Are plants the new pets for dog and cat parents? Our tips for botanical adoptions!
As tough as the last year was, pandemania has had a couple of positive impacts for pet guardians. The first is the production of a new generation of home bakers that took advantage of lockdowns to start their sourdoughs and leaven those breads. No doubt dogs have rejoiced at the abundance of baked goods gracing kitchens (though Big Boss Fizzgig still seems more interested in finding street bread than in helping me to expand my baking horizons).
And the second has been the renewed interest in houseplants. Over the course of the last 14 months it seems like almost everyone has adopted a ficus, or three, or five. In fact, some people’s homes are starting to look like outtakes from The Day of the Triffids!
But choosing a new plant can be just as stressful as choosing to add a new pet. So we’ve got some tips for you. Of course, of utmost importance is making sure you know what plants are safe for your pets. If you plan on having your plants at pet eye-level, and they have any tendency to want to munch on leafy greens, make sure to check this list to to see to see what plants are safe for the pup or cat who likes to make frequent trips to salad bars.
Got a more active lifestyle that keeps you on the go (at least when there’s not a global pandemic happening), hiking broad vistas or sampling the wares at pet-friendly terasses in thriving metropolises? Consider the more low-maintenance snake plants--and save yourself plant-sitting hassles.
Is trick training your jam? If you get excited about teaching your pets the latest cool clicker moves, a bonsai tree might be right up your alley. Just like your pets, they too require shaping and training (and even some agility style weaving) to style them into their iconic shape.
Got crazy kitties in the house? Then it’s best not to opt for plants with long tendrils as they just may be too great a temptation for them, resulting in projectile plant pots! Flying plant pots may well be the pandemic kitty’s version of knocking things off tables. And if your pup is a fan of bobbing and weaving with flirt poles, those tendrils might look a lot like new prey to pounce on.
What if you’re not sure if you’re ready for the lifetime commitment of adopting your own plant? Consider fostering instead, through the magical world of propagation! Simply ask a friend who’s already opened their home to plant rescues, and ask for a cutting. It’s a great way to see if that plant type is a good fit for you and your lifestyle--plus you get the added bonus of watching them grow from a tiny tot into a thriving leafy companion.
Once you’ve finally embraced plant guardianship, you’re of course going to want to show that off. We highly recommend showing off your new commitment to nurturing the lives of both furry and leafy companions with our new line of Plants & Pets gear, available now right here!
