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I’ve compiled a list of 10 hard-to-kill, pet-safe, air-purifying plants.
Looking for some pet-safe house plants that can help clean the air? You’re in luck! There are actually quite a few options to choose from. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best choices out there. So if you’re looking to add a little greenery to your home while also helping to improve the air quality, read on!
My Top 10 Picks for Pet-Safe Houseplants That Clean The Air
1) Areca Palm
2) Orchid
5) Boston Fern
6) Money Tree
8) Wax Plant
9) Spider Plant
10) Christmas Cactus
How Do Houseplants Clean The Air?
Did you know that by simply having houseplants in your home, you can help to clean and purify the air?
Plants act as natural filters, absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen into the air. Not only do they improve the air quality around us, but studies have shown that being around plants can also boost our moods and overall sense of well-being.
Common household furnishings, upholstery, synthetic building materials, pet dander, dust, mold, and daily cleaning products can emit various toxic compounds. Thanks to the NASA Clean Air Study, we now know that common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene and indoor air pollution in your home!
So if you’re looking for a way to improve your indoor air quality and create a happier home, adding some houseplants is a great place to start!
10 Pet Safe Houseplants for Improving Air Quality
It’s no secret that we’re all breathing in too much bad stuff from our environment these days. To combat this, one of the best things we can do is add some plants into our home or office space because they are proven to improve air quality by absorbing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. But not all plants are created equal – here’s a list of ten safe options for pet owners!
1) Areca Palm
The Areca Palm, also known as the Butterfly Palm, is native to Madagascar and can get quite large even indoors, topping out at a whopping 6-8 feet tall. They require bright, indirect light, so placing your new Areca Palm just inside the window is perfect. The soil should be wet but not overly wet, so watering the Areca infrequently works best. Toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and others stand no chance with this tropical plant in your home. Looking for more plants? Visit the House Fur Plant Shop!
2) Orchid
Although they are considered a high-maintenance plant, they are pretty hardy! They’re effective at removing xylene from the air and releasing oxygen at night, making them a good bedroom plant that is non-toxic for pets!
Orchids are commonly believed to be challenging to care for. However, this belief is more superstition than fact. Providing moderate to low sunlight and weekly watering for the Orchid will reward you and your home with blooms that last much of the year and can range in color from white to blues and purples.
However, after buying an orchid, it’s key to ensure that the roots have plenty of space to breathe since they naturally have exposed root systems. Re-pot your orchid using a moss mixture that drains easily and water only when the soil is no longer moist.
3) Parlor Palm
If plenty of sunlight doesn’t make its way into your home, the pet-safe Parlor Palm (Bamboo Palm) may be for you.
Bamboo Palms can grow from 4 to 12 feet tall and have a width of 3 to 5 feet. They boast stiff stems and dark green leaves and only need to be watered when the soil’s top feels dry. This lovely indoor plant is also well known for improving air quality by removing benzene and trichloroethylene from indoor spaces.
Parlor palms and Areca Palms look extremely similar, but the primary distinction between parlor palms and areca palms is the shape of their leaves.
4) Purple Waffle Plant
The purple leaves of the Purple Waffle Plant are sure to cheer you up year-round, and the purple waffle plant is not toxic to dogs or cats. According to the ASPCA, nothing in the plant will harm your pets at all.
This is another plant that prefers indirect sunlight since its leaves can easily be scorched or lose their metallic sheen when left in direct sunlight.
If you stick your finger directly into the soil only to find that it’s dry, you know it’s time to water this cascading purple plant. Be sure to keep loads of humidity around the Purple Waffle Plant – we have several humidifiers around our house to keep our plants (and my dry skin) very happy!
5) Boston Fern
The Boston Fern is the perfect pet-safe houseplant for those who are looking for a plant that’s easy to care for! This houseplant adds a lot of life to any room and provides many benefits.
Not only do Boston ferns bring the beauty indoors, but they have also been found to help filter the air of mold, airborne bacteria, and other pollutants commonly found in tightly closed environments – making it a great choice if you’re looking for a cleaner environment in your home.
Plus, it’s fuss-free and easy to keep alive! All it needs to stay healthy is some indirect light, regular misting, regular trimming, and periodic repotting. There is no need for complicated instructions or worries!
6) Money Tree
Add a bit of luck and style to any room with the Money Tree! This cheerful plant has a uniquely braided trunk, evergreen star-shaped foliage that retains its bright green color all year long, and is low maintenance – thriving in both low light or indirect sunlight conditions. The money tree prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Place it as an accent piece in your bedroom, home office, or bathroom for extra freshness throughout the year. I have mine from Perfect Plants in my home office. It arrived perfectly and has grown so many new leaves in just a matter of weeks!
7) Corn Plant (Dracaena)
Looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance houseplant? The Corn Plant (Dracaena) is the perfect option for you! Dracaenas thrive best with medium to bright indirect sunlight but can tolerate low light as well. Water carefully; your corn plant loves to stay hydrated without drowning in water.
Avoid over-watering, which can lead to root rot and cause death – don’t worry though, just make sure the top 50-75% of the soil dries out before rehydrating your corn plant. With these simple tips, you can enjoy a vibrant and happy corn plant in no time!
8) Hoya (Wax Plant)
Hoyas will grace your home with beautiful white or purplish-pink flowers. They thrive in indirect sunlight, so some shade is perfect for this potted vine plant. Watering this plant is a cinch since you can let the soil dry out between watering sessions.
These hearty plants won’t miss you much if you forget to water them, making them an excellent addition to any home.
9) Spider Plant
While you may get the creepy crawlies just reading the name, the Spider Plant is a unique indoor plant with long green leaves accented by a white stripe down the center. If you don’t have a green thumb, this hearty variety may be for you. These plants aren’t particular when it comes to light but prefer shade more than the others.
They tend to drink up plenty of water during the summer months and nearly parch themselves during the winter. If you treat the Spider Plant nicely, you might be rewarded with beautiful little white flowers.
I Love buying my plants from Perfect Plants. I recently found this company, and everything I have ordered has come in perfect condition – – even in the middle of winter!
10) Christmas Cactus
Christmas has come early this year in the form of the Christmas Cactus! This festive and pet-safe houseplant is an excellent addition to any home. Not only does it provide a beautiful pop of color and lovely green foliage, but Christmas Cactus is an excellent air purifier as well.
A few potted Christmas Cactuses around the house can help deodorize and remove impurities from the air inside your home. So this season, why not spread Christmas cheer by bringing a Christmas Cactus into your home? Enjoy its beauty and reap the many benefits that it brings.
Conclusion
Having pet-safe houseplants in our homes can be more beneficial than we realize! Not only are they a great way to add some color and life to your space, but houseplants can also actually help clean and purify the air in your home. This process happens as the plants absorb pollutants through their leaves and petioles. So while pet-safe houseplants may just seem like another decoration, they are helping us keep our indoor air clean and breathe healthier.
If you want to find out if a particular plant is safe, the ASPCA has a great online database you can search through with plenty of pet-safe options.
Common FAQS
How do plants clean the air?
Plants clean the air by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. In addition, they also remove harmful toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde and benzene. Having plants in your home can improve the air quality and help protect yourself from harmful pollutants.
What do I do if my dog eats a poisonous plant?
If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested a houseplant, get help immediately. Immediate treatment can save your dog’s life.
Call your veterinarian for advice ASAP. They may recommend that you induce vomiting, give your dog water or milk to drink, take a wait-and-see approach, or bring your puppy to them immediately for treatment.
Never induce vomiting or give your pet any kind of treatment unless advised to do so by your veterinarian. Making the pet vomit the incorrect poisonous plant or providing the wrong “antidote” might make an already bad scenario worse.
What should I do if my child eats a poisonous plant?
If you suspect your child has ingested a poisonous houseplant, get help immediately.
Call Poison Control or go to the Emergency Room for advice and treatment of poisonous plant ingestion in children.
Be prepared with this information when calling:
- Your child’s age
- The amount eaten (if known)
- What he/she was doing at the time of ingestion
- The current symptoms your child is showing
What happens if a dog eats a toxic plant?
Dogs who have ingested a hazardous plant may show nervousness, muscular tremors, profuse sweating, seizures, disability, breathing difficulties, increased heart rate, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, and coma.
Does my pet insurance cover poisonous plant ingestion for my cat or dog?
Pet insurance plans generally do not cover poisonous plant ingestion, although some do. Check with your pet’s insurer to see whether they have this coverage.
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Thank you for this fantastic article exploring the benefits of air-purifying houseplants! If you’re seeking additional suggestions for enhancing indoor air quality, don’t underestimate the significance of replacing air filters, especially if you have pets. It’s better to do it frequently.
Oh yeah, thanks for mentioning the importance of replacing air filters. It’s advisable to change them once every two to three months. But homeowners with furry friends may want to do that more often.
Thanks for sharing this! Having plants at home is a great way to make the air better and add more moisture. When the air is too dry, it’s not good for you or your home. Plants help by putting moisture into the air, which is good for the humidity indoors.