Indoor trees can change the tone of a room.
Suddenly your living room is boho with a jungle feel.
For the gardener, growing trees indoors may have nothing to do with that, and will mostly just be a challenge to see if they can avoid spider mites on a parlor palm.
There is a famous study from NASA that found many species of plants can help clean the air in your home.
Whatever your reasoning behind it, if you are looking to grow a tree indoors it would be helpful to know a little about those worth the effort.
Here we reveal ten trees you should consider growing inside your home.
10 Trees You Can Grow Indoors
1. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
Parlor Palms look awesome inside the house. They can, however, be a target for spider mites.
Some plant collectors will not keep them for this reason. Or if they do, they keep them far away from the rest of their houseplant collection.
If you want to give it a shot though, make sure you pick out the healthiest looking plant in the garden section and maybe hose it off before bringing it inside and use some insecticidal soap like Neem oil.
Parlor Palms can handle low light and sporadic watering. They are also not toxic to pets.
Take a look at our pick of Parlor Palm on Amazon.
2. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
The foliage on this plant is wonderful. It gives a jungle and tropical feel.
One thing to keep in mind though is this plant is toxic if ingested so keep away from children and pets.
They can grow to reach five feet and you can propagate from any thick stem in water.
Take a look at our recommended Dumb Cane plant on Amazon.
3. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
You may have seen this plant frequently as fake foliage in someone’s dark living room.
Why not try the real thing?
They are classic and have been around in living room design for decades.
One thing to keep in mind with the ficus is they don’t like to be moved and they do easily drop leaves. They don’t like changes with temperature or light. Once you’ve got a good spot just leave it there.
It will reward you with beauty.
Take a look at our recommended Weeping Fig Tree on Amazon.
4. Yucca
Yucca is a native to the desert and has spiky leaves.
You can forget about it as long as it gets as much sun as possible. It is very drought resistant and you can water sporadically.
It’s a great indoor tree for new gardeners.
Take a look at our top pick of indoor Yucca trees on Amazon.
5. Guiana Chestnut (Pachira Aquatica)
This plant is from the South American wetlands.
You can overwater it as long as there is good drainage and it won’t harm it.
They like bright light. It’s typically called a “money tree” You’ll see them braided in pretty cups in the mall.
They do better if planted in soil than when grown in water.
Take a look at our recommended Guiana Chestnut indoor tree on Amazon here.
6. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera Arboricola)
The Umbrella Tree can grow up to eight feet tall inside your home as long as it gets enough light to do so. If it doesn’t get enough light it gets leggy.
Don’t overwater. This can cause rot and loss of leaves.
Take a look at our choice of Umbrella Tree available on Amazon.
7. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is trendy and you often see them in design magazines.
They are styled for shots on social media with their beautiful leaves that are wide and textured.
Young trees have dense foliage but this changes as they age and they look more like a tree.
It wants bright light but indirect. A window facing east will be the best place for it. Water when soil is dry. You can learn to tell this by sticking your finger in the soil up to your first knuckle.
Here’s our top pick of Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees on Amazon.
8. Rubber Plant
Rubber plants are beautiful and have that jungle feel.
You can go for more than one variety, like the tricolor.
Put it in bright indirect light and water about every week but don’t let it get soggy. Mastering this can be tricky.
This is our pick of Rubber Plants available on Amazon.
9. Calamondin Orange Tree
This tree can survive inside all year without going outside in the summer.
They produce tiny sour fruits, but they have fragrant white flowers. Your house will smell amazing when this tree is blooming.
Take a look at our choice of Calamondin Orange Plants on Amazon here.
10. Jade Plant
Jades are small at the start but over time they get thick stems. They can grow to about three feet tall – but only if you prune them right!
You should plant this in a well-draining mix and give it conditions that are dry and warm. You want the soil to be moist but not soaked. If leaves shrivel it needs more water than you are giving it.
Try growing a jade plant from a cutting for free plants – and the most satisfying way to grow a houseplant. Here’s our guide to doing that.
Here’s our favorite Jade Plant available on Amazon.
The Final Word
Now that you know about which trees suit your indoor environment you can purchase them and give life to your home.
Plants are gorgeous and they clean the air and improve your surroundings. They may be a challenge at times but these plants give back to you as long as you have them growing in the correct conditions.
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