Ferrets and House Plants

[floofnoodle]

Hi!
My ferrets love digging things up and I would like to get them some pot plants that are not toxic. They don't have to be indoor plants, anything is fine. I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions? Thanks

[caitmonster]

Hehe I'm sure you know this already, but be prepared for an absolute mess. However, I don't know how many plants will take too kindly to being uprooted on a regular basis... what about artificial plants, stuck in some organic potting soil (so as to avoid fertilizers and other potentially toxic additives)? That way your fuzzies get the joy of causing some destruction, with something you can just put back in place with no repercussions.

[Corvidophile]

Just grass is a nice safe bet, it won’t die too easily like many plants will when repeatedly having their roots scratched. You can use a bunch of clumps from outside, or buy seeds and dirt. Grass seed often comes in prefertilized clay or paper pellets- you don’t want this, very bad if swallowed. You want loose uncoated seed. Maybe buy chia, since that’s a food item and kid’s project it can probably be purchased in much smaller quantities so you can plant a handful at a time, let it sprout, and then give the container to the ferrets to destroy. Beans are also cheap and sprout easily, and they can enjoy digging through a pile of dry beans too. If you buy dirt instead of digging it up, just make sure it doesn’t have fertilizer pellets in it. I don’t know the safety of those styrofoam balls they put in potting soil, either.

[floofnoodle]

Thanks caitmonster and Corvidophile, I will try these both and see which my ferrets prefer - definitely good ideas!

[unclejoe]

put them on a table where the ferrets absolutely cannot get to. A folding tv dinner table is best, and it can't be near anything they can climb. Dar24 has just about given up on indoor plants. They have killed 4 year old orchids, a 5 year old poinsettia that she had moved in and outside for all those years. Don't get too attached to your plants

[abbeytheferret6]

I accidentally left bedroom door open. LOL looking at it now, but---OMG when I first saw it. My boy at work on a new carpet. Sucked it all up with the hose first before rolling vacuum cleaner on it.

[abbeytheferret6]

I don’t know the safety of those styrofoam balls they put in potting soil, either.

I think they possibly could get stuck in ferrets throat--even though tiny.

[floofnoodle]

Aug 3, 2020 7:17:37 GMT -5 abbeytheferret6 said:

I accidentally left bedroom door open. LOL looking at it now, but---OMG when I first saw it. My boy at work on a new carpet. Sucked it all up with the hose first before rolling vacuum cleaner on it.
 

Oh no! Hope it wasn't too much hassle to clean up :/

[Kavinsky]

I used to keep succulents all the time but as soon as I got Skadi, NOWHERE WAS SAFE FOR THE PLANTS! And now she's taught Freya to Frigg to climb to literally anywhere so I've just given up keeping plants at this point, Skadi is deaf and somehow it doesn't effect her balance at all, she gets everywhere and is just as agile as a hearing ferret, and I have no doubt that she'll teach Laufey, Sigyn and Roskva how to climb in no time and Roskva is missing a front leg because Frigg over groomed her at birth but I have no doubt that she too will be able to defy logic and get EVERYWHERE when she's a bit bigger lol

[sara]

Ferrets will destroy most plants.  Mine live in an interior atrium and l had to move all the plants out after l got my first ferrets.  There are several orchids that are up on the wall about 5 ft.  l would only recommend something in a very large pot that also has a sturdy trunk. Any type of soft leaf will be destroyed.  And then everything needs to be topped off with layers of river rock so they don't dig the pot up.  l have a storage tub that is half full of potting soil for them to dig in.  

[PatienceTheVirtue]

Any ideas which plants are toxic to ferrets? If it's as easy as using the toxic to cats list I'll be happy lol

[abbeytheferret6]

holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/ferret-proofing-and-safety/common-household-plants-poisonous-to-pets/