By Christmas is a special season for everyone, even for pets. While we understand the excitement that the holidays can bring, do not forget to protect your fur babies from potential hazards.
If you’re a gardener who also happens to be a fur parent to dogs or cats, it must be a priority to create a safe environment for everyone in the house, including your pets.
Make sure to get plants that aren’t harmful to your fur babies, or at the very least, keep poisonous plants out of their reach.
Here are pet-friendly indoor plants to keep your pets safe and healthy while also helping you enjoy a worry-free holiday.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis Blume)
The moth orchid is a non-toxic plant that belongs to the Orchidaceae family.
It is a perennial that blooms once a year for a few months. Its flowers come in various colors like red, salmon orange, pink, purple, white, and sometimes, black.
This house plant thrives in an area with medium to bright indirect light. It only needs watering every 10 to 14 days, or when the bark or moss already feels dry.
Trim the flower spike above the second node from the base of the plant once all the flowers have fallen off.
With appropriate care, your orchid will bloom again the following year.
Pinstripe Calathea (Calathea ornata)
Photo by Amelia Cui from Pexels.
This plant, which has vibrant pink stripes on its leaves, is also a good choice for the holidays. It can be a beautiful addition to your living area without requiring a lot of maintenance.
It loves medium to bright indirect light and demands water every one to two weeks. This houseplant can reach a height of three feet tall when given the right care.
Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
With its dotted leaves, this plant surely stands out from the rest. Make sure to give this plant plenty of indirect light and keep the soil moist.
If you want to give terrarium gardening a try, polka dot plants are also a good choice because they thrive in high humidity.
These three plants are safe for pets in case they nibble on or play with them. If you have toxic plants in your garden, regularly keep an eye on them to be sure that they aren’t being chewed on by your pets.
If your pets have swallowed deadly plants or are showing signs of plant poisoning (weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling) bring them to the nearest veterinarian immediately for thorough diagnosis and treatment.
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