Safe plants... What do you prefer?

[managermania]

I have read the "safe plant" posts as well as a ton of other sites on the subject. I am looking for a plant or two to set in the bottom of my indoor aviary. Something that is not too huge or expensive. I won't mind if they mess it up, but something they will not shred instantly. I can always replace it. What do you all prefer, enjoy, and had luck with? I need to be able to get it at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Thanks for the help and info as always!

[Ursula]

Right now I don't have any live plants anymore (they destroyed them all and I am also lazy with watering... ) but any types of ferns and palms work great. I guess it depends on how big your aviary is... Keep in mind that they WILL get dirty and depending of the types of birds that you keep they eventually will be destroyed. Stores like Walmart and Home Depot or Lowes have sometimes pretty good sales on house plants. I once got very small palms for $1 at Home Depot, but that's rare...

[colorin]

I do have plants. One is a "dragon tree" or "corn plant" (dracaena marginata) which is definitelly non-toxic as juveniles are destroying it and they are not sick or anything!! The poor plant looked wonderful until these chicks decided that chewing it was fun!

[dfcauley]

At the moment I have about 5 big ferns in my aviary. I keep some on the deck and swap them out every weekend. That way they don't look so bad. The birds LOVE them. As for watering.... I recycle the water from their bird baths.

[Sally]

Schefflera (umbrella tree) would make a good aviary plant, too, I would think. The variegated type wouldn't show the poop!

[Intyme]

I have a boston fern in mine, the birds love it and they use the dead fern parts as a nesting material. So basically they are pruning it for me!