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 because they may be toxic.Learning how to protect your plants from pets can help keep them safe and healthy.
Step 1: Purchase stands for your plants.
You can place the pots on tall plant stands if you are worried about your pets.Plants can be kept out of your pet's reach with the decorative stands.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 hard to reach places.
If you can, position your plants on window ledges or on top of furniture.Hanging baskets that are ceiling mounted are a good option.In some cases, you may be able to prevent a pet from jumping onto a windowsill by crowding it with plants.Depending on your pet, how high you have to put your plants is up to you.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.
Step 3: Plants can be moved to rooms that are off-limits to your 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 a sunny room, put most of your plants in there.The plants will be less tempting to your pets.It may take some getting used to.Pets need to be kept out of the plant room.The door to that room needs to be closed at all times.
Step 4: Show your disapproval.
If you're tired of your pets attacking or munching on 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 disapproval.When 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 remember not to hurt your pet.Hitting your pet will not help with training.
Step 5: Good behavior can 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 likes may be more effective.
Step 6: You should be consistent with your training.
It will take some effort and patience to get your pet to stay away from your plants.Consistency and repetition are the keys to successful training.Showing your disapproval and redirecting your pet will save your plants in the long run.When your pet starts 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 aren't 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.Cats and dogs will attempt to eat or overturn plants if these sprays are not applied regularly.The spray product is called "bitter apple".It's a good idea to spray it on your pets.
Step 8: Put the soil in your pots.
Pets like to dig in the soil and are attracted to plants.Pets have been known to 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.If you have potted plants, consider covering the soil with large rocks.The water you give your plant will trickle down to the soil, but your pets will have limited access to it.You can cover the surface of the soil with items that are unattractive to pets.You can use prickly pine cones or aluminum foil to cover the surface of the soil.
Step 9: Plants that pets don't like.
There are plants that pets don't like because of the smell.You can keep these plants in your home because they are not toxic to pets.Both Coleus canina and Rosemary are known as scaredy cat plants.
Step 10: Plants can be grown specifically for your pets.
If you can't keep your pets from damaging your plants, grow more attractive options for them.Having these plants available may lead your pet to ignore your other plants.Cat grass, mint, and catnip are 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.Succulent 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 pets.There is an extensive list of plants that are toxic to pets that can be found online.