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If you like each houseplants and cats, remember the fact that the previous could possibly be harmful to the latter. Dr. Renee Schmid, senior veterinary toxicologist with Pet Poison Helpline, notes that “For cats, our biggest concern is true lilies (Lilium spp.). This includes the Easter lily that is very popular around the Easter holiday. These plants can cause kidney failure in cats.”
She additionally recommends that pet homeowners keep away from shamrock (Oxalis spp.) and Sago palm (Cycas spp.), which might induce feline liver failure. Instead, go for houseplants protected for cats comparable to the next, all of that are included within the ASPCA Non-Toxic Plant List – Cats.
1. African Violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus)
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Granted, the fuzzy leaves on African violet, previously referred to as Saintpaulia ionanthus, may give your cat a stomachache if he chews them. But they aren’t really poisonous except they’ve been sprayed with pesticides, which might render any plant toxic. One of the most well-liked sorts of houseplants, the African violet makes a low-growing rosette of fuzzy leaves topped by clusters of violet-like flowers that may seem almost year-round.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle or fluorescent gentle; moist soil; and balanced plant meals each 2 weeks. Use high-phosphorus plant meals to advertise blooming in cycles.
2. Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus x hybridus)
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A unhazardous relative of the African violet, which proves that gesneriads are each benign and free-blooming, the cape primrose has strappy, extremely textured leaves and rarely surpasses 12 inches in top. The Streptocarpus hybrids can produce clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms in all kinds of colours however they like considerably cooler circumstances (60 to 70 levels Fahrenheit) than the violet does.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle or fluorescent gentle; moist soil in summer time, a bit drier in winter. Use balanced or high-phosphorus plant meals at quarter-strength each 2 weeks.
RELATED: 20 Huge Houseplants That Make a Statement
3. Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra eliator)
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Unless he has a cast-iron abdomen, your tabby tom isn’t prone to benefit from the waxy lance-shaped leaves of the cast-iron plant, however they aren’t prone to critically hurt him both. Among the low-light houseplants which might be protected for cats, this one grows to about 2 ft and likewise has been referred to as barroom plant for its capacity to tolerate dim circumstances and—presumably—dim-witted patrons!
Plant Care: Low gentle; moist soil in summer time, drier in winter. Use balanced plant meals as soon as a month in spring and summer time.
4. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
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If poinsettias are a no-no attributable to their supposedly noxious nature, go for a Christmas cactus to maintain pets protected through the holidays. The popular houseplant‘s cascading and sometimes clawed, segmented stems provide a green “fountain” for most of the year, with shortening days inducing dangly, tiered blooms during the holiday season. (Incidentally, the University of New Hampshire Extension notes that poinsettia “can irritate the skin, mouth, and stomach, but its toxicity is largely over-rated.”)
Plant Care: Bright, indirect light; moist soil in summer, drier in winter. Use balanced plant food every 2 weeks in spring and summer.
5. False Aralia (Plerandra elegantissima)
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Though related to Schefflera, one of the plants toxic to cats, and reminiscent of a narrow-leafed marijuana plant, false aralia reportedly will do no harm to feline family members. It can grow to 6 feet and tends to pout when moved, so select its location carefully and this elegantly attenuated plant will be—or at least look like—the cat’s whiskers!
Plant Care: Moderate or shiny oblique gentle; permit to dry out considerably between waterings. Use houseplant fertilizer a number of occasions a 12 months.
6. Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)
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Yet one other gesneriad just like the African violet and cape primrose—and likewise unhazardous—the gloxinia grows to a foot or so and provides mushy and fuzzy leaves bigger than on an African violet and cup-shaped blooms. It typically stays in bloom for months. Among the protected houseplants for cats, gloxinia drops into dormancy for a minimum of 3 months per 12 months to resprout from its bulb finally, maybe proving that it too has 9 lives.
Plant Care: Filtered solar or shiny, oblique gentle; moist soil besides when it’s dropping into dormancy. Use balanced fertilizer with every watering.
RELATED: Soil Moisture Meter Review: Using a Moisture Meter for Plants
7. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)
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For the extra subtle plant connoisseur, this commonly available orchid—often known as the ice dice orchid—received’t be poisonous to cats. Its low-growing rosette of broad and succulent leaves produces racemes of unique blooms that may last as long as 6 weeks on stalks as much as 2 ft tall. To convey it into flower once more, present it with a minimum of 3 weeks of cooling nighttime temperatures in autumn.
Plant Care: Bright oblique gentle; permit to almost dry out between waterings. Provide orchid meals each 2 weeks in spring and summer time.
8. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
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One of the few pines that may thrive indoors, the Norfolk Island (additionally referred to as Australian pine) sort isn’t really a pine—which may clarify its uncommon tolerance. Even so, it will recognize occasional misting to boost humidity ranges. It typically is offered across the holidays as a tabletop Christmas tree, so that you want solely strip off all of the glitz and glitter to show it into one of many unhazardous houseplants protected for cats. It can finally develop to about 6 to 9 ft indoors.
Plant Care: Bright oblique gentle with as much as 6 hours of solar per day; moist soil. Use balanced plant meals each 1 to 2 weeks in spring and summer time.
9. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
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Typically topping off at about 4 ft when mature, the parlor palm grows as effectively within the extra relaxed environment of residing rooms because it as soon as did in Victorian parlors. And you received’t have to palm it off on a pal when you catch your cat consuming it, since it’s unhazardous. Just maintain it out of direct solar, which can scorch its leaf ideas, and keep away from liquid fertilizers since they will trigger a buildup of salts. Always be certain of houseplant identification; as was talked about above, so-called Sago palms are extremely poisonous and never really palms in any respect.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle; moist soil. Use slow-release, balanced fertilizer sparingly.
RELATED: 10 Variegated Plants That Pack the Most Visual Interes
10. Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
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Among the low-maintenance houseplants which might be protected for cats are low-growing peperomias. These vegetation with mousetail-like flowers supply quite a lot of seems based on species, together with heart-shaped leaves with a waffle-like texture (P. caperata) or these striped like a watermelon (P. argyreia). So, you’ll be able to pepper your home with the different peperomias with out worrying concerning the kitty’s security if she has to analyze these tails.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle; reasonable and constant water. Use balanced plant meals at half-strength each 2 weeks from spring to fall.
11. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
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Much like coleus, the polka dot plant is grown for the colour of its foliage, and its inexperienced leaves normally characteristic dotted or variegated pink touches. However, you will discover pink or white variegated varieties as effectively. Although the polka dot plant can develop to twenty inches, pinching again its stems ceaselessly to stop flowering can maintain the vegetation from declining. Fortunately, they received’t trigger your cat to do the identical, since they don’t seem to be toxic.
Plant Care: Filtered solar or shiny, oblique gentle; moist soil. Use diluted balanced plant fertilizer twice a 12 months.
12. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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Not really a palm, this plant doesn’t make fronds. It as an alternative has slim leaves that arch downward from the tip of its bulbous trunk—like a fountain or a top-of-the-head ponytail. Although it will definitely can develop to eight ft, it takes a long time to try this. Ponytail palm isn’t poisonous, so the principle hazard related to ponytail palm is its step by step rising weight. Make certain it’s effectively sufficient secured that tugging by Tigger received’t topple it.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle; permit soil to dry out some between waterings in summer time, maintain it drier in winter. Use balanced plant meals a number of occasions in spring and summer time.
13. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
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Prayer plant is called for its behavior of folding its oval, brightly patterned leaves for its nighttime “now I lay me down to sleep.” The foliage typically boasts pink veins and a lighter inexperienced herringbone sample at their middle. The plant finally can develop to a few foot tall. This unhazardous species wouldn’t dream of harming your kitty cat.
Plant Care: Moderate, oblique gentle; moist soil. Use balanced indoor plant fertilizer a number of occasions in spring and summer time.
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Granted, a cat may knock this fern over pondering an animal is hiding underneath it. But kitty will quickly uncover that these furry “feet” beneath the fronds are simply rhizomes. The plant is typically referred to as “deer’s foot fern” or “squirrel’s foot fern,” based on species. At any fee, none of these ft or their fronds are toxic.
Plant Care: Moderate, oblique gentle; prefers moist soil that dries barely earlier than it receives its subsequent watering. Use balanced plant meals at half power each 2 to three weeks in spring and summer time.
15. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
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Among the hanging houseplants which might be protected for cats is the ubiquitous spider plant with its arching, normally variegated “legs” and dangling spiderlings. Hang it excessive in order that the cat isn’t tempted to bat on the pirouetting plantlets. Although this species can also be typically talked about as one of many air-purifying houseplants protected for cats, the idea that houseplants clear air has largely been discredited by the invention that correct air flow does that higher—and far sooner!
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle; permit soil to dry between waterings. Feed balanced plant meals each few months.
RELATED: The Best Houseplants for Every Shade of Green Thumb
16. Wax Plant (Hoya spp.)
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This plant vines to three ft or extra with succulent leaves and waxes eloquent with spring or summer time balls of long-lasting, lustrous-looking flowers. Keep in thoughts that some species usually tend to produce blooms if saved cool throughout winter, however not at or beneath 50 levels Fahrenheit. You received’t need your kitty enjoying with these balls, however neither they nor the foliage are poisonous.
Plant Care: Bright, oblique gentle; maintain soil moist in spring and summer time, drier in winter. Feed balanced plant meals as soon as a month throughout spring and summer time.
