Hi, it's me again, Juneau, the Chief Feline of ModernTurtle.com! As most hoomans know, us cats love getting ourselves into trouble. We love to poke around in places we're not supposed to and sometimes, we munch on things that we definitely shouldn't! Carly, who's the Social Media Manager and my personal servant, likes to grow these green things around the home and the ones below are those we have at home. They may still cause me an upset stomach and some vomiting, and a few have leaves that are darn sharp, but are at least non-toxic. They're also quite easy to grow I think, since Carly has a terrible green thumb, but none of them has died yet!
1. Spider plant
Credit: Susan Wilkinson
Spider plants originated from South Africa and are easy to grow. They prefer temperatures of between 55 and 80 °F, making them ideal houseplants. Place them in bright to moderate indirect sunlight, and never in direct, hot sunlight. That's the opposite of me, who'll make a beeline for the only sunny spot in the living room!
In terms of watering, spider plants are like Goldilocks – they don't like to be too wet or too dry. Keep the soil evenly moistened and it'll be just right.
2. Orchid
Credit: NJ L
Carly must love orchids, because she has a bunch of them around the house. I'll have to trust her when she says they're really pretty, because well, my color vision's kind of limited so they all look the same to me. Orchids also prefer indirect sunlight, and south and east-facing windows are best, while west-facing windows can be too hot in the afternoon. The north-facing ones are particularly not great for orchids as they're usually too dark, and insufficient light is the most common cause of orchids failing to re-bloom.
Careful when watering. I love having fresh water all the time, but orchids are killed by incorrect watering more than from any other cause. Orchids should be watered just when they've dried out.
3. Ponytail palm
Credit: Steph Wilson
This one's my favorite! I still remember the time I gave it a nice "haircut" and Carly didn't realize it until 2 days later. I didn't know that hoomans can let out such a long "Oh noooooooooo!" But do you know that a ponytail palm tree is neither a palm nor a tree? It's actually a succulent. And of course, it got its ponytail name from those lovely tendrils floating down just waiting to be munched on by yours truly!
Because ponytail palms are actually succulents, definitely let them dry out significantly between waterings. Sometimes loving them too much can be a bad thing! They prefer lots of bright, indirect light so placing them by a window is best (I have to say, Carly's smart enough to leave my favorite window alone!).
4. African violet
Credit: Sunny Nguyen
African violets grow best when you're able to mimic the same conditions they get in their original habitat: humidity, damp soil, and lots of bright, indirect light. Never give them direct sun! Carly got a really bad sunburn once when she missed putting sunscreen on one of her shoulders. Yup, the same thing's gonna happen to your poor African violets if you do that. They'll literally scorch and burn.
Watering tip – always water them from the bottom up! Set the pots in a deep dish, fill the dish with water, and just patiently wait for the soil to soak up the water from the drainage holes on the bottom. Once the soil becomes fully moist, discard any excess water.
5. Boston fern
Credit: Unknown Wong
I think the Boston fern is a lot like me. I love routine, and I get grumpy when Carly changes things up. Like honestly, this sleeping-in thing on the weekends is totally overrated, and no, the fact that I get to sleep whenever and wherever I want is so not relevant. Boston ferns also love stable growing conditions, and may be quickly damaged by any fluctuations in care.
Boston ferns do best when provided with bright, indirect light. Their soil needs to be slightly moist, but be careful of overwatering. Too much water will cause the roots to rot. Boston ferns also thrive in humidity levels about 80%. Don't live in a humid area? No problem, misting your plant with water would help mimic those conditions.
Now, just because plants are non-toxic doesn't mean Carly is happy with me munching on them. So she grows cat grass for me, which I have to admit, is quite effective at keeping me away from her plants. Why would I want to go through all the trouble of sneaking a bite of her plants when she grows a nice, full tray of cat grass just for me?
If you want a more extensive list of plants that are toxic and non-toxic to us cats, check out this info from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). I've also included a list for dogs. One of Carly's friends had a dog who ate a pair of underwear once. Well, if dogs would eat THAT, then nothing's safe from them!
Source:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
Products You May Like
