of the soil is dry. If it is, it might be time for watering. Also, these plants do better when they aren’t watered during winter, or at least not as much as during the summer. Finally, they enjoy at least 50% humidity.

Just like Venus flytraps, polka dot plants also stay quite small, so consider opting for a tabletop planter - it’s smaller than your typical indoor planter, but gives any plant and room an elegant vibe.

The Bottom Line

There are many more pet-safe plants you could potentially choose from, but these are some of our favorites - each of them has something unique that made us unable to not put them here. While your options might be limited, the limitation is not as strict as some imagine. There are still plenty of options out there for you to choose from.

And once you find the ideal pet-safe plant to add to your home, don’t hesitate to visit Pots, Planters & More for just the right planter!