5 low-maintenance, pet-safe plants for your motorhome!

Looking to add a touch of life and greenery to your motorhome or campervan? A house plant can be the perfect way to add a homely touch to your vehicle!

We’ve put together the ultimate list of relatively low-maintenance plants making them ideal for travel life if you’re constantly on the move and don’t have the time or resources to care for high-maintenance plants. Or if you’re a plant beginner they’re the perfect introduction to plant care.

All of the plants on this list are non-toxic to cats and dogs so you don’t need to worry about any emergency trips to the vets while on your travel adventures.

 

Spider plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

 

First on the list is the practically unkillable spider plant. Spider plants are known for their unique physical features, The plant gets its name from its long and slender leaves that resemble the legs of a spider. Spider plants leaves are typically green with white or yellow stripes running down the centre, this gives them a bold and striking appearance that is bound to stand out in your motorhome!

If you’re prone to forgetting about your plants a spider plant should be your go-to, although you should water your plants fairly regularly a spider plant can go weeks without water without showing too much signs of damage. Spider plants are also easily propagated too, meaning that you can gift baby plants to all your motorhoming friends!

Something interesting about spider plants is that they are hydroponic plants, this means they can be grown in water instead of using soil. If you wish to grow your spider plant in water you’ll need to completely wash the roots so there is no remaining soil on it. Then place the plant’s stem and roots into the water, make sure the leaves are not in the water as it will make them wither.

 

Plant Care

Watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry (water roughly once a week)

Light: Indirect sunlight

(Or if growing the spider plant in water change the water every one to two weeks.)

 

 

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata)

 

The luscious green Boston Fern is a popular houseplant, its standout features are its blooming green foliage and long fonds which give a distinctive feather-like appearance. To give your camper-van or motorhome a look of grace or elegance a Boston Fern is a great choice!

The Boston Fern is a slight step up in care compared to the spider plant but still relatively easy to care for. These plants thrive in humid environments, making them ideal for small, enclosed spaces where humidity levels can be higher than in an average room. (This plant’s love of high humidity means that if your leisure vehicle has a shower and you keep this plant in the bathroom it will thrive!)

A benefit of Boston ferns is that they are air-purifying plants, meaning they can help to remove harmful toxins and pollutants from the air. A NASA investigation titled “A Study of Interior Land-scape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement” (which is a fancy way of saying what house plants are effective for purifying air pollution) found that the Boston Fern is one of the most effective plants for removing airborne pollutants. This is great for motorhome owners who may be spending extended periods in their vehicles as these plants can help to improve air quality and make the space more comfortable to live in.

 

Plant Care

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist (but make sure the soil is not drenched)

Light: Place in a bright or lightly shaded spot that is out of direct sunlight

Pro tip: As this plant thrives from humidity occasionally misting this plant with water will help it flourish.

 

 

Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya)

 

Add a pop of colour to your vehicle with the polka dot plant! The polka dot plant is famous for its vibrant and colourful foliage, you’ll easily recognise this plant by its distinctive and unique pink, red, or white spotted leaves.

The polka dot plant is quite small making it a great plant for those in campervans or smaller mo-torhomes. This space-conscious plant can add a touch of plant life without taking up too much room and can be easily stored on something like a spice rack or a small shelf!

One of the great things about the Polka Dot Plant is its adaptability. It can thrive in a range of light-ing conditions, from bright indirect light to moderate shade. This makes it a great option for a mo-torhome, where lighting conditions can vary depending on where you’re parked.

 

Plant Care

Watering: Water when half an inch of the topsoil has dried out

Light: Place in bright but indirect light

 

 

Krimson Queen (Hoya Carnosa)

 

The Krimson Queen is a beautiful climber plant that adds a touch of vibrance and life to any space making it perfect for van life. The plant consists of thick waxy green leaves covered with white patches giving it a visually striking look! If you treat this plant well it will bloom in pink clusters of aromatic flowers. What’s unique about these flowers too is their star shape, which is made up of a pink tint on the outside with a smaller white star-shaped centre.

A Krimson Queen plant would make a great addition to your motorhome or campervan as it’s a low-maintenance plant that requires minimal care; it thrives in bright, indirect light and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels making it ideal if you’re touring all over in your vehicle!

One thing that is important to consider if you have pets is that while this plant is not toxic if ingest-ed by your cat or dog it can cause irritation and discomfort for your animal. For best practice it would be a good idea to keep these plants out of reach from your pet.

 

Plant Care

Watering: Water when half an inch of the topsoil has dried out

Light: Place in bright indirect sunlight

 

 

Marimo moss balls (Aegagropila linnaei)

 

If you still feel that you are utterly hopeless with plants, then this last plant is definitely for you. Introducing the moss ball (it’s essentially like a fuzzy green pet rock!) The moss ball is a rare growth form of Aegagropila linnae, it can be stored in a open or closed container (although a closed con-tainer is probably better for travel.) They are cheap to purchase and require little care beyond a water change every couple of weeks making them a cost-effective way to add greenery to your campervan or motorhome.

A fun and creative aspect of owning a moss ball is you can design its container, feel free to add whatever decorations you like from interesting rocks and colourful pebbles to small ornaments, you can get as imaginative as you like!

Marimo moss balls can have a big visual impact, especially with decoration, without taking up too much valuable space in your motorhome. Although these plants may not be able to provide the same level of companionship as a furry friend, through personalisation they can also be used as a substitute for a pet if you are unable to bring one with you on the road. Marimo moss balls are a great way to add some life to your motorhome and help you feel more connected to nature.

 

Plant Care

Watering: Replace water every two weeks

Light: Medium indirect light.

Cleaning: If you get any algae begin to grow just brush it off

 

 

Pet safety

While none of the plants listed here are toxic to your pets, they are not intended for consumption. Make sure to always supervise your pets’ interactions with these plants.

 

Plant advice infographic