The one about “How I do it”
The one thing I hear often is “How do you do it?” This is in reference to keeping my exploring baby and my animals away from my plants. To put it simply, it’s not easy. Actually its pretty much inevitable that your pets or children WILL mess with your plants. So get ready to learn the ways I Have ‘proofed’ my plants. I have two cats, a 10- month old crawler, and our newest addition to the family: two 10 week old golden retriever puppies (insert round of applause for this stay-at-home mom here.) So How do I do it?
Before we get into the tips to proof your plants, lets chat about why it is important to prevent your animals and children from playing with or near your plants. Unfortunately, there are many toxic houseplants that can cause irritation or in the worst case scenario, death for your furry friends and curious children. Reactions can range from a minor belly ache, to the swelling of airways. It is very important to be aware of what plants can harm your (fur) babies if they are ingested.
The Non-Toxic indoor plants:
Christmas Cactus (Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.)
Boston Fern
African Violet
Peperomia
Baby’s Tears
Prayer Plant
Parlor Palm
Spider Plant
‘Sensitive plant’
Hawarthia pearl plant
Moth Orchids
Fittonia / nerve plant
Hoya Carnosa
Hens & Chicks
Burro’s Tail
All of these plants are safe for little hands and paws, but i still would not recommend ALLOWING children or animals to play with or eat plants unless they are thoroughly supervised.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST WAY TO “PROOF” YOUR PLANTS
It is best to PREVENT your animals or young children from accessing your plants. You can do this in many ways. Plant stands are a great option as they lift plants out of reach, but look out for your crawlers, they can easily pull a stand down and injure themselves. Another way to limit access to plants is to have a specific room or area where your (toxic) plants are kept, so you can block them off from the kiddos or pups easily.
Toxic plants can range in toxicity and have different side effects that range from mild to severe. Some plants produce a white milky sap that is a skin irritant as well as poisonous if ingested. Keep an eye out for your animals who may like to nibble at leaves or dig in the dirt. In most cases, if your furry friend nibbles a small piece of leaf, they will spit it out. If they do not spit it out and begin to show signs of toxicity like excessive drooling, vomitting, or difficulty breathing; bring them directly to an emergency vet. The earlier you can intervene, the better. When it comes to your children; As the worry wort I am, I strongly recommend bringing them into the pediatrician if they consume ANY amount of toxic plant material. It is always better safe than sorry. Trust your instinct on this one.
As far as maintaining my plant collection while being a stay at home mom and puppy parent: I have found that as my collection grows more mature and the more experience I get gardening, the more self sufficient they become. In the beginning I had ups and downs and killed many. RIP. As my plants have grown over the years, so have i. I learn more and more about myself through nurturing my collection and striving to keep them happy and healthy. As plants mature over time they become more adaptive to your environment your specific care schedule.
Other great ideas for keeping plants out of reach are shelves, macramé plant hangers, and glass cabinets or terrariums.