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There's a saying I've heard recently: "Pets are the new kids, and plants are the new pets." You might be a bit nervous to keep both in your home, but pets and plants *can* coexist safely; in fact, there are tons of gorgeous house plants that are safe to keep around your pups and kitties! And even more good news: You can even buy them online. Yup, no need to leave the house.
1. A bird's nest fern adds a gorgeous pop of green with stunning tropical fronds that curl and twist their way out of the plant's central rosette. Low light? No problem — this little babe doesn't need direct sun to thrive, and in fact, it's one of the easiest indoor plants to take care of.
Fun fact: The amount of light a bird's nest fern receives affects how crinkly its leaves are. More light = more crinkly fronds, while low-light ones will have flatter leaves. You also don't have to pot it. Bird's nest ferns are air plants, or "epiphytes" — they're using to growing on top of other things out in the wild — so you can also fix one to a plank and hang it on a wall. The Sill has a great guide on how to mount these types of plants if you want to DIY.
Sun: Bright indirect to low light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks
Get it from The Sill for $37 (available in two colors, two sizes, and five planter styles). You can also snag a bird's nest fern from Amazon for $31.43.
2. The staghorn fern's name comes from the points at the end of its long, jagged fronds, reminiscent of the horns on an elk or stag. Its gorgeous fronds don't just loosely hang, but boldly extend upright, to the side, and all around.
Like the bird's nest fern, the staghorn fern is an epiphyte, so you can mount it on wood if desired, but it'll also look stunning displayed in a basket or pot. BTW, be sure to leave dead shield fronds (the round, hard leaves around the base) on your staghorn — they help it regulate water!
Sun: Bright, indirect light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks, misting in between
Get the hanging staghorn hern from Belle Decor Plants on Etsy for $22+ (available in two sizes), or get the wood-mounted staghorn from the same seller for $56. You can also get a potted hanging staghorn from Amazon for $24.99.
Promising review: "Oh my goodness. How on earth you shipped such a gorgeous plant I have no idea! Arrived healthy and perfectly sized as advertised. Even better than I had hoped for. Thank you so much!" —Sparrowhawk
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Belle Decor Plants is a mother-daughter-owned small business that specializes in mounted staghorn ferns and other tropical house plants, sourcing them from the finest greenhouses in Florida. Check out their full shop for more staghorn fern options along with a variety of other gorgeous house plants and planters!
3. A Calathea rattlesnake might sound dangerous, but this striking striped plant is perfectly safe for both pets *and* humans. In fact, the calathea rattlesnake has a charming habit of folding up its leaves at night, then unfurling them during the day — so when you hit the hay, it's almost like your plant friend is catching some Z's with you.
Sun: Bright indirect to low light
Water: Every 1-2 weeks
Promising review: "I am always nervous to purchase plants online but I will absolutely be purchasing here again! The plant was wrapped perfectly; it was well protected and survived shipping. This plant was more beautiful in person than the pictures show. It has been doing very well, and had well-established roots when I transplanted. Very pleased with this purchase!" —Abuff0916
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
4. A red prayer plant has the same curious behavior of folding up its leaves at night — almost as if it were praying to the moon. Direct light will burn its pretty red-veined leaves, so it'll do well in apartments and rooms that don't get any harsh sun.
Sun: Low to bright indirect light
Water: Once a week
Promising review: "It gets more beautiful every week. So far so good 👍 I have decided to add plants around my house. Many of my plants were labeled 'hardy, hard to kill, great for beginners' — that's why I picked them. I have killed three plants so far!!! I'm lucky my prayer plant is holding steady and for now likes its spot. Update: Could not be happier with my prayer plant. Its been five months. It opens through the night and rolls up during the day. Wish it would be full all around, but it's happy and healthy, so I just let it be since I get such joy from it." —Charlotte
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
5. With its long, wispy strands, a parlor palm lets you channel allll the tropical vibes on days when you're dreaming of your next vacation.
The gorgeous parlor palm has been cultivated since the Victorian era and valued for its resilience to indoor conditions!
Sun: Bright indirect to low light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks
Promising review: "I really didn't have high hopes for a plant that traveled through the mail, but I was blown away when this parlor palm arrived. I even waited months before writing this review, because it can take 45 days for the leaves of a palm to begin to show any signs of struggle even after it has already begun. This is one of the healthiest plants I have ever purchased. It was lush, green, and just very beautiful. I plan to buy more as gifts. I would happily recommend to others. Note: These palms don't require much water. However, the pot is very small and the plant was sucking down as much as it could get. I ended up watering every other day for the first couple of months, and ended up with great results." —Shawn
Get it from Amazon for $20.13.
6. A Xerographica air plant looks simply darling with its silvery grey leaves that curl into rosettes. No messy soil needed here — just get yourself a cute hanging basket or mounted holder to show off this silvery stunner.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: Once a week
Promising review: "This beautiful, healthy, air plant arrived as described. I was surprised to find two smaller air plants tucked in. There were detailed instructions on plant care that I have been following. The Tillandsia Xerographica is currently living in the kitchen receiving indirect light. The cats have left it alone thus far. I’m very happy with my purchase and will definitely buy more from Plants for Pets!" —e.k.c.
Get it from Amazon for $19.45.
7. A Peperomia green earned the cute nickname "baby rubber plant" thanks to its thick, succulent-esque leaves. Saying it's easy to care for would be an understatement — it can even regenerate after completely dying back to the stem!
The Peperomia green is also easily propagated using its leaf cuttings, so you could grow more!
Sun: Bright indirect to low light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks
Get it from The Sill for $44 (available in two sizes, five planter colors, and six planter styles).
8. An Echeveria lola can literally grow out of cracks in rocks, so it's more than capable of thriving in your home or backyard, so long as it can enjoy some bright sunny days. This chic succulent is a pastel dream with gorgeous dusty green and pale purple shading on its rosette-shaped leaves.
Sun: Bright direct to indirect light
Water: Every 2–3 weeks
Promising review: "The plant looked exactly as described and as in the photo. I have used the same pot that it came in since it was sturdy, had plenty of room for the plant and wasn't a tiny pot. The plant has also stayed healthy since I bought it, for about two months so far. I bought it to keep my other sucs happy by having an extra friend, and they really cheered me up when sick last month." —Ksenia
Get it from Lily Paradise Flowers on Etsy for $8.75. You can also get an echeveria lola from The Sill for $32 (available in two planter styles and six planter colors).
Lily Paradise Flowers is a Homestead, Florida-based small biz owned by a mother-daughter duo. They grow their own succulents and other plants in their backyard!
9. Boston ferns truly ~thrive~ in a hanging basket, making them great porch plants, but they can also brighten up a corner indoors and be just as happy doing it. This lush greenery can also improve the air quality inside your home!
Tip: Boston ferns simple *adore* humidity, so if you've got a bathroom with good light, you can set one in there to absorb all that excess steam. It's important to make sure they stay moist, so check out these self-watering hacks if you need a little help in the watering department.
Sun: Bright or medium light indoors, shade or part shade outdoors
Water: Enough to keep the soil moist
Promising review: "I've never ordered living plants through Amazon, especially during the Chicago winter. I was really worried they wouldn't make it through the cold. Despite that, I decided to take a chance. I've looked at various local plant stores in Chicago and they were very expensive. I was blown away at the quality and size of these ferns! I wanted ferns to help clean the air in my loft condo. I have 16-foot ceilings and I have large windows throughout that give the place ample natural light. I've been looking for ideas to fill the space above my cabinets and someone suggested plants. After some research, ferns were the best choice. I can't rave enough about how happy I am with my choice. I took some pictures. Keep in mind these were taken at night. During the day, they look even better!" —Steven Y.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $39.96.
10. An earth star plant grows long, serrated leaves that almost resemble a starfish thanks to their deep pink shade. It doesn't get very big and would make a striking desk companion!
In general, the brighter the light they receive, the more colorful an earth star's leaves are.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: When soil is dry to the touch (more frequently in summer than winter)
Promising review: "This seller sure didn't disappoint. They were shipped quickly. The plants were wrapped incredibly well so there would be no damage. They are beautiful and healthy. Highly recommend." —Jennifer Smith
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
11. A string of hearts may start out small, but give it time and proper care, and you'll have its lovely strands of heart-shaped leaves cascading over the edge of a bookshelf eventually.
Sun: Bright indirect to direct light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks, when soil is dry
Promising review: "So in love with this string of hearts! Wish I had taken a picture of it when I got it. It was delivered with care. It was wrapped nicely and was not damaged at all. I gave it a week to adjust before I repotted it in a tiny terracotta coffee mug (pictured above). Drilled a hole, gave it some cactus soil and perlite, watered it once a week, kept it in a southeast-facing window in the morning, and move it to a southwest-facing window in the evening. Let me tell you! She has tripled in size! It's been a month today and I'm just so blown away with how quickly she's grown! Absolutely in love!" —Ting
Get it from Amazon for $21.58.
12. Similarly named, a string of turtles also trails its adorable leaves over the side of its pot, each of which looks like the back of a tortoise shell. It's turtles all the way down!
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: When top 2 inches of soil feels dry
Promising review: "My little tiny plant is already growing more turtles. So happy. I love my purchase, and it was packaged with care and love." —Melinda
Get it from Wishlist Land on Etsy for $7.99+ (originally $9.99+) (available in five pot sizes).
Wishlist Land is a Los Angeles-based small biz that sells a variety of live houseplants.
13. The fishbone cactus isn't your average cactus — its distinctive fishbone-shaped stems can trail for over a foot long! If you're patient enough, you *might* even see it bloom with soft pink flowers, which open up at night and only last one day.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks, when soil is dry
Promising review: "This plant is absolutely beautiful and so healthy!! I order from many plant suppliers online and I have never received one packaged so meticulously. This thing could have been lost at sea for a month and it still would have arrived alive and happy! It shipped and arrived quickly as well. I now search California Tropicals when I'm on Amazon to get right to this seller's products! So happy." —Ashley Beauchesne
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
14. A polka dot plant will make a ~splash~ in any room you place it, looking pretty in pink with its vibrant leaves.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: When the top 1/2-inch of soil has gone dry
Promising review: "These are so beautiful and they grow like crazy! I was worried about purchasing them since I ordered them in the winter time, but I'm very pleased with how well they have adapted. These are very resilient plants and I would definitely purchase something from this company again." —Jack Justice
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
15. A moth orchid blooms once a year for up to three months, so don't fret when you see its flower eventually wilt and fall off — this lil' bb is just storing up energy for its next blooming cycle. Its soft orange flowers are worth the wait.
Sun: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1–2 weeks
Get it from The Sill for $75 (available in three planter colors).
16. A majesty palm will tower over a room when well cared for, reaching up to 10 feet tall (unless you prune it down)! If your personal plant aesthetic = jungle, having one of these bad boys around is a must.
Sun: Bright indirect to direct light
Water: Every 1–2 weeks
Promising review: "These were totally sold out at all of the nurseries around town so I took a chance ordering online. So happy I did...they were packaged wonderfully and they are doing better and are more healthy than ones I bought in person last year. Very happy with my purchase!!" —Michelle A. Parr
Get it from Amazon for $54.99.
18. On top of being pet-safe, African violets are capable of blooming year-round when properly cared for, making them one of the most popular house plants around. They have soft, fuzzy leaves and come in a variety of colors ranging from white to purple, so you might be tempted to pick up several once you get the hang of caring for one.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Water: When soil is 25% dry; keep moist but never too soggy
Promising review: "Oh my goodness! This African violet is so big, beautiful, and healthy!! It was packaged so well, it's difficult to believe it went through the mail. I plan to use this shop again. Thank you so much. 🥰" —Gina Pardun
Get it from Florida Plants & Gardens on Etsy for $12.97 (originally $25.95) (available in four colors).
Florida Plants & Gardens is a Lantana, Florida-based small biz on Etsy that sells all sorts of live houseplants.
19. A money tree is said to bring good luck and fortune to its owner and create good feng shui when placed in a room! Watering it couldn't be much simpler — you just add a few ice cubes to its base once a week.
Sun: Bright indirect to medium light
Water: Add two ice cubes (or 3 tablespoons of water) once a week for a 5-inch plant (but follow the instructions that come with your plant; number of ice cubes may vary).
Promising review: "I'm a single female adult with no children. My life is pretty busy. This pandemic has been a sad blessing for me. I'm able to stay home and relax. For the longest I've wanted something to come home to after my 12 hours of work. This plant is beautiful. I made jokes to my mom and sisters about them having a grandchild and niece. They all have agreed that it's beautiful. Thank you." —Kryssi
Get it from Amazon for $41.99.
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