Festive houseplants that are safe for pets too

November starts the countdown to the festive season, so why not get into the holiday mood by treating yourself to a long flowering Christmas cactus, poinsettia, orchid, or pot rose?

Indoor flowers are made to last and will do so easily from now through to Christmas and beyond. They are perfect gifts too.

But how safe are they for pets? Cats especially are notorious for nibbling on plants. No one wants to inadvertently poison their pets, or those of friends.

To be safe, plants generally should be kept out of reach of pets. Symptoms like vomiting, drooling, or diarrhoea, may be linked to the ingestion of a plant and it is best to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

However, most plants are safe for pets. Some, like sansevieria, hen and chickens (Chlorophytum) and a variety of indoor palms and ferns are also air purifying plants.

What's interesting is that poinsettia, the plant most associated with Christmas, is regarded as only mildly toxic to animals? It is a member of the euphorbia family with a milky sap and most likely not in the least appealing to animals.
Another is the conifer, Cupressus "Gold Crest' that often doubles up as a Christmas tree. Its tough foliage is also mildly toxic, so make sure that inquisitive cats are diverted with their own Christmas gift of pet grass or catnip.

Here are five flowering houseplants that you and your pets will love:
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a green-leaved succulent that produces brilliantly coloured pink, red or purple flowers at the end of their hanging stems. Even though they are succulents, they need evenly moist soil when in flower and a humid environment. Place plants in a position that receives good indirect light, but not sunlight. Plants will flower for several weeks. To encourage more stems, grow in a hanging basket or in a position where the stems can cascade. Apply a liquid fertiliser every two weeks once the buds form.
Phalaenopsis Orchids are the epitome of elegance. When buying an orchid, make sure there are still plenty of unopened buds, as this will give you more flowers for longer. Orchids need very little water. Drench thoroughly and drain once a week or every two weeks. It will flower for up to four months. Place in bright indirect light (no sunlight).
Pot Roses are all-time favourites, doubling up as living bouquets. Each pot contains three to four mini-roses, which is why a single pot is so full of buds and blooms. Display the roses close to a windowsill or on the patio where they get good light and even some filtered sunlight. When the flowers are over, cut off the stems to 5cm above the ground. When new shoots are visible, feed with a liquid fertiliser. After two months, the roses will be in flower again.
Bromeliads like as much medium to bright indirect light you can give them. The higher the light, the more humidity they will need, and misting recommended. Plants are adapted for drought and should not be over-watered. Let the soil dry out moderately in between watering. If plants have a tank/ or cup fill it with rainwater or bottled water if your tap water is highly chlorinated. Fertilise once a month in spring or summer, using a slightly acidic liquid fertiliser diluted at half strength.
African violets flower almost all year round. They take up very little space and do best with bright, indirect light. Turn the pots once a week so that all the leaves receive light and cut off dead flowers to encourage more flowers. Over-watering is the biggest killer of African violets. Let the soil dry out before watering. The best way to water them is to place the pot in tepid water and let it stand for 30 minutes to absorb the water, then allow to drain. Feed with a violet plant food once or twice a month.

article courtesy caxton newspapers