Common house plants that you can have if you have cats. They are safe. How many can you identify?1/29/2025 image from plants Baby Rubber Plant image from Pinterest.com Bird's Nest Fern image from blogspot.com Boston Fern image from gardenfeast.com Burro's Tail image from gardenbeast.com Nerve Plant image from trees.com Prayer Plant image from Farmers Almanac Spider Plant image from littleprinceplants.com Zebra calathea Good morning. Temperature at 8:45 AM is at 27F(-3C) High of 47F(8C) Clear, blue sky now, but clouds are to move in today. Wind out of the NW but not as strong as yesterday when it was out of the south. Normal average temperature is 29F ( -1.6C) high, and low average of 5F ( -15C). Enjoy this warm January thaw but it will be cold again as it is Iowa in January. Stay warm, stay safe.
Australia family and friends, Jan 30th are having cooler days 75F(24C) with 80% humidity. Stay cool, stay safe Cat-Safe Plants That Grow Well In Low-Light Conditions These plants thrive indoors and don't pose a safety risk to your feline friend By Erica Puisis I have grown some of these plants so will use it as a reference when I need to identify them. I will post the rest later. Just do a few at a time. HOW MANY COULD YOU IDENTIFY? If you share your home with cats and plants, then it's important to choose only cat-safe houseplants for your indoor green space. Cats are often guilty of swatting at foliage or nibbling on leaves, which is why picking non-toxic, cat-safe plants is crucial. You don't have to give up choosing beautiful plants for their flowers or foliage just because you have curious cats. There are plenty of air-purifying plants that grow well in low-light conditions that don’t pose a threat to your cats. Whether you have space for a hanging basket, potted plants, or a plant that grows in water, there are multiple varieties of plants that could work for you. Nerve Plant Nerve plants (Fittonia albivenis) are best known for their unique foliage. The deep green leaves are covered in white or red thin, branching lines, making it an eye-catching plant that is also non-toxic to cats. Because it is a tropical plant, it likes warm temperatures and high humidity. These plants are not well-suited for direct light and will do well with medium to low-light conditions. Light: Low to medium light Water: Prefers consistently moist soil Mature Size: 3-6 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide Prayer Plant Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) have striking leaf patterns that include light green, dark green, and red shading. If you want a unique, cat-safe houseplant, this is one to put on your list for its nightly ritual—the leaves of the plant fold at night, appearing like praying hands. It is important to give prayer plants well-draining soil, as soggy soil can cause root rot and plant death. Light: Low to bright, indirect light Water: Moist; do not let dry out Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall, 6–12 in. wide Baby Rubber Plant Baby rubber plants (Peperomia obtusifolia) have thick, shiny, vibrant green leaves and round, red stems. These eye-catching plants are easy to care for and can handle inconsistent watering. Because it is a tropical plant, it enjoys medium to high humidity levels. Choose a non-variegated cultivar for a low-light houseplant. They do the best with limited light conditions. If possible, provide light early in the day. Avoid direct light, which will cause the plant to burn. Light: Low to medium light Water: Allow soil to dry out before watering Mature Size: Up to 1 ft. tall Cast Iron Plant Cast iron plants (Aspidistra elatior) make a great option as a large, low-light plant that is safe for cats. These plants can reach up to 3 feet tall, with large leaves that grow about 2 feet long. Cast iron plants need very little care and cannot tolerate being overwatered, making them the perfect option for those who tend to forget about watering. Light: Low light Water: Allow soil to dry out before watering Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide Spider Plant Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are a popular houseplant choice because of their ease of care, air purifying qualities, and their unique foliage growth. Spider plants create offshoots, or baby spider plants, that hang down from the mother plant, which makes them easy to propagate. These plants do well with some natural light but can grow in low-light conditions, just expect less prolific growth. You can also grow them in water. Light: Low light Water: Water when top of soil dries out Mature Size: 1–2 ft. tall and wide Zebra Calathea The zebra calathea (Calathea zebrina) has eye-catching foliage that is striped with bright and dark green. These plants can also be found with white or pink on their leaves. They can reach up to 3 feet tall, making a lovely statement plant in any room. While they prefer bright, indirect filtered light, they can tolerate a shady spot in your home, too. Aim to give this plant as much natural light as possible. Light: Bright, indirect, filtered light Water: Keep soil consistently moist Mature Size: 3 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide Burro’s Tail Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) is a trailing succulent plant. Each vine is covered in tiny, fleshy leaves, making each vine look like the tail of a donkey, hence the name. It is important to note that these tiny leaves can easily be knocked off the vine, therefore, it is best to keep this plant in an area where it will not be disturbed. Burro’s tail plants will grow most vigorously in bright, indirect light but these succulents can adapt to low-light conditions, too. Just expect a slightly leggier appearance as the plant grows. Light: Low, indirect light Water: Allow soil to dry out before watering Mature Size: 1-4 ft. long, 1-2 ft. wide Boston Fern Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) are famous for their cascading, textured fronds and air purifying qualities. These ferns are native to swamps and rainforests, so mimicking the warm, humid conditions of these areas will help your fern thrive. Like other fern varieties, the Boston fern will tolerate low-light conditions well. It’s a good pick for a hanging basket in a bedroom or office, without the worries of your cat consuming the fronds. Light: Bright, indirect to low light Water: Prefers consistently moist soil Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide Bird’s Nest Fern The bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) produces long, wavy, solid fronds, giving this fern its crinkled, unique look. They thrive in high humidity, so it is ideal to place these plants near sinks or showers, such as in the bathroom or kitchen. Light: Bright, indirect to low light Water: Prefers consistently moist soil Mature Size: 2 ft. tall and wide Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/low-light-plants-safe-for-cats- Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa [email protected] 641-794-3337 641-903-9365 Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse
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AuthorHi! My name is Becky and I am a Master Gardener. I own Becky's Greenhouse in Dougherty, Iowa. Archives
January 2025
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