Pet-frienly (and not) Houseplants 😺 The Gardener's Center • Darien, CT

Pet-Friendly (and Not) Houseplants

Houseplants

If you have or want to add houseplants to your home, but you’re thinking about adopting a new dog or you already have a very curious cat, Joy, our houseplant guru here at The Gardener’s Center, wants to share which popular houseplants are pet friendly. And which ones are not.

By the way, this list is confirmed on the ASPCA website, so we’re all on the same page.

Pet-Friendly Plants

The Calathea family is all pet friendly. And don’t you love the beautiful variegation on those leaves?
Maranta, a Calathea cousin, also known as a prayer plant is pet friendly.
Ponytail Palms are pet friendly. In fact, the kitties at The Gardener’s Center have been known to chew some of the leaves… But don’t tell anyone!
Hoyas—which are flowering plants—are pet friendly.
Spider plants with all their babies are pet friendly as well.
Cast Iron plants — also pet-friendly.

Not-So-Pet-Friendly Plants

Sago Palm… It’s one of the most non-friendly for pets. While it’s beautiful, your fur babies won’t be happy if they chew on it.
Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily
Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane
Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen
Pothos or Devil’s Ivy
Sansevieria or Snake Plant

What Happens if Your Pet Chews on a Non-Friendly Plant?

While reactions vary with the plants, things to watch for include vomiting, salivating and diarrhea.

The best advice is that if you see your dog or cat chewing on a plant, make a quick call to your pet’s veterinarian or the 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 just to be on the safe side.

AND many plants aren’t just unfriendly to pets, they’re unfriendly to humans, so don’t let your kids chew on these plants either!

If you want to see a more extensive list of toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs, cats and horses, check out the ASPCA website.

Let’s keep all our family members and friends—furry or not—safe, happy and healthy!

Joy’s always happy to help you find a houseplant that works well for the people—and the animals—who hang out at your place.

If you want to know more about the plants that are pet friendly and those that aren’t, come on it and chat with the gurus at The Gardener’s Center!

All
Houseplants
Outdoor Plants & Growing
Fall-Interest Plants
Lawn, Garden & Plant Care
Winter Care

Preparing Vegetable Garden Beds for Winter and Next Spring

Preparing Your Vegetable Garden Beds for Winter and Next Spring

It’s mid-November and finally time to say goodbye to vegetable and produce production from our zone 7a gardens. And just as you prepped your garden bed to give your plants the best conditions to thrive and produce, you should also properly prepare your vegetable bed for the winter months.

Expert pruning tips for your perennial hydrangea paniculata

Thanksgiving Time is Pruning Time for Your Hydrangea Paniculata

Sean’s observation is that people have a tendency to NOT touch these in the fall, right when they should. Sean says NOW is the time to prune them. Why? Unlike the mopheads, the Paniculatas only flower on new growth. So the more you prune them back, the more growth you’re going to stimulate.

Keeping Your Containers “Happy and Healthy” Over the Winter

Sean, the horticulture guru at The Gardener's Center in Darien, CT, talks about which pots can take the winter elements and which pots need to be brought in or protected. He also has advice on HOW to protect them. He puts plant pots into four groups: terracotta, cast stone/concrete, fiber glass/lichen fiber and finally, plastic.

How to Protect Deer from Eating Your Evergreens

Let’s Talk Protecting Your Evergreen Plants From Deer Browsing

Three late-blooming native perennials we’re focusing on here are members of the asteraceae—or aster—family. These are all native to a good part of North America, east of the Mississippi River, from Maine down to the Gulf Coast. They're also faves of all of here at The Gardener's Center.