Clean Indoor Air

Indoor house plants are commonly used to clean indoor air.  For pet parents/guardians, it’s essential to select non-toxic plants as your air purifying plants.  This is of vital importance for your pet’s health.  Considering indoor air quality poses more health concerns than outdoor air, having the right air cleaning plants will help you create a safer and healthier home environment.

We spend most of our time indoors in confined environments where the air is trapped and just being re-circulated.  Unknowingly, our homes can harbour untold airborne chemicals, some of which are potent environmental pollutants and likely carcinogens in humans and pets.  Indoor air can be polluted by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), particulates, gases (volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon, carbon monoxide), etc.

VOCs Common Pollutants

A very common pollutant in our homes are VOCs, which include formaldehyde and benzene.  VOCs are emitted as gases with up to 10 times higher concentrations than outdoors.  They are found in carpets, paint, air fresheners, foam, candles, furniture finishes, cleaning supplies, plastic, pesticides, pressed wood furniture, office equipment, glues, adhesives, electronic devices, etc.  Health threats may include headaches; nausea; eye, nose and throat irritation; loss of coordination; and liver, kidney and central nervous system damage.

Indoor house plants as air purifiers

House plants actually clean the air and environment around them.  Remember photosynthesis?  It is when plants release oxygen into the air while removing carbon dioxide.  During this process they help remove pollutants for our environment.  Research done in Australia found that having three large potted plants per room is enough to clean the air to the point where toxins become insignificant.

Aside from opening windows, and eliminating the sources of contamination, placing pet-friendly indoor purification plants will make your home safer and healthier for you and your precious pets.  Some plants are effective at removing particular toxins.  For example, spider plants and rubber plants are effective against formaldehyde.  The plant’s leaves absorb the chemicals and break them down.  Also, microorganisms or microbes in the plant’s soil convert toxins into food plant.

Particularly because your pet might want to eat the soil or play with it, ensure the plants you buy are organic; that is, pesticide-free and chemical-free.  The potting soil needs to be organic too, without toxic additives (sterile).  Miracle Grow and other popular potting soils are not organic.

As a guideline, use at least one plant per 100 square feet (8.4 square meters) of floor space.

Indoor Air Purifier Non-Toxic Plants

These plants are pet-friendly and excellent to filtrate airborne pollutants and toxins:

Orchids

Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea elegans);

Cane palm (Dypsis lutescens);

Dwarf date palm (Phoenix acaulis);

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis);

Australian sword fern (Nephrolepis obliterata); and

American Rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia).

Care for Your Plants

Plants need fresh air and air circulation to help promote plant growth.  It allows the plant to exchanges gases between the leaves and atmosphere.  You will need rich nutrients to feed your plant.  Organic plant food (everything from chicken poo to oxygen mixes) can be easily found at your local garden shop.  You may also use old aquarium water (fish poo) or leftover coffee/tea to help fertilize and provide your plant the necessary nutrients it needs to thrive.

Indoor Plant Benefits

In addition of filtering out indoor airborne toxins, indoor plants can be therapeutic; they have been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce depression and stress.  Indoor plants can also increase humidity within the home (or work) environment.  More humidity means more oxygen.  Along with the aforementioned benefits of air filtering, plants are beautiful.  It’s like bringing nature indoors!  Add some pet non-toxic plants to clean indoor air pollutants in your home.  Your pets will thank you!

Marisa

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A – Always

B – Be

C – Cautious

Due to their small size and unique metabolism, cats and dogs are highly vulnerable to the toxic substances found in plants.  If you suspect that your pet has consumed a poisonous plant, contact your vet immediately and the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  You can reach them by calling 1-888-426-4435 (they do charge US$60 for this service).

Cats, particularly, like to eat plants.  So, it’s essential to keep your houseplants out of reach until you ensure your pets will not munch on them.

It’s also important to consider the source…where was the plant grown, were chemicals or pesticides sprayed on the plant? (Non-toxic may not be truly non-toxic if your plant was sprayed with pesticides). Locally grown, organic plants are the way to go if you can, but you still need to take your pet’s protection into your hands and ask questions.  If you cannot get a direct answer, then do not take the chance that it will be fine; err on the side of safety.

Many flowering plants that you see in “big box” stores during holidays are NO NOs for your pets.  These plants include:

Amaryllis, crocus, cyclamen, daffodils, Holly, hyacinth, kalanchoe, lilies (not all types), mistletoe and Poinsettia.

Big department stores also carry a standard selection of plants that are poisonous or toxic.  Avoid these common houseplants:

Aloe, Chinese evergreen, dracaena, dumb cane, ivy, jade, peace lily, sago palm, taro (caladium) and Swiss cheese plant.

Also, many food bearing plants and trees can be toxic, such as onions, rhubarb, apple (including crabapple), orange, grapefruit, black walnut, apricot, plum, peach, cherry, grapes, avocado, lemon, lime, garlic, etc.

The poisonous/toxic list is longer than those I have listed here.  For a comprehensive poisonous plant list, visit… http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

Non-Toxic Plants

It may seem like the list of plants you should not bring into your home or living space is unending and you are wondering…what plants are safe? There are just as many non-toxic plants as there are toxic ones.  Here are some plants that you can welcome into your home and feel good about keeping your pets healthy and safe as well:

African violet, bamboo, bromeliad (earthstar), orchid, polka-dot plant, rope plant, variegated wandering Jew and yerba.

The ASPCA also has a link for a complete listing of non-toxic plants for your cat, dog or horse. When in doubt, check out their website.

Remember…most stores will not tell you if a plant is poisonous or toxic for your pet.  It is up to you to ask!  Also, if you see a friend (or a “stranger”) buying a plant that you know is toxic, just let them know. Some people do not even think about whether plants are safe or not and if they have pets, they will appreciate you letting them know!

Safe Greens

For your cat, consider leaving catnip and/or a tray of oat grass for safe nibbling.  If your dog likes to chew grass, ensure it has not been treated with pesticides/chemicals.

By taking some precautions, you can have both plants and pets in the same living space.

Marisa

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