Pet-Friendly Plants for Your Home

If there’s one thing I will never not love, it’s pets. Give me your fluffy, awkward puppies and your wide-eyed kittens all day! 

If you’re a plant lover like me but have a pet who likes to explore (and maybe munch on) their surroundings, you might wonder if having a furry or feathered friend means giving up on living that #lushlife with houseplants.

I’m here to tell you, au contraire! There are plenty of pet-safe options when it comes to tropical houseplants, and we’ll cover a few of them today. If you’d like to learn more, stop in to see me at the shop or send us a message on Instagram!

Five Pet Safe Plants

Watermelon Peperomia

All peperomia plants are pet safe and there are over 1,500 varieties, so you have plenty to choose from! At Bark & Vine, we love the Watermelon Peperomia. It’s silver stripes on a saturated green leaf are reminiscent of your favorite summer melon, and they’re great for your table or desk as they are more compact and can be pruned to stay a certain size.

Moderate to bright, indirect light and a thorough watering when the soil is halfway dry will keep your peperomia looking its best. If you see curling or drooping leaves, your plant is telling you it’s thirsty. Give it a drink and it should perk right back up. Fun fact: you can propagate peperomias by cutting or leaf; stop in or call to ask us how!

Red Maranta

You know it by its common name... The prayer plant is coveted for its slow, graceful movements, spreading out during the day and folding up at night. Plus, it has a striking leaf pattern that adds dimension and interest to any plant collection. Marantas come from the same family as Calatheas, Ctenanthes, and Stromanthes, so you'll often find these grouped together in the store. 

Your maranta will tolerate lower light but would do best in moderate to bright, indirect light. Make sure it's potted in a well-draining soil mix, and water regularly when the top inch is dry. These beauties are not drought tolerant, but they don't want to be soggy either. If you notice brown crisping around the edges, try increasing the humidity or switching to distilled water.

Mother Fern

Need to fill a space in your home that gets lower light? Good news. Most ferns are pet safe and will do fine in lower lighting conditions. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on the Mother Fern. In nature, they grow best in partial to full shade, so your lower light space should be a great fit for this plant.

Ferns are water guzzlers, so be sure to check the soil of your fern regularly and water before the top inch dries. Sagging fronds are a sure sign your plant needs a drink. If you have a humidifier, your Mother Fern would appreciate being near it.

Spider Plant

These babies were all the rage in previous decades, and as with all things, trends always come back around. The Spider Plant is an easy-to-care-for houseplant that looks striking in a macrame hanger or cascading down the side of a cabinet. And when I say easy to care for, I mean it!

Give your plant bright, indirect light (they can tolerate a little shade) and water when at least half the soil is dry. Fertilize when the plant is experiencing active growth, and feel free to propagate those small offshoots, called spiderettes, to create more plants for friends and family. Once your spider plant is happy in its new home, you’ll enjoy stunning growth for years.

Rhapis Palm

Many palms are pet safe; today we’re talking about the Rhapis Palm. You may have heard this plant referred to as a Lady Palm, which brings to mind the lyrics from Tom Jones’ iconic bop. The Rhapis palm can reach heights of over six feet indoors, which makes it a great floor plant option. Good news, this palm is easy to care for!

Give your plant moderate to bright, indirect light and water when the plant is about half dry. In the spring and summer, you may find yourself watering more frequently, waiting until the top one to two inches of soil are dry before watering again. Fertilize during the active growing period and you’ll have a gorgeous palm that serves style year after year.

Bonus Pet-Safe Plant Family!

If you’re looking for something more unique or rare than what we’ve covered above, the Hoya family has hundreds of options, all of which are pet safe. We keep a variety of Hoyas in the shop, so you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy while keeping your furry ones safe should there be a little snacking incident.

Get Your Pet-Friendly Plants This Week

Now through February 9th, come into the store and take 15% off any pet-friendly plant you see.

It’s our way of sharing the love with our pet parents! All pet-safe options will be marked with a paw print sticker, so you can be sure you’re taking something home that your fur baby will be safe with.

I can’t forget to mention that Bark & Vine is and always has been a pet-friendly establishment. Feel free to bring your leashed pet into the store next time you come in to shop. We’ll have a water bowl and treats for your pet, and you can also shop our newly added pet corner that’s full of treats, shampoos, and toys!

We’ll see you soon.