As much as we love our furry companions, they have a reputation for getting into things they aren’t supposed to, like houseplants! We’ve heard so many people say they deprive themselves of having plants in their homes for fear of their pets ingesting them and having a reaction. While this is a legitimate concern for most plant species, we keep a few in stock that are proven to be pet safe so that you can experience the best of both worlds!
The 'Ponytail Palm' is fun, easy to care for evergreen native to areas of eastern Mexico. They’re very slow growers and super low maintenance similar to succulents and cacti, so it won't take over your apartment if you're limited on space- pets take up enough as it is! This plant also prefers pretty bright conditions so it’s best to place it in a sunny window, and be sure to make sure the soil is fully dry before watering to get the best results!
Fun Fact: the British Royal Horticultural Society has given the Ponytail Palm the Award of Garden Merit
The Money Tree is a highly sought after plant to give as a housewarming gift due to both its ease of care and for the long held belief that it can bring good fortune. The Money Tree became popular in the 1980's in Taiwan and is now available around the world, often in Bonsai form. It’s ideal for people who enjoy decorating with interesting textures as it’s usually sold with a central trunk made up of three, five, or seven stems braided together, with a top that has the “lucky” 5 lobed leaf arrangements.
Lipstick Plants (both the standard and ‘Black Pagoda’ varieties) are vining houseplants characterized by their waxy foliage and flowering buds that peek out of dark-colored tubes, resembling miniature tubes of lipstick. This plant thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but will survive under lower light conditions. The more light it gets, the more it will bloom, and the ‘Black Pagoda’ looks particularly striking in a hanging basket due to the way the vines and flowers grow, plus hanging baskets make it even harder for your pets to get to your plants!
Peperomia are the perfect combnation of cute, collectible and easy to care for! We always have a wide variety of these in the shop and they come in a range of colors like deep violet or metallic silver. They grow close to the ground in clumps and they never really get much taller than a few inches, which will hopefully keep them out of view of your furry friends in the first place! While this might leave them underappreciated in the wild, it makes them perfect as ground cover or in a terrarium and good plants for people living in cramped dorms or NYC apartments. Try planting a few together to create a unique arrangement, or co-planting one with a plant that grows tall like they would in the jungle!
Calathea are some of the most striking and entertaining plants to grow that are also pet safe, but we recommend them for our more experienced plant parents! They come in several varieties and provide beautiful color year-round. If you watch closely you'll find the leaves move in response to light, folding up at night and opening wider during the day, hence the common name of prayer plant. For best growth we’ve found that the trick is humidity- if you can improve that with a humidifier or pebble tray then you should be good to go! They also appreciate a well-drained but relatively moist soil with a regular watering schedule and bright, indirect light. If you can provide these conditions your Calathea will thrive and you'll come to appreciate their colorful leaves year-round! Who needs flowers?
Always do your research when introducing new plants into a space with animals! We’re here to help guide you along the way but there are plenty of resources out there so you can be sure you’re doing what’s best for your home.
