Growing plants indoors is healthy for your environment. Plants can filter out toxins in the air. Some plants can contain harmful chemicals in the leaves and flowers. Many cats like to chew on plants so you need to be sure that the plants you bring into your home are safe if they are ingested.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb that is a member of the mint family. Common catnip has white flowers that bloom in the spring. The plant can grow up to 3 feet tall and is enjoyable to cats. It is often grown as an indoor houseplants for your cats to nibble. It is easy to grow and prefers full sun and sandy moist soils. The herb is not harmful to cats. When your cat rubs the leaves it releases oils that act as a stimulant that most cats respond to.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a bright green, biennial herb. It is often used as a garnish or to add flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Parsley that is grown in an indoor garden usually reaches heights of a foot tall. All parts of the plant are edible and safe to both people and pets. The plant prefers bright, directly light for 6 to 8 hours a day and well-drained, organic soils.
African Violets (Saintpaulia) are a small, perennial, common houseplant. These plants can often live through periods of neglect but they prefer bright, indirect sunlight and well-drained soils. For the flower to produce the best blooms it needs 8 hours of sunshine and 8 hours of darkness every day. It grows up to 6 inches tall and comes in a wide variety of colors including purple, pink, blue and magenta. African violets are safe to use as an ornamental houseplant and are nontoxic to cats and other pets.
The lady slipper (cypripedium pubescens) is a type of orchid. It is a large, showy, perennial flower that can grow up to 2 feet tall. The flowers have a long blooming period from early spring to late summer and range in color including pink, purple and yellow. One of the petals of the flower forms a pouch, or the slipper. The lady slipper is native to North American and its natural habitat is in the woods and in pastures. The flower has been over-harvested and is rarely found in the wild. The plant is said to contain tannins and oils but there have been no known effects on cats or pets. The Lady Slipper prefers indirect sunlight and moist soils.
- Photo Credit African \violet image by Shirley Lai from Fotolia.com
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