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Pet-Proofing your Home & your Plants 🪴🐶
If you have pets at home, you understand how they quickly become important parts of your family. They love you no matter what, and they always will put a smile on your face. However, sometimes their animal instinct gets the best of them and we come home from work to tooth marks in the leaves, or holes in the soil of our houseplants.
It is important that when buying houseplants, that you consider how safe they are for your pets. As nice as some plants may look, they are often more harmful than they seem. Especially if you have a dog or a cat that can sometimes be a little too curious and want to gnaw on leaves & stems – it is best to take all necessary precautions when filling your home with new plants & flowers. While some plants & flowers will only cause a tummy ache if ingested, some are incredibly toxic & could be potentially lethal to your pets. It is very important to do your research to ensure that your pets stay safe.
Follow these steps & learn some tips and tricks if you want your home filled with beautiful plants while also keeping your furry friends safe! ✨
1. Keep your Plants Out of Reach
A great way to keep your houseplants away from your pets is putting them somewhere they cannot reach. If you have the space available, designate a “plant room” where you can ensure your pets cannot enter. Alternatively, if that isn’t an option, hanging baskets & wall shelves are a great option. Not only do they look cool, but they are incredibly effective at keeping curious paws away.
2. Apply a Pet-Safe Repellent or Deterrent
There are some things that pets don’t like the smell or the feel of. You can use these to your advantage by applying them to your houseplants as a way to deter your furry friends away. For example, cats & dogs don’t like the smell of citrus – so you can try putting lemon & orange peels on the soil in your plant pots, or you can spray a diluted solution of lemon juice to the leaves. If your pet likes to dig in the soil, try putting pinecones or shells on top of the dirt as they may not like the feel on their paws.
3. Buy Pet-Safe Houseplants
Sometimes, no matter what we do, pets are going to be curious and they will try to eat your plants. In this case, you can opt to buy plants that are safe for your furry kids to ingest. Refer to the following list of plants that are pet safe:
- Crispy Wave Fern
- Hoya
- Ponytail Palm
- Money Tree (Pachira)
- Spider Plant
- Cat Palm
- Bromeliad
- Haworthia (Zebra Plant)
- Olive Tree
- Orchids
- Succulents
- Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
- Polka Dot Plant
among many others!
Overall, there are lots of ways to keep your home looking fresh & full of gorgeous houseplants while also keeping your pets safe. If you do your research and consider both what is best for you & your lifestyle, your plants & pets can live together in harmony with ease.