Ten Trees to Grow Indoors

10 Trees to grow indoors

Many of us spend the warm months outside, enjoying the beauty of nature and putting our hands in the dirt. When winter months come, those of us in cold climates long for green things to see, smell, and feel. This is a list of trees that can be grown indoors for those long months when the sight of a green tree is scarce.

Trees to Grow Indoors

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Fiddle Leaf Fig trees are gorgeous trees with a long graceful stem and rich, glossy dark green leaves that grow, when pruned, in a beautiful bunch at the top. This tree is native to tropical areas and grows up to 40 feet high in its native habitat. It can be easily adapted to indoor growth by keeping it in a large pot and pruning the top.

This is a relatively easy tree to keep well indoors in a warm room – between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and bright, indirect sunlight. Fiddle Leaf Fig trees need loose, well-watered soil and frequent misting to atone for the dry atmosphere of most homes. It needs to be fertilized once and month and re-potted every 2-3 years in a slightly larger pot.

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island Pine This tree is not a true pine, although it looks like one. It’s actually a tropical plant that needs warm air and high humidity. Norfolk Island Pines need to have a humidifier nearby or be misted once a day.

In addition, they also need bright, direct sunlight for several hours a day. Water them when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch and if the branches get brown higher up or more pervasively than the bottom layer, it’s an indication your pine is getting too much water, not enough, or not enough humidity.

Yucca

Yucca plants can be grown indoors or out, they grow on canes or large woody stems and have long thin leaves that range from green to bluish in color with cream, yellow or white variegations. Yucca trees grow best in bright, indirect sunlight. They need regular watering but not too much and are somewhat drought resistant. Soil should be loose and well-draining but firm enough to hold the tree upright.

Tree Philodendron

A Philodendron Selloum is native to South America and grows on the East Coast and Gulf coast of the United States. This indoor tree is easy-care, needing indirect sunlight and has large, deep-lobed and dark green shiny leaves. Philodendron Selloum take up a lot of space, spreading 5 feet or more with leaves reaching 2-3 ft. The trunk of the tree develops as it matures. However, the drooping leaves often hide it and will need to be pruned if you wish the trunk to show.

It’s important to note that this plant is considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children and its sap should be kept out of hands and mouth.

Croton

Croton trees are native to Indonesia, so they grow well in our warm indoors. These plants are sought-after for their variegated leaves in bright yellow, red and green patterns, and they grow quite tall – 10 feet. Croton trees will lose their bright colors if not kept in bright sunlight. The best place to keep them is by east-facing windows for bright morning sunlight and indirect light all day.

Keep in temps between 60-70 degrees F or leaves will begin to fall off. They also need soil that is evenly moist at all times but not too wet – leaves will wilt if not watered enough and turn brown around the edges if watered too heavily.

Ficus

The plant most commonly referred to as simply a ficus is actually a weeping fig tree. It’s a member of the ficus genus of tree which includes rubber and fig fruit trees. Ficus, like many of the trees which can be grown indoors, can be finicky due to their need for high temperatures (nothing below 60 degrees F and really liking temperatures above 70 degrees) and evenly moist but not overly wet soil.

They also need humidity, which can be accomplished with a wet pebble tray or by misting, and won’t do well with a draft so they need to be protected. They react to stress by shedding leaves, which is probably what earns them their delicate reputation.

However, Ficus trees are worth the effort. They have lovely pliable stems and maintain their tree-like shape regardless of size. A healthy ficus tree will have a canopy of dense bright green leaves.

Meyer Lemon Tree

Growing fruit trees in your home, while also being very on-trend, can actually bring the added benefit of the fruit they give. Meyer lemon trees bear meyer lemons, thought to be a hybrid of lemons and mandarin oranges and have a lovely citrusy bloom in the winter as well.

Meyer lemon trees are a dwarf variety and don’t mind being grown in confinement in a pot. They are hardier than other lemons and more generous in fruiting. They need plenty of sunlight and temperatures between 55-70 degrees F. They will remain green, but go dormant below 55 degrees.

Dracaena

These plants come in many varieties but there are two tree-like cultivars which will grow 6-10 feet tall on stems called canes: D. fragrans and D. deremensis. All the varieties grow in upright form and have long spear-like leaves with variegated colors.

Dracaena need moist but not soggy soil and frequent fertilization every two weeks in spring and summer. Bright filtered light and temps between 60-70 degrees F are best. However, Dracaena are very forgiving and can tolerate low light and the occasional missed watering. As they grow, the lower leaves fall off, creating an interesting scar pattern on the cane of the plant.

Kentia Palm

This durable and slow-growing plant is well-suited to indoor life. It does well in a pot and has several tall stems topped by long graceful fronts. This plant is native to Lord Howe Island, off the coast of Australia, where it reaches up to 60 feet in height.

Indoor varieties grow between 5 – 12 feet in height. Because it’s so forgiving, Kentia Palms can accommodate low light and humidity levels. However, it does best and lives longest in the right lighting and watering levels. Place in fast draining soil, on the sandy side, indirect sunlight, and only water when the top level of soil is dry.

Jade Plant

These succulents require very little tending. They have pretty, lush-looking oval leaves on a woody stem and can grow up to 10 feet in height. They need cactus soil with organic matter – look for a mix or mix your own with equal parts soil, peat and coarse builder’s sand.

Jades need to be placed in a southern exposure with 3-4 hours daily of direct sunlight although some varieties can be grown in more indirect light. Fertilize every 3-4 months. Daytime temps should be between 60-75 degrees F and nighttime not lower than 50 degrees F.

Take Away

Whether you are an indoor plant expert or have never owned a house plant before, there is a variety for you. If you are already longing for some green, this might be your year to invest in a nice indoor tree and learn how to tend it. It will clean your indoor air, and bring warmth and life to your home all winter long.

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