We need two houseplants. One tall (3 ft. and the other plant stand size,about 12" to 14"). We have a cat, so we need something that is not toxic to pets. She is well behaved, and probably wouldn't nosh on a indoor plant, but we just don't want to take any chances.We are not picky as to foliage, nor to color. I have so little experience with houseplants that I'd really appreciate any suggestions. Thank heavens for a source I can go to and rely on!
I asked my daughter - She is a houseplant collector and Cat Mommy. She suggested an Areca or Parlor palm for the tall one, and a Money Tree for the smaller one. She also said " They could do a dwarf banana if they really want to get wild"
Ah, I should have mentioned the sunlight exposure. The windows are south facing, but there is an overhang roof, so the exposure is direct sunlight from about 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Does your daughter (and I love the term "Cat Mommy") think a fern would do for the smaller one?
She said they are cat safe, but most require special care in dry climates. Daily misting/spraying - sometimes more than once a day, and they are not tolerant of drying out. If they aren't misted or kept evenly moist they will get burnt tips, which will start to fall ( she said very messy when this happens).
You will find that the horticultural trade are so linked to other branches of natural history etc. A wide range of plants are OK where pets are concerned. Your main concern rests with the points Melody has mentioned.
Lovely daughter says that a "Rabbit Foot Fern" may work if you have a dry climate. But to note that it is slow growing. " it is used in some more arid environments and doesn't like water on it's leaves. It should still hold up good."
What about a clivia? They get to be about 3 feet, maybe a little less & have orange flowers once or twice a year. Very low maintenance. They even survive living in offices. I don't know if they are toxic to cats. Oops. I just googled clivias. Unfortunately they are toxic to cats. I should have Googled it first. Okay, how about a bromeliad? Just googled it, not toxic. (Although if it were my cat, I'd check with an expert to be sure). If you put it outdoors in the summer in the shade, it will reward you with beautiful colorful foliage when you bring it indoors. Keep in mind, this plant (below) has been indoors since September.... the reddish-maroon foliage has faded. Very very easy to care for. Mine is about a foot to 16" high. Foliage is naturally shiny with no effort on my part. I hose it down in the tub maybe once a year, and of course it gets rained on when it's outside in the summer. Very easy care.
Just a friendly note. Practically all plants are toxic to a degree, some so much as being poisonous. Animals have the ability to identify quickly. Interesting fact. Rhubarb. The stems are edible whereas the leaves are a NO-GO. Mind you, the leaves are good pot cleaners
Thank you all for your suggestions, and please keep them coming! I have a list of "possibles" to look for at the nursery, and will add to the list, according to your recommendations.
Livistonia rotundiflora Dracena fragrans Dracena marginata Schefflera Monstera deliciosa (large leaf variety) Kentia (Howea) belmoreana These are some that I have had and have presently.
Sjoerd, thank you for posting that list, and for posting the botanical name. I looked them up in my Botanica to get the common names. Most of the nursery people around here don't speak botanic! That is an impressive list. Between Melody's daughter and you my house may become green!
Chuckle. Jane you say the nicest things. I just used the Latin names because I thought that your common names may be different than mine. With the Latin names, ID will always be certain. I hope that you can discover something that you and your man like. There are more, but I did not want to flood you with a tsunami of possibilities. I have had so many different ones over the years— trees, bushy ones, tall, short, climbing and blooming. You know, I do not know a lot about house plants, but I cannot be without them. My Bride likes them, but does not want too many, as she likes a more minimalistic inside style. I do not know what we are going to do with all the souvenirs from our travels. They are now on display inside two large boxes. She likes the feeling of space, and so do I…so for now they are hidden memories.
Schefflera is toxic to cats. I had a large one but gave it away when I my granddaughter chose her cat. She loves to chew on plants! she never chewed on it, but the poor spider plant takes the brunt. I got rid of the scheffera, just in case. I have since acquired a bird cage. I put the small toxic ones in it and she can't get to them. It's tall enough that I'm trying to think of a way to put a second level across and maybe put African violets on the second layer. There aren't many plants in it now because most of them are at work in my classroom.
