Spiderplant!

How about some kind of cactus?

Hadn't thought of a Spiderplant! That might work, but not sure I want something hanging over the right edge where the hot fireplace door sometimes hits.

Any other ideas?? I thought we had a bunch of plant experts here? :-)

A jade plant won't turn towards the light and I think the 2 different shades of green would be pretty.

Uxorial - Don't you think watering the other plant would give the cactus too much water? I do already have a small cactus that has been moved to a guest room because Winston found it quite tasty even with all those "thorns"! Not cat-friendly in his case! lol

If you water a jade plant OR a cactus every two weeks, it will rot. It holds water in its stems and should only be watered about once a month. I would take that plant out, put it in a smaller pot, and plant something else in this pot. If you really want to put another plant in with this one, think about a fern of some type.

There aren't many plants that won't grow toward the light -in fact they all will after a while.

Lynne - the Jade plant might be the perfect solution! They can handle the warmer temperatures and I don't think it would spill outside of the planter very much. Thanks! Those are easy to find too! Not sure if my cat would chew on it or not.

Any more ideas are welcome!!

Thanks Kayjones for that info. Maybe that is why my last Jade plant died? I did have a fern in this spot before and it didn't do well with the heat (we burn wood 24/7 during the colder months).

Maybe I should just pot a fake plant there? There are some realistic ones these days.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is the best houseplant. It is easy to maintain and practically impossible to kill! I have one on my coffee table.

~ medium light

~ keep soil moist

~ fertilize every 1-2 months

Birds nest Sansevieria? They don't get very high, but they do multiply.

Here is a link that might be useful: Not the best picture

Most of my plants are outdoor plants. I'd repot that one into something smaller, and use that pot outside. I'd put a scaevola (fan flower) in it outside.

Leslie

Leslie, that container is very gorgeous! It is set off nicely by the rock mulch - GREAT job!

Thanks kay, but sorry to say the 2 different plants didn't do well together. The petunias needed more water than the scaevola like, and the scaevola petered out. I did like the colors together though.
Leslie

czech chick, Chinese Evergreens are poisonous to cats.

As is Philodendron, Dracaena and Dieffenbachia (which is what your plant looks like, Lydia?)

You might want to check the Cat Fanciers list of poisonous plants before you bring something into the house. Just to be on the safe side, especially if your cat is a muncher.

By the way if your cat is munching on greenery you might want to get some cat grass at the grocery store or pet shop. We always keep kitty grass in the house. I can tell when it's gettig old because one of the cats starts chewing on the houseplants. But as long as there is grass, he avoids the plants.

You can also spray Bitter Apple on the leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cat Fanciers list of poisonous plants

Aloe?

That is quite a list Tally! Thanks!

The plant is a Syngonium...or it sure looks like mine.no clue if its on the list though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arrowhead Vine

Lydia,
Is the soil totally dry when you water your plant? If so, the jade may still do just fine. There are differences of opinion on jade plants. As Kay Jones points out, if they get too much water the will rot. However, some experts have said that they can take more water than a lot of other experts say they can. It may be worth the experiment. Aloes would be pretty too, but they are succulent like the aloes.
Good luck.

In my opinion ..... I don't think you need anything else in that pot with that plant. I think it needs re-potted. You could also take cuttings of it and root those cuttings in water; and once they have taken root....start a few more plants. The plant is leaning toward the light.....rotate the pot daily..... BUT it does need re-potting and in a slightly larger pot. I would think that if you'd put another plant in that pot with it....they'd both be striving. I say, re-pot and take a few cuttings for a new plant.

The Syngonium is listed on the Cat Fanciers Poison list as Nephthytis!!!! It's POISONOUS!!!

Scientific Name
Syngonium podophyllum
Common Name
Nephthytis, African evergreen, arrowhead vine CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN!

Characteristics
Family
Araceae
Plant Description
Perennial, evergreen, climbing herb; leaves alternate, simple, arrow-shaped, often mottled; flowers on a spadix surrounded by a spathe.

Where Found
Houseplant or interiorscape.

Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts.

Symptoms
Irritation of lips, tongue, and throat.
Toxic Principle
Calcium oxalate crystals.

Severity
CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN!

Good Grief!! I think whatever plant you decide upon, you'd better check on it carefully (under ALL of it's common names) if you have pets in the house.

Here is a link that might be useful: Syngonium podophyllum POISONOUS!!!!

Creeping Charlies and Wandering Jews play well with other plants. They don't hang down as much as a spider plant and if you keep them pinched back become lush and full. They grow out rather than down.

They actually thrive on neglect...at least mine do.

I didn't know philodendrons are poisonous? Somebody better tell Holly; she's destroyed several of them them. LOL
Lori

How about a dwarf Shefflera (umbrella plant) or Arboricola?
I have one that I have had for 25 years. I let it spead out to the sides, but you can prune them however you want to.

href=http://www.plant-care.com/schefflera-arboricola.html

Similar plants that are low light and easy to care for. You can usually find them at garden centers as well as WalMart, etc. Target has silk ones if you want that.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Plants

Unfortunately Shefflera's are toxic too.

Lydia, I really think you'd do best with a silk plant - pet friendly and no worries about light and water. Works for me! :)

Lydia, if you didn't have the source of light coming in from the window on the side, and only from the skylight, then your syngonium wouldn't be so lopsided. It wants more light, and will grow toward that light source. Most indoor plants (maybe all - mine anyway) need to be rotated a 1/4 turn with each watering, or once or twice a week, for balanced growth. And there isn't enough plant in that pot, in that the syngonium could be cut back, it's tips rooted and then replanted into that pot to make it fuller, or the whole plant placed into a smaller pot. Since it's a vining plant, it will eventually look thin near the base unless you keep adding new rooted tips, or if it's getting enough light it will put out new little ones from the base come the new spring sunshine (mine did).

You are welcome to check out the houseplants forum, the people over there would be able to give you lots of ideas for low light plants for that spot. But I suspect all the plants would have to be rotated for that even growth.

As for cat friendly, I think all plants can be poisonous to kitties, just depends if your kitty is a muncher or not. My cat initiates each new houseplant I bring into the house, but just once, he gives it a good chomp, licks his chops in distaste, and leaves it alone (well, except for the Parlour palm I've just brought home - I think because it resembles grass he seems to want to bother it more, so I've had to place it where he can't get to it!).

Happy plant hunting (silk or real).

Kioni, it's simply not true that all plants are toxic to cats.

The ASPCA Poison Control center has a list of safe plants for pet owners.

As for pet owners who have toxic plants in their homes and their cats munch on them and they have no side effects - Lucky you, or perhaps you just didn't notice any discomfort or side effects. Poisonous doesn't necessarily mean deadly.

Either way, these lists are published all over the internet (including the ASPCA Poison Control Center) to raise awareness so pet owners can make informed choices.

It's up to the individual pet owner to decide whether or not the risk is worth it.

Here is a link that might be useful: ASPCA: Non Toxic Plants for Pet Owners

Dracena?

My suggestions above came from my own experience.

The Shefflera I mentioned has been ignored by at least 6-8 cats that I have had over time.

In addition to it I still have a Poinsettia on the coffee table, a croton right beside a chair where my cat sits to look out the window. She pays no attention to them.

The only plant she has ever wanted to eat is the Purple Shamrock, (Oxalis) and I think she would kill to get to it. I find that I have to keep it in the garage over Winter and outside in Summer. It is not listed as toxic/poisonous but I still don't want her to eat it.

Cats can be trained to stay away from plants also.

Crotons are really nice colorful plants. Yoy might want to consider one of those.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Croton

I realize after looking on the poisoness list that I also have a Corn Plant...but Winston has left that alone.

Not sure what I will do now. I looked through the non-poisoness list and didn't see anything that I was familar with. The things I did look up wouldn't work with the heat/light situation.

Maybe I'll give away the plant and planter I have now and get a large ceramic figurine of some sort to take it's place? lol Let's see the cat try to eat that!

Trying again,

How about an herb such as Thyme? It would stay low, smell good, (you could throw a bit into the fire if you wanted the whole house to smell) and you could even use it in your cooking.

There are lots of other herbs, depending on where you live they will start appearing in nurserys soon, I just said Thyme since I walked past it coming in the door.

Ellie

I wonder if a Prayer Plant would work there? It sounds like warm temps and no direct sun?

Here is a link that might be useful: Prayer plant

I like the idea of herbs.

Try aloe vera.
They grow quickly and fill out fast too.
Mine do well with no direct sunlight.
You just have to rotate it every time you water.

Do you want starts from my wandering jew and creeping charlie plants? They grow anywhere and do it fast.

I will.
Some moist paper towels and baggie'll keep 'em good a few days through the mail...

Lori