We have written a lot about which trees will work best in your front yard and which trees to avoid planting in your yard. But what if you want to bring a little bit of nature inside your home rather than keeping it outside? Is this even possible? The answer is that of course it is! We want you to have nature and that special beauty trees bring in your home.
But, obviously, you can’t just plant a tree in your home as you can outside. This means that most of the trees you have in your yard won’t work inside your house. First, you don’t have as much space in your home. Second, you don’t have as much light inside as outside. These are both good reasons why you need to investigate special house trees if you want to bring a tree inside your home.
Don’t know where to begin? Here are five house trees that will grow well inside your home.
Rubber Tree
The rubber tree, known by its scientific name as Ficus elastica, is one of the most popular types of house trees due to its versatility. It’s important to first note that this plant is toxic to animals, meaning that if you have pets in your home, it may not be the best choice for your family. Rubber trees are extremely adaptable so they grow well in a normal indoor environment. They can grow up to about 10 feet tall.
The care for a rubber tree is easy. It grows well as long as it gets indirect light. Placing it somewhere with a window that faces east so that it catches the morning sun is a good idea. Rubber trees do need regular, deep watering, but be sure to let the soil dry completely before watering it again. In terms of home temperature, these trees do thrive better in temperatures that are a bit on the warmer side.
Lemon Trees
That’s right, not only can you add nature to your home by investing in a house tree, but you can also grow fruit indoors. A Meyer lemon tree, also known as Citrus x meyeri, is the type that’s most recommended, as the lemons found on this tree are hardier than other lemons. These trees grow to be around eight feet tall. Lemon trees will fill your home with a sweet smell almost year-round. Plus, as they’re always either flowering or growing fruit, lemon trees are also gorgeous to look at all year too.
The care needed for lemon trees is an intermediate level. The soil you should use to truly help this plant thrive is a slightly acidic, all-purpose soil. It needs a lot of light, so be sure to keep it in the sunniest part of your home, preferably where it gets most southern exposure. In the warm summer months, taking them outside to a porch area can work as well.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
If you’re looking for a house tree that will be the focal point of your room, look no further than the fiddle-leaf fig tree, or the Ficus lyrata. These trees can grow up to 10 feet tall, so make sure you have the ceiling space for it. It’s not just its height that draws in focus; it has large, veined leaves that grow upright that will immediately catch anyone’s eye.
This plant is toxic to cats and dogs, so if you are a cat mom or a dog dad (or vice versa), you may want to think twice before purchasing this house tree.
The care level for the fiddle-leaf fig is an intermediate one. It does thrive in tropic-like conditions but can tolerate less warmth than this for a long time. Be sure, though, to put it in an area of your home that gets bright, filtered light, such as by a window that faces east. Fast-draining potting soil is a must, and be sure the tree is kept moist but not sitting in water.
Dragon Trees
These trees don’t breathe fire, despite their name, but they are tall and spindly and are edged in deep red. They are easy to grow, so if you’re looking for a house tree that doesn’t take too much work, dragon trees, known scientifically as Dracaena marginata, are for you. They can grow anywhere from four to eight feet tall. Be careful, though, because these trees are also toxic to cats and dogs.
Dragon trees are extremely adaptable, meaning you can basically put them in any sort of lighting condition. If you want the true colors of dragon trees to shine through (and to really see that deep red color), make sure you grow them in bright, indirect light. These trees do need to be watered on a regular basis, but make sure that you wait until the soil is dry before watering again.
Norfolk Pine Tree
Despite its name, this tree won’t leave your home covered in pine needles or sap. The Norfolk pine tree, scientifically the Araucaria heterophylla, has a pyramid shape like other evergreen trees. It’s fast-growing— that is, it can grow up to 6 inches a year until it reaches its maximum height of 10 feet. It’s also toxic to cats and dogs.
These trees need intermediate care but do grow well in a typical indoor environment. Be sure to put it in an area where, for a few hours a day, it can get direct sunlight but then receive indirect sunlight for the rest of the day. To get even light distribution, be sure to remember to rotate the plant about a quarter each week. Be careful when watering this house tree, as it should only be watered when the top of the soil is completely dry. It also shouldn’t sit in any water for more than 15 minutes, so be sure to dump any excess water after that.
The above five trees are great choices to bring your home to that next level. Which one will you be choosing? If you can’t decide, give Mr. Tree a call today, and we’ll help you make a decision.
