LisaM 0 #1 September 25, 2007 What is a plant that grows as hearty as a philodendron but is not poisonous to kitties? Our potential new house (praying we sell our current one) has a nice add on front room that would be great for plants. So what else might be some good big potted plants that won't hurt the kitties either? Easy to care for is a must! ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 898 #2 September 25, 2007 cat nip? cannibis??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brittentay 0 #3 September 25, 2007 thank god. i was just waiting for someone ELSE to say it. haha. but seriously, catnip grows like crazy, pretty much anywhere. (cat GRASS is good for their digestion and isnt ugly) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 September 25, 2007 Cat Mint Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #5 September 25, 2007 What about hanging the philodendron, or putting it on a shelf where the kitties can't reach it? I have a lot of it myself, but I have it out of reach of the cats. I'd love to have some big potted plants inside too, but I haven't been able to think of anything that the cats won't mess with. Well, except for the snake plant (mother-in-law's tongue) - that's the only plant I've had within their reach that they don't seem to bother. I believe it's only mildly toxic, but I don't think the cats would eat it anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #6 September 25, 2007 Holy cow! I found this list and had no idea about many of these. I suppose it's a good thing I've never seen any of our cats or dog munching on anything but grass. We have several birds of paradise, aloe, & ivy.I don't know where you live, but I didn't see ruellas on the no-no list.We have them all over (in both full sun & mostly shaded areas). I live in Florida and they bloom all year for us--opening new blooms every morning and dropping the blooms each evening. We love it b/c then there are scattered purple flowers all around them on the yard and it looks pretty.The only maintenance I've ever done for them is trim them back twice/year as they grow so quickly and multiply.Edit: I just scanned this photo in--it's older and not fantastic quality, but it's one of my favorite pictures of Sabre. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #7 September 25, 2007 Ooo! Bromeliads are not on the no-no list either.More examples of bromeliads. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #8 September 25, 2007 Are ruellas indoor too? ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #9 September 25, 2007 No idea. Bromeliads are great both indoor & out, though.I don't see palm trees on the no-no list and there are several varieties that work both indoors & out, and require little maintenance. I don't keep any live in-house plants except 10 orchids and a little bromeliad that is potted in a coconut. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #10 September 25, 2007 Some info on indoor palms. I keep an orchid or two in every room & bath--but we have a lot of beautiful silk greenery inside as I also love the look of having the outdoors in.When Costco gets a big shipment of silk plants, GO! For indoors, silk is best, imo.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #11 September 25, 2007 I'll pay attention to Costco. As long as they are nice, I would not mind intermixing some silk with some real. I never really thought about that for lower places. Thanks! ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #12 September 25, 2007 Costco--most of the time--has nicer ones. I don't like fakes that look obviously fake. Visible potting medium always gives a fake away, so I try to steer clear of those. I find most real house plants are too messy, never last, and sometimes don't look as "perfect" as I like things to look.For me, orchids really aren't much work at all. You DO have to fertilize them once/month. We have a really naturally well-lit home (a must for me. I can't stand a dungeon feel) so orchids--when placed properly--work fine in every room & bath. I spend about 45 minutes/month caring for my indoor & outdoor ones combined. I think I have 15-20 at any given time. I rotate them as they're in bloom. When they're not in bloom, I attach a fake bloom spray to the old spike (but the best, "real"-looking ones are about $7-$10 per spray.) If you're up for it, I find dendrobiums are the easiest orchids to care for. They like to be neglected. Phalaenopsis orchids are the second easiest. I still have my first dendro, though. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
