Your house plants should bring you joy and peace, not cause a scary trip to the emergency vet. With a curious or mischievous dog in the house, you can't risk leaving them alone with access to anything potentially dangerous, including toxic house plants. Try bringing home some of these dog-safe, low-maintenance plants. Less time fussing over plants means more time for belly scratches.
1. Air Plants
Just as their name implies, air plants flourish without soil. They're easy to care for as long as they get enough light and aren't exposed to extreme temperatures. Plus, they can be hung from the ceiling, keeping them entirely out of reach of most dogs.
2. Spider Plants
Spider plants are a common house plant because they're so easy to maintain. In fact, this variety of potted plant is tough to kill, as long as you remember to water it every so often. If your dog takes an interest in the spider plant too, it shouldn't be a problem; this variety is non-toxic to dogs.
3. African Violets
With flowers that bloom year-round, an African violet is the perfect way to add just a little punch of purple to your home. This flowering plant is safe around dogs but can be a little finicky to care for. Water shouldn't touch the leaves, so it has to be handled carefully.
4. Boston Fern
There's something about a big, gently waving fern that just makes a cold space feel homey. A Boston fern is a good choice for a home that includes a dog. And, because the Boston fern is suited to hanging in a basket instead of being planted in a pot, it's ideal for an owner whose dog insists on nibbling everything in sight. Just hang it up out of reach.
5. Blue Echeveria
If you're not interested in caring for a high-maintenance plant, it makes sense to look at succulents. They're so easy to care for that they actually do best when they're basically left alone. But because some varieties are toxic to dogs, it's essential to do some research before bringing one home. Echeveria is one variety that's safe around pups.
6. Christmas Cactus
Like the Echeveria succulent, the Christmas cactus doesn't need much water to thrive. That's good news for plant owners who are always forgetting to water them. Safe for pets and adorned with pink or red flowers, the Christmas cactus can brighten your space all year.
7. Bromeliads
With their brightly colored blooms, bromeliads are an attention grabber. They're native to tropical climates, so they tend to do best in humid environments. These plants are just slightly harder to care for than some starter plants, but their striking appearance makes the effort worthwhile.
8. Friendship Plants
Friendship plants can be easily grown from cuttings, so it's easy to share a piece of one plant with a friend. That means that you'll always have a last-minute housewarming gift ready to go — just cut off a portion of your friendship plant and pass it on, along with a nice new pot. Most importantly, this plant won't hurt your best furry friend.
9. Watermelon Plants
It's easy to understand where the name came from, when you examine the green-and-white speckled leaves of the watermelon plant. The plant itself originated in tropical areas, so this is another house plant that does best in humid places. How well this dog-safe plant will flourish depends largely on the environment in your home.
10. Ponytail Palms
With its thin trunk and curly leaves, the ponytail palm might resemble certain dogs' bushy tails. That's only one reason to like this household staple. The ponytail palm is one of those house plants that can flourish for years with very little help from you. Assuming your pup doesn't knock the whole thing over, of course.
