Planning to add faux plants to your living space can be challenging enough, but if you have pets, the number of factors at play goes through the roof.
This doesn’t mean you can’t add a natural touch to your house if you have pets. But you have to strike the right balance to avoid any inconveniences down the road.
Some plants are toxic for your pets, and pets can be destructive to plants. So, do you give up on one to keep the other? Is there a way to have both pets and faux plants in your living space? It turns out there are several ways to do so.
Ways on How to Keep Pets Safe Around Faux Plants
Here are some of the best pet-friendly décor ideas to keep your pets safe around faux plants.
Use Diluted Lemon Juice
This is an approach you’d want to take if your main goal is to keep your pets (especially cats and dogs) away from your houseplants.
The idea is that citrus is a natural deterrent for both cats and dogs alike. This will also work in your pet's favour if you have toxic plants that can harm them.
You don't need to do anything complicated. Just mix a few drops of water and lemon juice, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray it on the leaves, and you're good.
If digging is the issue, you can easily place some lemon rinds on the plant pot to deter them and voila, that issue is fixed.
Keep Plants Beyond Their Reach
This can be very effective, especially if you have faux plants that are toxic to your pets. Just keep them out of reach. It also works the other way around—you can protect your plants from mischievous furry friends who love to tear down every leaf.
Artificial trees are a great option for this. These give your room an outstanding touch of décor and you won’t even need to worry about any soil pot for these. Plus, their sturdy nature makes them mess-free, even if a pet tries to climb or hang on them.
Green wall discs are also a perfect fit if you choose this route. They will look fantastic on your wall, while still being way out of reach. Your pet can enjoy their beauty from a distance.
Speaking of keeping your plants out of reach, make sure not to place them in areas where your pets often spend much of their time.
For example, windowsills are a favourite spot for cats, and curiosity might lead them to investigate any plant in that area. This could result in replacing planters—or worse, your cat getting hurt.
Hang them High Enough
Another clever option is to hang them high enough that your pets can’t reach them. How high depends on the type of pet you have. If you have a dog, you may not have to be very ingenious with how you hand your plants.
Floating shelves can ensure that plants stay well beyond the pet's reach. And at the same time, this still enhances the beauty of your space.
But if you have a cat, you'll need to be extra keen on where and how you hang your plants. Thankfully, when it comes to hanging planters, you have a variety of shapes and sizes of woven hangers to choose from.
Opt for Tall Planters
While hanging small plants is easy, it might not be the case with larger floor plants or indoor trees that can be bulky. You may have fewer options to keep them out of your pet’s reach.
This is where tall pots and planters come to the rescue. If you have small or short pots for your plants, getting taller containers can help cover the plants, making it difficult for your pets to get close.
Avoid Toxic Plants
If your pets are bent on munching your houseplants, having toxic ones around can jeopardize their health. Thankfully, not all faux plants are dangerous.
So you have the choice to go for the non-toxic plants, though some may still cause minor issues like an upset stomach or some other mild reaction.
However, there’s a larger chunk of faux plants that are less toxic, at least not as serious as some natural ones. Here are a few natural plants to avoid and why:
Pothos – These can cause oral irritation or vomiting in dogs as well as cats
Lilies – Highly toxic, often causing kidney failure, especially in cats
Philodendron – Can cause both swelling and irritation on the tongue or the entire mouth
If you are new to faux plants, here are some great faux plant picks for your furry friends that are worth checking out.
Artificial Sansevieria snake plant
Minimalist citrus artificial tree
Cedar tree silk tree
Artificial geraniums bush
Artificial double orchid phalaenopsis
That said, you still need to ensure that your pets are not nipping on artificial plants. While most of the options out there may not be toxic, there is always the risk of obstruction/choking if your pet swallows parts of the plant.
Cover the Soil
With faux plants, exposed soil is rare. Mostly, these plants come with some hardened faux dirt, or it could be moss, or straw instead of soil. Even then, you don’t want your pet playing around with that.
You never know what could be in the pot that might be harmful to your pet’s health. To avoid this, you can cover the soil with tin foil or stones. Pebbles or stones make for a great pick as they add to the overall beauty of your plant, and make it seem more natural.
Regular Inspection
It’s crucial to do regular inspection of faux plant to ensure safety and well being of your pets. Over time, faux plants can suffer from wear and tear as they lose parts or sharp edges, which might be harmful to your curious pets.
So, to prevent such accidents, conduct regular inspections every three days to a week. If you find any signs of damage, address the issues promptly.
Create A Pet-friendly Space by Learning How to Keep Your Pets Safe Around Faux Plants
In the conclusion, ensuring the safety of your pets around faux plants is an important aspect to maintain harmonious environment.
By adopting these proactive approaches, you, as a responsible pet owner, can enjoy a stylish and safe home. This not only protects your furry friend but also provides peace of mind, knowing that your place is secure for your pets.
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