Best indoor trees
Expert tips for growing these eye-catching houseplants.
RUBBER TREE
LIGHT: Brightly lit spot out of direct sunlight, and protected from draughts.
WATER: Keep the potting mix consistently slightly moist. To check this, put your finger into the top few centimetres of soil: if it feels dry, water it; if still moist, leave watering for a few days.
PESTS & DISEASES: Generally trouble-free. “Low maintenance rubber plants have been popular for decades precisely because they are fairly hard to kill,” says Fiona Arthur from Yates.
EXPERT TIPS: These plants can reach 2m in height, but they don’t mind a good trim. “Their large size makes them perfect for adding height in a mix of other plants or for screening off areas,“Fiona adds. “To keep the leaves super shiny, pamper and protect with Yates Leaf Shine spray.”
WEEPING FIG
LIGHT: Will tolerate some direct morning light, but not harsh midday sun. A bright spot in a warm room is best.
WATER: Keep moist in well-draining potting mix, and mist foliage during summer, but reduce watering during the colder months. Water when the soil is dry.
PESTS & DISEASES: Generally free of diseases, the main problem seems to be leaf drop when it is unhappy.
EXPERT TIPS: If you’re looking for a slowgrowing tree to keep in a statement pot you love, this is the plant for you, says Kings Plant Barn’s Lee Gutzewitz. “Make sure to water them when the soil dries. These plants are happy in warm rooms, but can sulk and lose leaves when exposed to sudden changes in temperatures, like drafts, or being placed next to heaters.”
“Growing them indoors, the leaves will always look good. If they do get a bit tatty, remove them. The plant is always putting up new leaves during the growing season.”
BANANA PALM
LIGHT: Bright, full sun in your warmest room, as it loves hot, humid conditions. WATER: Daily. Keep it damp but not too wet.
PESTS & DISEASES: With enough water and light, the plant won’t give you much trouble.
EXPERT TIPS: Don’t expect fruit from your indoor beauty; instead, enjoy the oodles of tropical flair this plant will add to any room it is in. Asbhurton columnist Alan Trott grows the Abyssinian red-leaved banana. “For a young one, I suggest a 30-litre pot to start it in, in good free-draining potting mix. Feed it with Osmacote as well for a top up as they are gross feeders, perhaps even use a liquid feed of seaweed during the summer,” he advises. “I potted mine up to a 60-litre pot with handles, to make it easy to shift around.”
DRAGON TREE
LIGHT: A brightly lit spot out of direct sunlight will see this elegant, hardy plant do well. It can cope with low natural light levels, but will grow more slowly.
WATER: Once a week should keep the strappy foliage looking good, but wait for the top few centimetres to dry out before you water again. To keep good colour, feed every four weeks with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant food from spring to autumn.
PESTS & DISEASES: Burnt leaves are a sign to move the pot into a spot with less light. Overwatering will produce brown tips; in winter, growth slows down so you can afford to water even less.
EXPERT TIPS: “If your tree is getting too tall, cut the woody stem at the desired height and new leaves will develop below the cut,” says Yates’ Fiona Arthur.
Rotate your pot by 90-180 degrees every few weeks, to promote even access to sunlight.
FIDDLE LEAF FIG
LIGHT: The warm filtered light offered by a bright and sunny room is best.
WATER: Regularly – give it a good drink when the top of the potting mix is dry.
PESTS & DISEASES: The plant does like a humid room, but sitting it in water would give it root rot, so make sure to slow your watering in winter to avoid this and other diseases. If your room is too dry, the leaf edges might start to brown. If the leaves start going too soft or develop brown spots, you’re overwatering.
EXPERT TIPS: One of the most popular indoor plants thanks to its large lush leaves, this slow grower will eventually get to 1.5m when properly cared for. You could pinch out the central leaf bud to encourage branching.