If you like plants but also love your pets, it doesn’t have to be an either or situation. In fact, there are many pet friendly plants that thrive in a range of temperature and light conditions.
African Violet
This luscious plant thrives in indirect sunlight, such as the lighting in an open kitchen. It doesn’t, however, care for drafty areas so set it away from vents and windows. African violets bloom year-round with regular fertilizer and temperatures between 70 degrees and 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Baby’s Tears
The leggy stems of baby’s tears indeed make the petite leaves appear to drip over the container sides. And don’t worry if a curious pet knocks a few leaves off — with filtered light, moist soil, and temperatures between 70 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, baby’s tears should rebound quickly.
Banana
The banana plant — it’s not really a tree — is a common houseplant among pet-parents looking for a statement piece. Its large, almost mesmerizing leaves soak up bright light while the roots and rest of the plant enjoy a rich soil mixture and regular watering.
Spider Plant
Some types of vintage decor never really go away, and the same is true about the stalwart spider plant. It’s also called an airplane or ribbon plant and tolerates a range of light, soil, and watering conditions. The spider plant is known as an air purifier, so they’ll help improve your indoor air quality.
Venus Fly Trap
Low maintenance, pet friendly, and feeds itself? That’s the Venus fly trap! This plant adores direct sunlight, preferring at least four hours per day, and thrives with distilled water. While being outdoors would be optimal for it to catch passing flies, anywhere flies or tiny insects congregate would work.
Areca Palm
The areca palm adds a touch of the tropics to any home, without harming your furry friends. This palm is on the hearty side, doing best in a room with bright natural light and letting the soil dry out before watering again.
Boston Fern
The Boston fern has been a bathroom staple for years thanks to its love of high humidity and indirect light. This leafy plant does need all-purpose plant food every two months, but has been known to live for years with proper care.
Calathea
Also called the rattlesnake plant thanks to its leaf markings that resemble the snake’s rattle rings, the striking calathea adds texture to any room. But make sure the room is on the shady side as too much light causes the stunning colors to fade. Give your plant a spritz of water when the leaves appear dry and plant in loose soil for quicker draining.
Peperomia
Each variety in this family stands out among other plants thanks to its engaging and fun leaves. The Peperomia is an easy going plant. It prefers indirect light, water when the top two inches of soil is dry, and ambient air temperatures between 65 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Orchid
Orchids have a bit of a bad reputation as a finicky plant, but they’re more forgiving than people realize. Their lovely blooms add bursts of color during the cold and dreary winter as the orchid does best in partial light.
Mosaic Plant
Native to Central and South American rainforests, the mosaic, or nerve, plant features pink or white veining on its deep green leaves. The pattern and color contrast make this potted plant stand out, but in time, it begins to trail out. Mosaic plants prefer moist but well-drained soil in partial sun locations.
Bromeliad
While bromeliads look fancy and would only thrive under exact care, they usually do quite well in the average household. Bromeliads are epiphytes and slowly grow with or without soil, such as by attaching its roots to a tree or branch. This could be a great option if you have pets who enjoy digging in soil because there wouldn’t be any!
Ponytail Palm
If you too enjoy batting at the flowing fronds of a ponytail palm like your pet, we don’t tell anyone! With bright light and water only when the soil is dry, it is the perfect size for an office desk or side table.
Royal Velvet Plant
If you want a pet friendly plant that lights up a room in its own way, a royal velvet plant is the way to go. Its leaves have a velvet texture thanks to the hundreds of small hairs on each, and each one is accented by an iridescent shimmer when the light reflects off the hairs. A royal velvet plant does need a light hand when it comes to watering — only water when the soil is completely dry to avoid root rot.
Echeveria
A type of fast growing succulent, echeveria has the appearance of a flower thanks to its portly leaves, rosette shape, and range of colors. If you travel or are away from home often, don’t worry about this plant. It loves bright light in dry environments; but, don’t overwater as echeveria is susceptible to root rot and other fungal diseases.
With a little research and planning, pets and plants go together in any household. Keep the atmosphere comfortable for both with an HVAC maintenance tune-up. Contact the HVAC pros at ASI today.
