When you have a pet, you must take extra measures to ensure that your house is a safe environment for them. Pets are curious animals, and may chew or eat anything that seems appealing to them in your household.
But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the joys of having an indoor garden in the house. In fact, indoor gardens may be even more important when you have pets, as both humans and animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide all day long.
Plants take in CO2, release clean air, and they also help us keep humidity levels appropriate for our fur babies’ sensitive noses. Ready to create an indoor garden that is safe and beneficial to you and your pets? Read on to learn about pet-friendly indoor gardening!
Why Should You Have an Indoor Garden?
If you’re looking for a way to bring more green into your home, or want to add a little extra charm and character, consider setting up an indoor garden. If you’re new to maintaining plants or gardens, start by placing succulents or cacti in your home. They’ll look great, and they’re easy enough to care for that even if you have limited time on your hands. By starting with a few plants, you’ll be able to see how your pets react to an indoor garden.
An indoor garden is an excellent way to brighten up your home while also growing your own vegetables or herbs. If you live in a cold climate or have limited outdoor space, an indoor garden could be the key to growing your own food or seasonings.
Choose the Correct Plants for Your Indoor Garden
When you’re planning your indoor garden, it’s important to remember that some plants are toxic to pets or humans. You may have heard of people keeping a plant in their home that they love, only to realize later that their cat or dog has been eating it and is now sick. Luckily, there are many safe options for both humans and animals alike!
There are plenty of plants that are perfectly safe for pets and people alike—we recommend using those instead of ones you cannot be sure about. If you know your cat loves eating grass from outside but also knows not to touch certain other kinds with her paws (such as poinsettia), then try one of these:
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)
- Cactus
If you want to grow vegetables or herbs in your garden that may tempt pets to eat or chew, consider pet-proofing your garden area so that your pets are unable to reach your garden.
Pet-Proof Your Gardening Area
One of the best ways to make sure your garden is pet-friendly is to keep your plants and soil away from pets. This can be done by using a screen or fencing, but even if you don’t want to invest in this option, you can still use other methods for keeping them out of your indoor garden.
If you have cats, it’s always best to have a clean, spacious litter box that they can use inside so that they don’t wander around the house looking for places to go. They may be tempted to go near plants since it reminds them of the outdoors.
If you do want to put up a fence around your indoor gardening area, there are plenty of options available at home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. You’re going to need something solid enough that it won’t break easily when pushed against by animals or small children—so consider metal mesh rather than chicken wire!
It should also be tall enough so that agile pets such as cats won’t be tempted to climb on the fencing.
Plants That Are Unsafe for Pets
You should avoid planting any of these plants in your home or office if you have pets:
- Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)
- Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum)
- Cymbidium Orchids (Cymbidium)
- Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis)
- Philodendrons (Philodendron spp.)
Keep Toxic Plants Out of Reach from Pets
When you’re building an indoor garden, it’s important to keep toxic plants out of reach from pets. Cats are more likely to nibble on the leaves of certain household plants than dogs are, so be especially cautious if your cat is a plant napper.
Even if your cat isn’t into eating houseplants, he or she may still ingest them by accident: cats have an easier time getting into tight places that dogs can’t access and they’re more likely to stick their noses into things they shouldn’t (like trash cans).
If your cat does eat something toxic, don’t panic! Symptoms will usually show up in under 24 hours and include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling or excessive salivation. In most cases, cats may eat toxic plants without any negative effects at all besides temporary discomfort or mild illness (vomiting), as long as they consume a very small amount, it should not be a cause for concern.
However, if these symptoms persist for more than 48 hours after ingestion or worsen significantly during that time frame (your cat starts showing signs of lethargy/lethargy), then you should contact your vet immediately since these could be signs of poisoning from an extremely poisonous plant such as foxglove (digitalis).
How to Create a Pet-Friendly Indoor Garden
An indoor garden can be a beautiful addition to your home even if you have pets. Indoor gardens are a great way to get your kids interested in gardening, and they’re also great for people who don’t have access to outdoor space.
They’re also perfect for those of us with allergies or asthma; an indoor garden is a great way to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about pollen, dust mites, and other allergens from outside plants coming into your home.
Creating an indoor garden is a great way to bring the beauty of nature into your home. There are many creative ways to design your space that will work for you and your pets. Just make sure you choose carefully which ones fit best into your pet-friendly environment, and we promise this will be a fun project for both you and them to enjoy.
If you’re growing fresh herbs or vegetables in your home garden, download the Lil’ Broc app in order to monitor the shelf life of your fresh produce.