We have to know are Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs? Whether your pup is busy accidentally breaking one of your favorite vases, taking a nap on our pillows, or jumping around, eagerly waiting to go out and play, there’s no doubt: they are a top priority.
We miss Echo around here – like a lot. She was the best cavalier there ever was. But, Drummer our 1 year old cavalier has infused so much joy and love into our home. She is pure excitement!
Of course, some of us (raises hand) also love our plants, which begs the question: are hanging plants safe for dogs? If so, which ones are safe and what do you do if your dog gets a bad plant? Don’t worry I cover it all here.
The simple answer it depends. Of course, hanging your plants up high can help your dogs stay away from the toxic ones, but it’s always best to pick pet-friendly plants if you can. So with that in mind here’s a curated list of the best hanging pants that are safe for dogs, and cats too. But first, here’s a few things to consider.
The Risks of Having Unsafe Plants
In my opinion, the biggest risk of having plants around isn’t actually the plants themselves. It’s how easy it is to start styling your bedroom and end up surrounded by plants that can harm your furry friends! We don’t think about it, but a lot of the most popular plants are actually toxic.
Snake plants are a good example. Many people have them around their homes, but these commonplace plants are actually toxic to both dogs and cats! They’re unlikely to cause issues by being around, but if your dog starts chewing on them, they’re likely to have bouts of vomiting or diarrhea.
You can kind of see why having hanging plants safe for dogs is a big deal, but accidents do happen. What should you do? Well, here’s what you need to know.
What to Do If Your Pets Eat Your Plants
Whether it’s a seemingly innocent plant you just brought home or something your dog found growing in the garden doesn’t really matter. Dogs just like to chew on stuff! Of course, if you notice your pet eating something they shouldn’t then you’ll want to take action right away.
First, you should figure out exactly what they’ve been munching on. Knowing this will help you figure out how serious the situation is. Some plants will just cause minor stomach discomfort, while others can be deadly.
Now that you know what you’re dealing with, call your vet or—if the situation is dire—a pet poison control hotline. They will give you advice that can help prevent any complications while ensuring you get your pet the care they need. Once you’re sure your pet is safe and sound, it’s probably a good idea to move the plant(s) in question to avoid future incidents.
Pet-Safe Plants and Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs
Alright, with all of the warnings out of the way, let’s move on to my favorite hanging plants safe for dogs! Most of these are easy to grow, stay relatively small, and don’t require a lot of upkeep, making them easy to fit into the ever-busy lifestyle of the average pet owner.
Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs the African Violet
First up are the African Violets. These beautiful and vibrant flowers are relatively easy to manage, requiring only high humidity and bright light to survive. Make sure it’s indirect light though, as these cat and dog-safe plants don’t do well in direct sunlight.
Baby Rubberplants Are Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs
Unlike regular rubber plants, the baby rubber plant is safe for cats and dogs alike. Perfect in a hanging pot or up on a desk, these simple plants are a great way to add a dash of green to your living space. Just remember to let the soil dry out between waterings, as moist soil will lead to root rot.
Baby Tears
Safe for children and pets, this plant is well-known for its aggressive growth potential. I absolutely love how this plant looks when the leaves are hanging down from a hanging pot! Care and placement are fairly simple as well, as these plants do best with lower light and moist soil.
Bamboo Palm
You’ll really only be able to hang a bamboo palm when it’s small, but still, these plants are pet-safe (which is the main point here). Perfect for freshening up the air in your home, these easy-to-manage plants prefer indirect sunlight and lots of humidity.
Boston Fern
These fern plants are perfect for a hanging pot. Like many of the other pet-friendly options, Boston Ferns prefer indirect sunlight and high humidity levels. These plants tend to turn yellow if the humidity is too low, making it very easy to tell when things are going wrong and adjust accordingly.
Burro’s Tail
Also known as the Donkey’s Tail, these unique-looking succulents qualify as one of the hanging plants safe for dogs and cats. That said, although the ASPCA has dubbed the Burro’s Tail non-toxic, it can actually be mildly toxic if your pets eat it, so plan and place accordingly.
Butterfly Palm
The Butterfly Palm is another plant you’ll really only be able to get away with hanging when it’s small. Still, since it’s non-toxic to both dogs and cats, you won’t have any issues once it comes time to lower it down! Great at purifying the air and growing slow enough to easily adjust location as needed, these plants are an excellent addition to any household.
Cape Marigold
If you’re looking to add a bit of color to your indoor space then the Cape Marigold is the perfect pick. Also known as the African Daisy, these flowers come in many different oranges, pinks, and yellows, making it easy to turn your collection into a beautiful arrangement with just a single type of flower!
Cast Iron Plant Are Great Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs
As the green leaves might suggest, the Cast Iron Plant is a plant that likes a bit more water. You don’t want to overdo it though, as root rot is always a possibility. Still, these plants are relatively easy to care for as long as you can find a place for them with low light. You only need to water them once the soil dries out.
Chinese Money Plant
Said to bring a person luck and wealth, the Chinese Money Plant is the perfect plant for your house! You can easily fit this one in your favorite hanging planter, but you’ll have to remember to check the soil so you know when to water it. Generally, you’ll need to wait one to two weeks between waterings (depending on the season).
Christmas Cactus Are Gorgeous and a Type of Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs
It might be called the Christmas Cactus, but you’ll still need to keep the temperatures above 50 degrees. This beautiful plant also prefers humid air around it, although you can let the soil go dry between waterings. You can probably tell just from looking at the picture, but this plant looks absolutely stunning in a hanging planter!
Friendship Plant
Your pets are your best friends, so what better way to celebrate that bond than with a Friendship Plant? These indoor plants are a great choice for people with pets, seeing as they’re non-toxic for dogs, cats, and even horses! I really like the bumpy texture on the leaves, which helps the Friendship Plant stand out from the other flora in your collection.
Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs The Goldfish Plant
Low light isn’t enough for the Goldfish Plant, at least, not if you want it to bloom properly. Too much light can also harm it, so just stick to bright, albeit indirect, light for the best results.The Goldfish Plant does well at room temperature, but make sure to mist it daily with room-temperature water to keep the humidity levels up.
Money Trees are Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs
Unlike many of the other plants I’ve shown you, the Money Tree doesn’t want you to wait for the soil to dry completely. Instead, this pet-safe plant should be watered when the soil is about ⅔ of the way dry. It doesn’t like to be moved, so make sure you find the perfect place for this tree right away.
Parlor Palm
Slow-growing and prospering in bright, indirect sunlight, the Parlor Palm is one of the larger plants on this list. Or, at least it can be. These plants can grow up to 16 feet tall in the wild, but it will likely be six feet or less if grown indoors. Err on the side of caution when watering, as overwatering will quickly put an end to these palms.
Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs The Ponytail Palm
This low maintenance plant is drought tolerant, easy to care for, safe for your pets, and loves direct sunlight! Even better, you can let the water dry completely before watering it again, as the Ponytail Palm tends to do better with less moisture. You do want to keep your pets away from this one if possible, though, as the plant can get injured quite easily.
Prayer Plant
You won’t need to pray for the safety of your pets, because the Prayer Plant is safe for cats and dogs alike! These fit perfectly into a hanging planter, placed in a south or west-facing room. The Prayer Plant doesn’t like direct sunlight though, so make sure it gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight instead.
Rattlesnake Plant
The Rattlesnake Plant isn’t too picky when it comes to lighting. It will do best in medium to bright indirect sunlight, but it will still manage just fine if low lighting is the best you can offer it. Despite the name, this plant won’t harm your pets. The name simply comes from its uniquely patterned leaves!
Spider Plant
Spider Plants, also known as Chlorophytum Comosum, are another pet & hanging planter-friendly herb that’s easy for pretty much anyone to grow. As long as the soil is moist, the room temperature is normal, and you remember to water it once a week, this plant will eventually grow leaves that extend up to 18 inches from the base.
Staghorn Fern
Platycerium, more often referred to by its common name of the Staghorn Fern, can get a bit big. In fact, yours might not fit on your plant stand, but it should fit above it! Lots of people like to hang these on their porches outside or from trees in their yard. Still, if you’re dedicated to the indoor approach, you can use a sturdy wall display to mount these hanging plants safe for dogs.
Swedish Ivy
Last but not least is Swedish Ivy, a relatively low-maintenance houseplant with a tendency to grow quickly. Fortunately, you can prune these hanging plants safe for dogs, and doing so often will encourage new growth.
If You Already Own Unsafe Plants
Unless you did your research ahead of time, chances are, your household probably has one or two houseplants that aren’t quite safe. With common plant picks like ZZ plants or Aloe Vera plants being toxic, it’s hard to make sure your entire collection is pet-friendly without hand-picking them ahead of time.
Well, if the toxic plant you have is a small plant then you might be able to get away with suspending it up out of reach. The best plants to own are hanging plants safe for dogs and cats, but if you don’t want to get rid of them altogether then restricting access is your only option.
Still, if you want to be extra safe—and you have the space for it—then I’d suggest putting your treasured but toxic plants outside in an enclosed greenhouse like this one. Better safe than sorry!
It’s a Lot to Keep Track Of!
Still, I think it’s worth learning a bit about any new plants you get before bringing them into your home. This is especially true for us pet owners, who always have to be thinking about our furry friends!
Just remember, just because it’s technically a “pet-friendly houseplant doesn’t mean it won’t cause issues either. Even non-poisonous cactus can be a problem if it’s easily accessible.
Still, I hope you’ve learned a bit about the types of plants that are safe around pets, and some of the risks to think about. Any plant can be a great addition to your household, but if you want to be as safe as possible, it’s always best to go with non-toxic ones!
Well, that’s all I have for you guys today. Don’t forget to leave me a comment below about you, your plants, and your pets. I’d love to hear all about your happy homes. Until next time!
Are Hanging Plants Safe for Dogs? – Similar Frequently Asked Questions
What indoor hanging plant is safe for dogs?
Well, as long as they can fit into your hanging planters, any non-toxic plants can be safe for dogs indoors! Still, if I had to choose, I’d say that the Spider Plants, Staghorn Ferns, and Baby’s Tears would be a few of my favorites.
What outdoor plants are dog-friendly?
Just like house plants, you have a ton of options to choose from if you’re looking for pet-friendly outdoor plants. I really like Marigolds, African Violets, and ferns in general, but you’re not limited to just a few options. Do some research and I’m sure you can find plants that look great and are safe for your pets!
What easy plants to take care of safe for dogs?
Many popular houseplants can fit into this category. Here are my top five recommendations for plants you can safely place around your home: Spider plant, African Violet, Ponytail palm, Cast Iron plant, and Boston ferns!
Are petunias toxic to dogs?
Not only are petunias beautiful flowers, but they’re also safe for cats and dogs! Of course, eating too much of anything can lead to an upset stomach, even if it’s non-toxic. While there’s nothing to worry about if your pup eats a flower or two, I’d probably avoid letting them pig out on your petunias.
Are hydrangeas poisonous to dogs?
Unfortunately, yes, hydrangeas are poisonous plants. That said, the amount of toxins in the plants is fairly low, so your dog would have to eat quite a few before it poses a legitimate health issue.
Are succulents safe for dogs?
Most succulents are perfectly safe for our furry friends. Not only are the vast majority of them non-toxic, but succulents aren’t very appealing in terms of taste or aroma either. As such, these plants and your pets shouldn’t have any issues co-existing!