If you’re looking to add some greenery to your apartments near UT Austin, choosing the perfect plant can be harder than you’d think. That’s especially true for pet owners, since cats and dogs alike are wont to chew on houseplants while you’re not looking, and many plants are toxic to pets. Luckily, there are plenty of pet-friendly houseplants and flowers to choose from, you just have to know what to look for. These six plants are safe for dogs and cats and will add plenty of natural beauty to your apartments in West Campus, Austin.
Friendship Plant
So called because its cuttings grow roots quickly, making this plant easy to gift to a friend, the friendship plant has velvety, quilted leaves with tons of visual appeal. This plant is also relatively easy to care for, requiring several hours of indirect sunlight a day and moderate temperatures. The only challenge this plant presents for future residents of our apartments near UT Austin is that it prefers consistent humidity—a humidifier can help with this during dry months.
Lace Flower Vine
Lace flower vine is an easy-going houseplant that looks great in a hanging planter or overflowing along a windowsill or bookshelf. This plant likes bright light and will tolerate a little bit of neglect, which is perfect for beginners or students who spend a lot of time out of their apartment.
Parlor Palm
For a taller plant option, a parlor palm makes a great pet-friendly addition to your apartment. This palm enjoys bright, indirect light and average humidity, though if you find the tips of the leaves browning, incorporating a humidifier may help the plant recover. This plant can grow up to around 6 feet tall indoors, so it is a great way to add visual interest and botanical vibes to a corner of your apartment.
Prayer Plant
A prayer plant is another easy houseplant for pet owners and features beautiful variegated leaves that add tons of visual interest to your apartment. It tolerates a variety of light levels, preferring indirect light, and does best with soil that is kept moist consistently (without overwatering).
Spider Plant
The spider plant is a common go-to for beginners and it is mercifully non-toxic to pets as well! The curved, ribbon-like leaves of this houseplant look great in a hanging planter or spilling over a decorative pot on a table. It enjoys partial light and does not need frequent watering; once every 5 to 7 days—or however long it takes for the soil to fully dry between watering—should do the trick.
African Violet
The African violet is perhaps the most high-maintenance plant on this list, but good plant parents can keep it thriving just fine in our Austin student apartments. Coming in a variety of colors, this flower makes a beautiful addition to your apartment, as long as you give it plenty of indirect sunlight, consistent watering, and around 60% humidity (you may need to use a humidifier during drier months).
That’s it for our pet-friendly house plant recommendations! If you appreciated this post and would like to see more of our tips, recommendations, and features, be sure to bookmark our blog page for easy access to future posts! And make sure you’re following us on Instagram so you stay in the know about special offers and community updates for future residents of our new student apartments in Austin.