If you own a pet, you know, just like kids, you have to make lifestyle choices that do not adversely affect your pets, or on the other hand, that could get you deep into a tangle of paying for damages that your pets might have caused.
But today is not about the naughty things our pets’ do that could send us spiraling into splurging on repairs and maintenance. Instead, today we are talking about keeping your indoor pets safe even as you look to keep your indoor environment clean and healthy.
One way to get and maintain clean indoor air is by investing in safe air purifying indoor plants that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis and naturally remove toxic organic air pollutants.
While such plants are ideal for this purpose, they may be harmful to humans or pets when digested, touched, and otherwise. If you are a cat or dog parent (or parent to any other pet), this article is for you. Keep reading to now the air purifying plants liked by cats and other pets.
Why air-purifying plants?
Just as the name suggests, air purifying plants purify the air and are great for this purpose because they are a natural option, unlike chemical air diffusers. Plants are also known to be good stress and fatigue relief, increase mood and productivity, control humidity, give a general cooling ambiance, and reduce sound levels and a lot more.
Now, to the list of plants you can trust to keep safe your pets and also purify your air:
Types of pet-friendly air-purifying plants
The following plants are pet-friendly plants that you should get if you want to purify your indoor air while resting assured of your pets’ safety.
NASA conducted a study that identified the plants on this list as holding both characteristics. So while some of these plants are plants liked by cats, they are also great for just about any pet.
In no particular order:
- Boston Fern
Similar to the Sword Fern due to their shared lookalike green fronds, the Boston Fern, also called Nephrolepis Exaltata, is a great indoor air purifying plant friendly to cats. The Boston Fern enjoys low indirect light as high direct light like the midday sunlight could break the fronds. It is also ideal for removing indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene and has zero toxic effects on cats.
- Bamboo Palm
Next on the list is the delicate and elegant Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii). Quite the study plant, the Bamboo Palm is a low maintenance plant breed that grows as tall as 6 meters, making them a good sport for providing shade for your dogs and cats. In addition, they like bright but indirect sunlight and do better with moist soil. Finally, they are known to rid the air of benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
- Areca Palms
Known scientifically as Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens, the Areca Palm is a small plant from Madagascar that thrives under bright filtered light. With pretty arching leaves, they not only purify the air but also make great décor plants. Be sure to water the Areca Palm a lot while they grow, as they are known to be thirsty plants. They clear the air of benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene, trichloroethylene, and more.
- Spider Plant
Also called Chlorophytum Comosum, spider ivy or ribbon plant is native to tropical and southern Africa. The Spider Plant eliminates formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene and thrives well indoors under bright indirect light, as direct sunlight is known to scorch the leaves. They are easy to grow and will sit fine anywhere – from a hanging position or static on the tabletop.
Takeaway
There you have it! Four great indoor plants guaranteed to give your space clean air and become harmless playthings to your pets. To be satisfactorily sure about the toxicity or otherwise of the plant to your pet, you should get a second opinion by clarifying from your Vet and local greenhouse expert or visiting ASPCA for the list of toxic and non-toxic plants pets.