When it comes to our pets, like kids, we are very protective. You might have given up growing green plants in your home just to keep them safe. However, you don't have to abandon all house plants! These 5 house plants are great and safe for Fido!

5. The African Violet

African violets (Saintpaulia) are well-known, colorfully blooming plants found in many gardens, or kept as houseplants. With an array of colors including violet, blue, red, white, pink, cream, soft yellow, and bi- or multicolored flowers, it's easy to see why. Care of African violets is relatively easy and requires an environment of bright to moderate, but consistent light in an evenly moist and humid atmosphere. The African Violet is also safe for cats and dogs!

4. Christmas Cactus

Schlumbergera bridgesii or Christmas Cactus is a cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. This flower is usually available in white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple. This blooming plant is perfect for houses with cats and dogs!

3. Birds Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) plants are tropical plants native to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Very slow-growing, Asplenium nidus plants are excellent for seasoned houseplant growers. Care for Asplenium nidus plants, sometimes known as spleenwort, requires attention to watering and propagation, but does not require as much attention to fertilization and light as many other houseplants. Bird's Nest Fern plants, though care is not for the faint of heart, make beautiful additions to homes, rock gardens, and patios, in addition to being safe for your pets.

2. Parlor Palm

Parlor Palm (Chamaedora elegans) is a very popular houseplant with rich green, slightly arched and slender leaves. Parlor Palm plants are often passed from generation to generation as they are very slow-growing and live actively for many years. This pet-friendly house plant ranges from a few inches to three feet, making Parlor Palm plants ideal for tabletop decorations, terrariums, and other small spaces inside a house. Care for Parlor Palm plants is moderately easy; they require an evenly moist environment with moderate humidity.

Continue reading "Top 5 Houseplants For Fido (Safe For Pets)" »

Ask The Plant Expert:

What houseplant is good to order this time of the year in West Point NY? I also need something not poisonous to babies and cats. -Cassandra

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

If you want a blooming plant, I would recommend the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) or Bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata major), which are both very safe for pets and children.

Christmas Cactus

Bromeliad

If you want a nice green plant, I would recommend a Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans).

Continue reading "What's A Good Houseplant To Order Now In West Point, NY?" »

Ask the Expert: Is Lucky Bamboo poisonous to cats?
Have received a Lucky Bamboo plant, need to know if it will make my cats sick—since they believe plants are there to be eaten. Dallas

Plant Expert Reply:

According to the ASPCA Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo or ribbon plant) can be harmful to cats.  If ingested, it causes dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart-rate and drooling.  Cats who ingest lucky bamboo will show signs of depression, no appetite, drooling, vomiting, incoordination and weakness.  If you think your cat has ingested lucky bamboo, call your veterinarian for recommendations on how to handle the toxin.

This lucky bamboo question was sponsored by local flower shops across the United States and Canada.

Pets And Houseplants – Achieving Compatibility

If you share your home with dogs or cats, keeping them safe and happy is often your primary concern. At the same time, having interior foliage really makes a house a home. Many houseplants actually improve air quality and create a healthy environment for you.

Although houseplants are pretty and help improve your life, they can sometimes pose a serious issue for your beloved pets. According of the Humane Society of the US there are 700 identified plants that have "toxic" qualities that can cause harmful side effects in animals. Does this mean you have to chose between living with your beloved pet or an awesome houseplant? NO! It doesn't. By taking certain steps and knowing which houseplants are dangerous to your cat or dog, you can create a pet safe home that includes beautiful foliage.

Keeping Your Pets and Your Houseplants

Before you throw out all your houseplants for the sake of your kitten or puppy, take time to consider whether you're dog or cat can live with your plants. Some dogs and cats never touch houseplants while others can't leave them alone. You can still enjoy these plants, even ones potentially "toxic" to pets.

You can protect your pet by taking a few preventative steps. Place plants on stands or hang them out of your dog's reach. This can work with cats as well. However with cats, the plant must be placed so that your kitty can't climb up to or jump on to the hanging plant. Otherwise, all questionable plants will need to be placed in a room unavailable to the cat.

If you receive a new plant as a gift, take time to see if your pet is even interested in it. Most cats and dogs simply ignore houseplants and leave them alone. Kittens and puppies are a bit different. They are extremely curious and will chew or play with just about anything. If you have a puppy take time to train them to leave the houseplants alone. Spritzing them with water when they get near the plant is usually a sufficient deterrent. With kittens it's a bit harder to train them; you may have to put the plants out of the kittens reach.

If you're still leery about exposing your pet to houseplants, select Continue reading "Dogs, Cats, Houseplants: Living Happily Together" »

Ask The Expert: My Sons dog ate all the leaves off my peace lily. Please tell me this plant
isn't toxic and his dog will be ok. Thanks, Gina

Reply:
Peace lilies are on the toxic list for dogs. However, it depends on how much he ingests. Peace will cause the following symptoms: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. If the dogs develops beathing problems, excessive drooling and/or difficulty swallowing call your vet. The dog may need something to counteract the insoluble calcium oxalates from the peace lily.

Please keep me posted on your dog. I have 2 dogs myself and will worry until I know how yours is.

Ask the Expert: what are the names of plants and flowers that are poisonous.
I work as a floral designer and I am asked all the time what plants and flowers are poison to animals and humans. Kelly

Reply:

Kelly,

First I want to clarify the difference between "poisonous as in deadly" and "poisonous as an irritant". Many plants listed as poisonous are not deadly or really toxic, but rather cause an irritation to the mouth, stomach, skin or respiratory system. Why is this important? Because the classification of plants being poisonous is matter of interpretation and myths. For example, poinsettias are considered poisonous which is not all together true. There is no documented case where someone has died from ingesting a poinsettia. Secondly, the amount one a would have to ingest in order to accumulate the toxin level for death would be immense. However, poinsettias can cause great irritation to the skin or mouth.

When we discuss poisonous houseplants, we should take the approach that the American Animal Hospital Association takes on its Healthypet.com site with regards to its guide to toxic plants and foods. They state, "If you have these plants or foods, you need not dispose of them-just keep them away from pets and children." Of course, plants that are deadly may not need to be in the home of small children or young pets. However, plants that can cause irritation or stomach upset may only need to be placed somewhere pets and children can't reach them.

Here is a quick top 10 guide to plant toxicity for florists (note there may be plants that are carried by florists that are not listed. In these cases you will have to research that specific plant or email me and I will find out and add it to the list).

Houseplants with High Poison Plant Classification

Dwarf Schefflera

Green Schefflera

Variegated Dwf Schefflera

Dumb Cane

Kalanchoe

Cyclamen

Heartleaf Philodendron

Tree Philodendron

Red Princess Phildendron

Hydrangea

According to many sources these ten houseplants are highly toxic to dogs, cats or children. The toxicity resides in ingesting the plants. So it is important to keep these away from dogs, cats or children who might chew on them. They are all wonderful plants and should not be excluded from our lives as long as we keep them under appropriate supervision.

Flowers that are considered highly poisonous are: Foxglove (Digitalis), Amaryllis bulb, Bleeding heart, Lily-of-the-valley, Delphinium, Larkspur, Monkshood, Anthurium, lilies and Calla lily. Many times with flowers it is the bulb from which they come that is toxic if eaten by a dog or a cat.

There are other houseplants and flowers that are considered a mild or moderate risk. Although not a complete list by any means, this is a short break down of plants or flowers that cause a mild or moderate irritation or toxicity in dogs, cats or children:

Peace lily, Chinese evergreen, Benjamin fig, Corn Plant, Dracaenas, Nepthytis, rubber plant, Pothos,
English Ivy, Mother-in-law tongue, Azlaea, Croton, Easter Lily, Hyacinth, Daffodils, Chrysanthemum, Bird of Paradise, iris, lupine.

You can find more information on the Healthypet.com prevent poisonings page or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Page.

Hopefully this information will help you and your customers select the appropriate houseplants and flowers for their specific situation.

I have had many of these plants and flowers in my home. Fortunately for me my puppies found that these plants were not interesting and did not taste good. I don't worry about having "poisonous" plants in my home or yard. I do make a mental note of plants that can be harmful in case my vet needs to know my dogs have been exposed to.

If you don't see a particular plant on the lists above. Contact me for a more comprehensive list.

Ask the Expert: Should I worry about Chemicals I put on my plant?
Hi I have a parlor palm it looks like from the pictures. My cavalier spaniel decided it would be good for breakfast.  I did read that they are not poisoness to dogs. But, my concern is that around 2 weeks ago I sprayed it with insecticidal soap for a white fuzzy sticky problem it has. Would that all have been soaked in and of no harm to my dog.  Just wanted to check. I put it up on a table when I spray until its dry.  Just worried because we caught her eating it and she ate quite a bit and then threw up green foam.   Thanks, Dee

Ask the Expert: is a peace lily poisonous to cats

i think my son's cat ate the tips of the leaves of my peace lily.  Emily

When I think of houseplants that are easy to care for, simple for beginners to gardening, and rather enjoyable to behold, I count Mother-in-law’s Tongue among the tally. This starter houseplant is amazing! It is tolerant of slight neglect, only needs to be watered moderately, prefers partial shade but can survive in full Arkansas sun (the proof is in the picture), and grows quickly so that I have a beautiful plant to look upon for months at a time! Thankfully, I've discovered that you can also buy Mother-In-Law's Tongue houseplants for nearly anyone because of just how simple it is to care for them!

I’ll admit it. I traded a green thumb for other talents. While I still contend that the powers that be have brilliantly gifted me with these, it does my heart no good to enjoy a home with pitiful-looking houseplants. For people like me who have had to earn our gardening merits, a really great basic is the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue houseplant. With the ability to produce beautiful white to cream-colored blooms next to the bold interweaving of light and dark green striped leaves, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue beautifully completes the décor of any home or garden.

Also known as Snake Plant or by its scientific name, Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue delivers boldly striped beauty in a very proud fashion for homes needing a subtle dash of attitude in the home décor. Unfortunately, my house is filled to the brim with this type of confident charm and our houseplants need only add casual visual appeal. The good news for me is that Mother-In-Law’s Tongue houseplants can be stylish, subtle, casual, bold, decorated creatively, or used just to add color to a bland room. The sky, rather the ceiling I suppose, is the limit with Snake Plant houseplants.

My good friend Jamie Jamison Adams of the Ask The Expert blogs has proven that Mother-In-Law’s Tongue is also a very sustainable garden plant. Even better! Arkansas heat can sometimes feel like Calcutta in July only more humid. Though typically thriving in indirect light, Jamie’s Sansevieria plant accents her garden and has bloomed nicely in full sun and a healthy dose of Arkansas heat. While Jamie is an expert plant care provider, experienced gardeners, beginning gardeners and everyone in between should feel at ease with caring for Mother-In-Law’s Tongue plants. Busy lives seem only to be getting busier. For the busiest of us all, these plants are simple and hardly time-consuming, in other words, perfect houseplants!

Buy Sansevieria For Your Garden!

Ask the Expert: Is a Peace Lily poisonous to pets.

I have one and caught my pet bitting it. Tina