Not sure how to scale up your houseplant game? We’ve got recommendations.
Many of us became plant lovers over the last few years, hoping to bring the outside in as we stayed indoors. Now, it might be time to grow past the succulents and orchids to incorporate large houseplants into your collection.
“Large plants are definitely trending right now, and I’m seeing a lot of articles like how to grow a tree in your home,” says Erin Marino, editorial lead at The Sill. “People who are invested in plants probably got small plants because they were working in their home, and now they’re thinking of what to bring in their space to have even more of a statement, especially in winter.”
Most large houseplants are tropical, meaning they require more sun due to larger leaves, Marino explains. When choosing a houseplant, it’s important to understand where the light comes into your home so you can place light-loving plants as close to your windows as possible. Or try using a grow light in a space with low light.
However, placing plants near windows comes with the challenge of dealing with drafts. “You definitely want to keep in mind if you’re in a rental: Does your window have a heating system right next to it, or do you keep the window open because anything that will cause cold or hot drafts of air your plants won’t love? It’ll be more obvious if it gets sick,” Marino says.
Even so, large plants are can often be easier to care for than small plants. “Partially this is because of the volume of soil you keep them in—the larger the plant, the less quickly the soil will dry out and the less you’ll have to water it,” Marino explains. Instead of having to repot it every six months to a year, you could get away with repotting large plants every 18 months to two years.
For inspiration on large houseplants to bring into your home, check out Marino’s recommendations below.
“Try Ficus varieties, like the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree (Ficus lyrata), Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), or Ficus Audrey,” Marino notes. “As these plants mature, you can prune them to have a beautiful tree silhouette. If the bright light is very strong and direct, opt for mature cacti and euphorbias. These plants are incredibly slow growers, so they tend to be more expensive than large and leafy tropical plants, but they’ll fare better in harsh, direct light.”
“Hardy Dracaena varieties are great choices if your light is kind of bright, but not direct, or if you’re unsure,” Marino says. “They prefer bright indirect light but can tolerate medium indirect light as well. I love that they can be a bit Seussical as they grow, with thick tree-like trunks and leafy masses.”
The ZZ plant and snake plant are very forgiving and tolerant of low light. “You may not get the tree-like silhouette of other large plants that require brighter light, but you can get some additional height to your large low-light tolerant plant by styling it on a stool or a planter with a stand,” Marino says. “Plus, both these plants have succulent characteristics, making them great choices for those that travel often and are unable to stick to a weekly watering schedule.”
“If you have a curious pet at home that’s shown interest in your plants before, opt for a non-toxic large plant,” Marino advises. “Some palms are considered non-toxic by the ASPCA, including the Fan Palm and Majesty Palm .”
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