If you have a dim corner in your house and want to add a tropical view with indoor trees that are also safe for your lovely playful kitty, join me in this post to show you the best low light indoor trees safe for cats.
I’m a plant pathologist who works as a horticulture advisor. Here, I want to tell you all the things you should know to have a cat-friendly indoor garden with low light trees. I will provide you with their names, images, benefits, and pro tips for caring for them including watering, light requirements, fertilization, best soil mix, propagation, and their pest and diseases.
Please note that however the following houseplants consider low light indoor trees safe for cats but all of them prefer bright places and are not very low-light indoor plants. now, let start
What Are Low Light Indoor Trees Safe for Cats?
Parlor Palm
Scientific name: Chamaedorea elegans
Other common names: Neanthe Bella Palm, Good Luck Palm, Miniature Fishtail Palm.
Parlor Palms are compact, graceful plants with delicate, feathery green fronds. They typically have multiple stems, creating a bushy appearance.
Parlor Palms not only are low light indoor trees safe for cats but also have air-purifying qualities that can remove pollutants from the indoor air. Hence you can also consider Parlor palm one of the best low light indoor plants for bedrooms. Additionally, they are relatively low-maintenance houseplants too. let’s find out pro tips about caring for them.
Caring points for Parlor Palms:
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top inch of the soil feels dry. however, pots without drainage holes are more attractive but are not proper for these indoor plants.
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels. However, avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves.
Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix. You can provide it with a combination of peat moss, perlite, and pine bark. You must also ensure good aeration for the roots.
Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer).
Pests: Spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs can be common pests. Keep an eye out for webs, tiny bugs, or cottony masses on the leaves.
Diseases: Parlor Palms can be susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, leading to root rot. Ensure well-draining soil and avoid waterlogged conditions.
Propagation: Can be propagated through division by separating the offsets from the main plant.
Money Tree
Scientific name: Pachira Aquatica
Other common names: Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut, Provision Tree, Saba Nut.
Money Trees have a distinctive braided trunk and large, palmate leaves. The leaves are typically glossy and can have five to seven leaflets.
Do you know why people call it “Money Tree”? It’s due to some culture’s belief that the Money tree brings good luck and prosperity. Are you a fan of Feng Shui? Lucky bamboo is also a good luck houseplant that can thrive in low light but unfortunately is toxic for cats.
I love the Money tree not only for Feng shui belief but also due to it is an attractive and resilient plant that can adapt to various indoor conditions. if Money Trees are your favorite low light indoor trees safe for cats, let me tell you pro tips about caring for them.
Caring points for Money Trees:
Watering: Allow the top inch of the soil (1-2 inches of the topsoil) to dry out before the next watering. You should water thoroughly, but avoid waterlogging. As I say always, in winter, you must reduce the frequency of watering, allowing the soil to dry out more. Do you know why?
Light: Prefers bright, indirect light and can also tolerate some direct sunlight, but you should protect them from intense, prolonged sun exposure, which can lead to leaf burn. Money trees can also thrive in dim corners of your house making them perfect low light indoor trees safe for cats.
Soil: you must use well-draining soil while retaining some moisture for example a loamy soil mix. A combination of potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark can also work well for Money trees.
Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season.
Propagation: Can be propagated through stem cuttings. Allow the cut end to dry before planting in the soil.
Pests: Spider mites, aphids, and scale insects may infest Money Trees. Inspect the leaves for any signs of pests and treat them accordingly.
Diseases: Overwatering can lead to root rot, and poor drainage may cause fungal issues. Allow the topsoil to dry between waterings to prevent these problems.
Majesty Palm
Scientific name: Ravenea rivularis
Other common names: Majestic Palm, Majestie Palm, Majestic Majesty Palm.
It is one of my favorite indoor plants with arching, feather-like fronds that give them a tropical appearance. I love them. The Majesty Palms usually have multiple stems growing from a central point. So Majesty Palm is a large low light indoor plant that is safe for cats.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal, I recommend adding the Majesty Palms to your indoor collection since they can contribute to indoor air purification by filtering out certain pollutants. Thanks to them. The Majesty Palms not only are low light indoor trees safe for cats but also add a touch of the tropics to interior spaces.
Caring points for Majesty Palms:
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist. Please keep in mind the Majesty Palms prefer higher humidity. Hence misting the leaves can be beneficial. I told you before about the best ways to provide humidity in indoor conditions, please read it. Although I wrote that post for lucky bamboo, the mentioned methods can be helpful for other indoor plants (such as Majesty Palms) too.
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Protect from direct sunlight that will cause scorch the leaves. However, they can tolerate lower light levels but may not grow as vigorously.
Soil: This plant likes to thrive in a well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter for example a mix of peat moss, perlite, and pine bark
Fertilizing: Feed every 4-6 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Propagation: Propagation is typically done from seeds, as it can be challenging to propagate from offshoots.
Pests: Spider mites and aphids can be common pests. Regularly inspect the undersides of the fronds for signs of infestations.
Diseases: Majesty Palms can be susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered. Ensure good drainage and avoid standing water.
Lady Palm
Scientific name: Rhapis excelsa
Other common names: Bamboo Palm, Broadleaf Lady Palm, Fan Palm.
Lady Palms are low light indoor trees safe for cats with distinctive appearance. They have fan-shaped, glossy green leaves that are divided into segments. They are clump-forming, with multiple stems emerging from the base.
These magic plants not only are suitable for spaces with lower light levels but also can contribute to air purification. Thanks to them for bringing greenery and clean air to our dim rooms. Come on to find out how to keep them happy.
Caring points for Lady Palms:
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist. However, they prefer slightly more moisture than some other palms but do not like waterlogged conditions. As I told you before, you must allow the top inch to dry out between waterings.
Pots with enough holes in the bottom can help you with this issue. however, if you are interested in planting your Lady Palm in a cachepot, read my previous articles about how to prevent root rot in pots without holes, to keep healthy your houseplant.
Light: Tolerates lower light levels but prefers bright, indirect light. Lady Palms are known for their resilience and adaptability to various light conditions, however, you must avoid exposing them to direct sunlight, which can damage the leaves.
Soil: Use a well-draining, slightly acidic soil mix. You can make it with a mix of peat moss, perlite, and pine bark or coconut coir.
Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Propagation: Can be propagated by division, separating the offsets from the main plant.
Pests: Spider mites, scale insects, and aphids may be problematic. Check the leaf undersides and stems for any signs of infestations.
Diseases: Overwatering can lead to root rot, and fungal leaf spot diseases may occur in humid conditions. Maintain proper watering practices and ensure good air circulation.
Areca Palm
Scientific name: Dypsis lutescens
Other common names: Butterfly Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Yellow Palm, Bamboo Palm.
Everyone loves to have Areca Palms in the dim corner of her/his house. they have feathery, arching fronds with narrow leaflets. their multiple stems growing from the base can cover the ugly walls of your house. The cats are often attracted to playing with its foliage and these tall indoor trees are not toxic for them.
Another thing that makes them perfect indoor plants is Areca Palms are excellent air purifiers that remove pollutants from the indoor environment. These low light indoor trees safe for cats add a tropical feel to interiors.
Caring points for Areca Palms:
Watering: Although you must keep the soil consistently moist, Areca Palms prefers well-draining soil. hence if you want to take advantage of appealing to the cachepots, read my article about the best ways to plant in pots without holes. If you can provide high humidity, your Areca Palms will reward you with more greenery foliage.
Light: They prefer bright, indirect light, however, you must protect them from direct sunlight. While they can tolerate lower light levels, they may not thrive as well.
Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix that can provide good aeration for the roots. I recommend a combination of peat moss, perlite, and a bit of sand. It often works well for Areca Palms.
Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Propagation: Can be propagated through division by separating the offsets from the main plant.
Pests: Spider mites, scale insects, and aphids can be common. Inspect the fronds regularly for signs of pests.
Diseases: Areca Palms are susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Ensure well-draining soil and allow the topsoil to dry between waterings to prevent fungal issues.
Conclusion
I tried to provide you with the best low light indoor trees safe for cats. I showed you their images and told you about how to care for them. which one of them was on top of your favorite list of houseplants? why?
Most of the mentioned trees can also purify the air. Can you tell our readers about other houseplants that can clean air and be safe for cats? If you have a dim room that wants to add color there, read my post about low light colorful indoor plants.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.