House plants you really can’t kill

Plants have been a trend in homes for the last couple of years, and I can’t see the trend disappearing any time soon. So here are some house plants you can’t kill.

Everywhere you look on Instagram there are plants in pots, in the bath, and even hanging from the ceiling. I can see it as remaining one of the top 2019 trends, especially with the take off of biophilia, or “living walls”, where plants literally cover a wall of your home.

 

Here’s some plant inspiration taken from Instagram to get you thinking about how you can display your plants:

 

Okay, so you won’t grow green fingers immediately after reading this post, and my house will never look like that (partly because the cat will eat most of the plants). BUT, if like me you’re not the green goddess you want to be, I’ve created a list of some house plants you can’t kill.

I’ve also added which plants are safe for cats and dogs (or not safe) as I struggle to find house plants that are safe for my cat. Most of them are not, especially the most popular plants, such as Swiss Cheese plants, tulips, daffodils, and string of pearls.

 

Boston Fern

*Safe for pets

Boston ferns are pretty easy to look after, as long as you remember to water them regularly. They like humid environments and indirect light, making them perfect for the bathroom where the humidity is high and the light is usually less bright thanks to smaller/frosted windows.

You should make sure the soil doesn’t dry out, as this will cause your fern to die. It might also need more water in winter as the heating will dry a room out. If you’re worried about your fern, mist it a couple of times a week, as well as water it.

 

Monstera (Swiss Cheese)

*Not safe for pets

This is another plant that likes indirect light and high humidity, so a bathroom is the ideal environment.

I’m so gutted I can’t have one of these, because of our cat. Possible symptoms if ingested include swelling of the throat, excessive drooling and difficulty breathing. But, the plant has a sour taste so most animals will take one bite, and not do so again.

 

Heartleaf Philodendron

*Not safe for pets

The sweetheart plant gets its name from its heart-shaped leaves. It’s a fairly easy going plant. It prefers bright light but not direct sunlight. It can also cope with low light.

You should keep the soil moist in spring/summer but allow it to dry out occasionally in winter. It recovers well if you forget to water it!

 

Spider Plant

*Safe for pets

Spider plants are so easy to look after, and one of the best house plants you can’t kill. They don’t like to be too dry or too wet, so keep them moderately moist. You should keep them in bright to moderate light, but not directly in sunlight.

These plants do grow quickly, so may need re-potting every other year. Spider plants like even moisture; they don’t like to be too dry or too wet.

 

Paper Plants

*Safe for pets

Yes, you read that right. Plants made out of PAPER. A new book, Handmade Houseplants, has been released by Corrie Beth Hogg that shows you how you can do this. These are absolutely house plants you can’t kill (I’d be amazed if you managed it).

I hope this post has given you some ideas on how you can introduce plants to your homes (and without killing your pets!).

Do you love real plants in homes, or do you prefer the artificial kind?