If you have tried to grow plants in a home with pets, you may have encountered problems.Cats and dogs love to eat leaves and stems of house plants, while rambunctious dogs can cause a lot of trouble.Pets should not be allowed to eat some houseplants that may be toxic.Learning how to protect your plants from pets can help keep them safe and healthy.
Step 1: Sturdy plant stands are a must for your plants.
You can place the pots on tall plant stands if you're worried about your pets.These stands are attractive and can keep your plants out of your pet's reach.Aggressive or energetic pets can overturn these stands.Plant stands are a good way to keep small pets away from your plants.
Step 2: Place plants in difficult places.
If you can, place your plants on window ledges or on top of tall furniture.Hanging baskets that are ceiling mounted are a good option.You may be able to prevent a pet from jumping onto a windowsill by crowding it with plants.It depends on the type of pet you have.If you have a small dog, you won't have to move plants very high.If you have a cat that likes to climb, you will need to move plants to a very difficult location.
Step 3: Plants can be moved to rooms that are off-limits to pets.
If you want to make sure your plants are protected from your pets, you can keep them separated.If your pets are not allowed in the sunny room, you should put most of your plants in there.The plants will be less tempting to your pets.It may take some getting used to.Pets are not allowed in the plant room.The door to that room needs to be closed at all times.
Step 4: Show your displeasure.
If you're tired of your pets attacking and eating your plants, you may want to train them not to do it.If you want to keep your pet away from your plants, you need to show your disapproval when they mess with them.If you see your pet chewing on your plants, make a loud noise or say "no" in a firm tone.A spray bottle of water can be used to show your disapproval.If your pet tries to chew on your plant, spray a small stream of water at it.Your pet will learn that chewing on houseplants is not fun if you do this every time.When you are showing disapproval, it's important to not hurt your pet.Hitting your pet will not help with training.
Step 5: Good behavior should be reinforced.
When you tell your pet to leave the plant, show your approval.Give them a treat so they know they made the right decision.Positive reinforcement can be done with simple praise or petting.A treat that your pet really loves may be more effective.
Step 6: Consistency with your training is important.
It will take some effort and patience to train your pet to stay away from your plants.Repetition and consistency are the keys to successful training.Showing disapproval and redirecting your pet will save your plants in the long run.When your pet begins to understand that there are consequences when it goes after the plants, training is successful.If your pet chews on the plants when you're not around to stop them, use a training tactic that will punish them even if you are not there.You can either stack empty cans in front of the plants or install a motion-activated can of compressed air.
Step 7: The plants should be coated with a pet deterrent.
Cats and dogs can be repulsed with spray products from pet stores, nurseries, and online retailers.The sprays should be applied regularly to discourage cats and dogs from eating.The spray product is called "bitter apple".It's a good idea to spray it on your pets.
Step 8: You should cover the soil in your pots.
Some animals like to dig in the soil.Pets can use the soil of a house plant as a bathroom.If this is the case for you, you should cover the soil of your potted plants so that your pet doesn't have access to it.The potted plants should be covered with large rocks.The water you give your plant will trickle down to the soil but your pets will have limited access to it.There are items that have an unattractive feeling for pets that you can cover the surface of the soil with.You could use prickly pine cones or aluminum foil to cover the surface of the soil.
Step 9: Plants that pets do not like.
Pets don't like plants that smell offputting or unattractive.You can keep these plants in your home since they are not toxic to pets.Coleus canina is also known as a scaredy cat plant because cats don't like it.
Step 10: Plants can be grown specifically for your pets.
If you can't keep your pets from damaging your plants, consider growing more attractive options for them.Having these plants available may lead your pet to ignore your other plants.Cat grass, mint, and catnip are three plants that cats love to eat.Plants can provide a key part of a pet's healthy environment.A cat that is allowed to occasionally chew on houseplant leaves may have a happier, healthier life than a cat who is completely denied access to greenery.
Step 11: Plants need little soil to grow.
If your main concern is that your pets overturn your houseplant pots and spill the soil, you can choose plants that need little or no messy soil.If a plant gets tipped over, it's easy to pick it up and re-pot it.Succulents and cacti can be grown in a mix of gravel and water.
Step 12: Plants that are toxic should be avoided.
If you can't keep your pets away from your plants, you should at least know which plants are toxic to them.There is an extensive list of plants that are toxic to pets that can be found online.