Help me find a houseplant please.

1st - Non poisonous. I have 2 dogs.
2nd - Low light. It will be placed about 5 feet away from a NE facing window and glass panel door which receive dappled light.
3rd - Size can't be more than about 10"x10" upright, however it can cascade 12"-18". I can prune it or pinch it to maintain size if needed.
4th - Doesn't need to flower, but I would like some interesting foliage like Aglaonema (poisonous I know).

Anyone?
I promise to post pics if you'd like when I've gotten it.
Thanks in advance for any help.
-Andrew

Sounds like you want the impossible .
Buy your self a plastic flower arrangement and save the heart ache .

Oh, I think we can do better than that.

I've been looking for a list of plants that are safe for dogs. I've found one that lists plants safe for cats here: http://catcrazy.freecyberzone.com/shopping_page.html I'm still searching, but Andrew, perhaps you could look through the list on that page and see if anything fits your condition, and then look up that specific plant in regards to dogs. I'll continue my search, but wanted to put something up here to at least give you a little hope.

Here's a link to the ASPCA's list of Non-toxic plants. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_nontoxicplants

Just taking a quick look, it looks like the Polka-Dot Plant, Hypoestes would work. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/752/index.html It has neat foliage, and when you prune it to keep it to the right size, you could root all the cuttings.

A Prayer Plant, Maranta, might work for you, too. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54735/index.html

I can't imagine they'll get much light at all where you're wanting to keep them, so you might want to get two or three plants and rotate them between this place and another where they would get a bit better light. You would only have to rotate them every couple weeks, or maybe less often, depending on how they're looking. They'd probably grow pretty slowly with that low amount of light, too. Or perhaps you've got a lamp close to this area that you could put one of those fluorescent lights that will fit where you'd usually use an incandescent light bulb and give it supplemental light that way.

I hope you can find something that will work for you! :o)

Edited to say I'd love to see pics of what you choose! :o)

This message was edited Apr 22, 2007 2:47 PM

how about purple passion?

Or an African Mask http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53992/index.html ? Although they may be a little too tall...

Train the dogs to stay out of the plants first thing. Even if you find a non-toxic solution, who wants a mess to clean up or half eaten plants. If you want the pets (dogs or cats) to eat your plants there are some plants at the pet stores that are supposed to have some benefits and should be placed in their area.

Generally a chew toy or treat should keep the dogs out of your plants and disciplining them when they do stray will go a long way. We had more problems keeping our dog out of the laundry (a few socks were ingested) and trash (Q-tips, kleenex, dental floss always ended up on the floor or out on the lawn) when he was a puppy than the few plants we had around the house but then we didn't let him get on the furniture to get to the plants' levels.

Edited due to sticking my foot in my mouth.
Patti

This message was edited Apr 24, 2007 12:21 PM

hcmcdole & rose318,
I've never had either of my dogs eat or destroy plants in or around the house. I know your intentions were there, however it's not an issue of my dogs behavior. I'm simply trying to find safe plants 'just in case'. Please, let's not make this sound like I'm a poor pet owner, haven't trained my pets, or that they are misbehaved.

Back on topic:

ellesgh,
Does 'purple passion' have another name?

I went into a Lowes, HomeDepot, WalMart, and Kmart today looking for Maranta, Saxifraga, Chlorophytum, and Hypoestes today with no luck at all. I guess I'll hit up the nurseries later this week.

Thanks everyone for the help.

I am sorry Mullettman. My intention were not to imply your were bad pet owner. Please forgive me if that is how it sounds. I know my kids and pets try to test me all the time, and yes they do get away with things. That doesn't make us bad parents or pet owners. I also try to buy plants that aren't dangerous to my babies just in case. They are animals after all.
Please except my appology.
Patti

Andrew - I believe this is the link to the purple passion: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2570/index.html

yes that the link
the are eaise to grow and an inside plant

here picture

I have two peace lilies in my house ( and we keep it relatively dark) and two pit bulls who are very curious and love to dig and chew....never touch them. My cat will sniff at it, but then she walks away. lol The dogs don't even go near them. They pawed at my desert rose (which is poisonous or rather its numbing for animals) before the peace lily. I was waiting to see if they'd actually try to harm the plant...seeing if their mouths would go numb, but they didn't either. It was more the dirt that caught their attention.

have to join in on this fun!!!! I have two labs 7 months old....they aren't allowed in the house yet!!!! (except to sleep in pet pens) They were doing so well in learning to leave my plants alone outside.....little accident yesterday....they decided to chew up my very favorite hibiscus....
what am I gonna do??? laugh and hope this is the last one!!!
PS....I have lots of plants which are poisonous....they better stay away!!!! (LOL)

Oh no, Gessiegail! I doubt it will be the last. I watched my friends boxer mix for about a month (before we got our dogs) and she ate two rose bushes thorns and all! I didn't know that azaleas were poisonous until I saw it on one of the forums. I just planted four azaleas, but before I did, my dogs dug them out of their pots. The plants themselves were completely intact. I think they know better what to chew on. My dogs apparently just like to be dirty and play in the dirt. lol So far, they have eaten a begonia and a yucca tree and kept knocking over my mini rose until I moved it to the front. They haven't touched the snapdragons, the stock or the rose bushes.

Gessiegail, if it makes you feel better I think the hibisus are just deliciously enticing to animals. This may sound weird, but there is a baseball field right in front of my work and they have a goat. He likes to sneak over to our property and eat our hibiscus too!

I think it is because of the woody thick stems....they love to chew......
gail

What about Spider Plant or Wandering Jew? Both non-poisonous. I don't think my dog knows I have any house plants. Outside proves to be a different story.