Adding houseplants to your apartment can not only make it more pleasing and attractive, but there are also health benefits for you, your children, and your pets! Houseplants can help regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, purify the air of certain pollutants, and increase humidity. Plants can even reduce the amount of dust in the air in your apartment. The green light waves seen through your eyes can also help trigger pain-reducing parts of your brain, reducing inflammation in the body and helping you to feel better.
Plants can also be troublesome for children and pets, posing risks when eaten. It can be hard to keep our curious furry friends from taking an interest in the plants we place around our apartment, but you can help protect your children and pets by choosing plants that are safe and non-toxic. Below are a few of our favorite choices to help refresh your apartment while keeping your loved ones safe.
Air Plants
Soil is unnecessary for these pet-friendly, low-maintenance houseplants – often they can be kept in a mostly enclosed glass container that keeps them safe from pets (and creates a lovely decorative feature). Most air plants grow no larger than 12 inches, thriving in bright, indirect light with a quick soak in water weekly.
African Violet
These pretty plants are able to bloom in low light and enjoy the same moderate temperatures and average humidity found in most apartments. An east-facing window and a little plant food will allow them to bloom year-round.
Areca Palm
Areca palms are pet-friendly, low-maintenance houseplants that are perfect for beginners. The pretty tropical trees enjoy bright, indirect light, but can also tolerate low light. When the top inch of soil is dry, water the plant thoroughly, and your palm could grow to eight feet (although four feet is more common).
Spider Plant
You may have seen a spider plant in your grandma’s house or may have been gifted one by a friend. This eternally popular plant makes a lovely hanging decoration and is safe for curious pets and children. The “babies” that hang off the growing vines can be planted to create new plants, giving you a wonderful source for quick gifts.
Venus Fly Trap
This fun and interesting plant is perfectly safe for pets and children, and can eradicate any stray flies in your apartment! Fertilizer and distilled water will keep these plants happy and healthy, but the occasional fly that wanders into your apartment makes for a special treat (and an interesting show).
Calathea
Calathea spp. plants are also often called zebra plants or peacock plants. Large tropical leaves with fascinating stripes or stippling add delightful accents to your apartment décor, and work perfectly in less sunny spots in your apartment – too much light can damage and bleach the plants.
Orchid
If you always forget to water your house plants and crave some extra color during the winter months, orchids are an excellent answer to your houseplant woes. These pretty plants usually flower during the winter months when the days are short, and they require very little watering.
Bromeliad
Easy to maintain and pet-safe, the bromeliad needs only a bright window and an occasional misting for humidity. Bromeliads will grow without soil by attaching to a log, making them an attractive option for pets that like to dig in potting soil.
Always be careful when introducing a new plant into your home or apartment. If you are not sure about a plant’s safety, try hanging it or keeping it out of your pet’s reach. You can also check to see if the plant is poisonous on the House Plant Expert site by clicking here.
If you are afraid your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant, please visit the ASPCA Poison Control Center or call their hotline at 888-426-4435 immediately. If your child has eaten a poisonous plant, you should visit the American Association of Poison Control Centers or call 800-222-1222.
These simple, pretty plants will make your apartment healthier and more attractive without adding to your worries. Start adding a little green today!
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