Our Favorite Indoor Trees For Portland Homes

Thursday, October 10th, 2019

What is better than a life filled with trees! Nothing, that’s it!

While most trees belong outside — particularly here in the Pacific Northwest — adding greenery with indoor trees is a fashionable way to breathe fresh air into your home.

While it may be easy to decide to get an indoor tree, it can be hard to determine which one’s right for you. Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite trees, along with how hard that species is to maintain.

Our favorite indoor trees

Dragon tree

Maintenance level: Easy
Max height: 8 feet
Light: Bright, shaded rooms. No direct sunlight needed.

These spindly plants are easy to care for and give off a wonderful mid-century modern look. Originally grown in Madagascar, this slim leafed, tall plant is a great focal point for any room. They also are on NASA’s list for improved air quality, making them a delightfully fresh way to decorate your home.

Fiddle leaf fig

Maintenance level: Difficult
Max height: 10 feet
Light: Brightly lit room necessary. Small amount of direct sunlight beneficial. South facing windows work great!

One of the most popular types of houseplants available, the fiddle leaf fig is synonymous with hip and stylish. Featuring semi-lobed and oval leaves of varying sizes, this is one of the most attractive plants out there for interior design. The downside? They are quite difficult to take care of and require a precise amount of soil moisture to keep strong.

Weeping fig

Maintenance level: Moderate
Max height: 10 feet, though popular miniature variety only 3 feet
Light: Perfect for a spot that receives some sun and some shade

This tree is a good option if you love a fiddle leaf fig, but don’t want to deal with the more aggressive care regimen. The attractive, shiny leaves are a great focal point, with the miniature, bonsai-like version also being a great, more subtle option. Though these trees are easy to take care of, moving the plant even a little can do serious damage. Find a spot and leave it there for the longest life.

Parlour palm

Maintenance level: Easy
Max height: 4 feet
Light: Shaded rooms with indirect sunlight are perfect.

One of the most common house trees available, the parlour palm is a great option for beginner indoor tree owners. While very easy to care for and maintain, these doopy, arch-like leaved trees do take some time to grow into mature adult plants. Be patient with this plant however, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, manageable tree that could give you a whole new hobby!

Rubber tree

Maintenance level: Easy
Max height: 10 feet
Light: Bright without direct sunlight.

This big-leaved tree works great next to a permanent object in your home, such as a television, fire place, or entryway. Maintenance is also quite easy for a plant of its stature, though you will likely have to dust off the leaves and add a support beam to the stalk once it grows larger.

Umbrella tree

Maintenance level: Easy
Max height: 10 feet+
Light: Indirect sunlight, though more shaded areas will only affect growth, not degrade its health.

This easy-to-grow tree is related to the umbrella plant. This tree grows quickly and can actually grow multiple trunks. While inside growth will be limited, left to its own devices outside, it could grow up to 50 ft tall! Just be careful — don’t grow this tree outside, as it’s often considered an invasive species in some areas.

Birds of paradise

Maintenance level: Easy-moderate
Max height: 6 feet
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight will harm flowers.

This wonderful and stunning tree is known for its exquisite flowers. There may not be a more beautiful tree that’s this easy to care for. The tree actually evolved to support the weight of birds who stopped to eat the nectar. While this plant is easy to care for, it does need a warm climate to properly grow year round.

Money tree

Maintenance level: Easy-moderate
Max height: 10 feet tall, but can grow much larger outside
Light: As much light as possible without direct sunlight

This often braided trunked tree is a favorite among enthusiasts and is a popular option for those growing bonsais! While in the wild the tree produces edible nuts, when braided the tree will not produce them. We love this tree’s green branches and long, whorled leaves!

Kentia Palm Plant

Maintenance level: Easy
Max height: 10 feet
Light: General indirect light, though still does well when placed in a low-light area

Though technically not a tree, this large plant can grow to tree size and holds the same place in our hearts. The form of this tree is beautiful, with slender arching fronds creating a wonderful silhouette that fits with the popular interior design trends of today. Though it grows slowly, this one is worth your investment in time!

Trees inside are great, but make sure to take care of the majestic tree friends outside your door!

We love all things trees. Indoors, outdoors, and maybe even some inbetween!

So while you are making a positive step towards a more tree-filled life with some indoor plants, we encourage you to make sure you also take care of the trees you already have — the ones outside your home!

Is there anything more fashionable than a healthy tree? We don’t think so! Proper tree maintenance will ensure your tree stays healthy, shading your property, keeping you and your home safe, and retaining your property value.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you better take care of your trees.

What Are the Best Indoor Trees?

Friday, October 16th, 2015

Published October 16, 2015
 
Bring the outdoors in with potted indoor trees! Besides brightening up a room decoratively, there are several benefits to indoor trees. They improve health, well-being, and indoor air quality. Studies show that indoor plants have even been known to help sharpen your focus. Here are the top 6 indoor trees. Pet owners, note that most of these are toxic to dogs and cats, but read to the end for one that’s animal-safe!

1.  Meyer Lemon Tree

Lemon trees have sweet-smelling, beautiful blooms and delicious lemons almost year-round. They are always either blooming or flowering. Meyer lemons are hardier than other lemons, which means that they can withstand colder conditions. But they thrive best in warmer temperatures, so you should put them outside during the summer. If you have pets, you might not want this in your home. Lemons are toxic to cats and dogs.

Botanical Name: Citrus Meyeri

Care: Intermediate – Use slightly acidic, all-purpose soil. It needs a lot of light in full southern exposure. Keep evenly moist and mist daily.

Height: 8 feet indoors

Source: Martha Stewart

2.  Rubber Tree  

The Rubber Tree is a popular and versatile houseplant. Its large, glossy leaves add beauty to any room. It is adaptable and grows well in average indoor conditions. Unfortunately, this plant is toxic to animals.

Botanical Name: Ficus Elastica

Care: Easy – It grows well with indirect light. Place in an eastern window facing the morning sun. The plant prefers average to somewhat warm temperatures. It needs regular, deep watering. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

Height: 10 feet indoors

Source: Maja Dumat

3.  Madagascar Dragon Tree

A durable plant, the Madagascar Dragon Tree is one of the easiest trees to grow. It can tolerate low lighting and doesn’t need regular watering. The narrow leaves are dark green and edged in deep red. It’s toxic to cats and dogs – so if you have pets, you might not want it in your home.

Botanical Name: Dracaena Marginata

Care: Easy – It adapts to a variety of light conditions, but will have the best color when grown in indirect, bright light. Pot in a well-draining soil and water on a regular basis. Wait until the soil is dry before watering thoroughly with water that has set for 24 hours.

Height: 4-8 feet indoors

Source: Houston Interior Plants

4.  Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

With large, veined leaves that grow upright, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree makes a great focal point in any room. Native to the tropics, the plant thrives in wet and warm conditions. Can’t replicate tropical conditions at home? Luckily, these tough plants can tolerate less-than-ideal conditions for a pretty long time. Pet owners beware: this plant is unfortunately toxic to cats and dogs too.

Botanical name: Ficus Lyrata

Care: Intermediate – This plant needs bright, filtered light. It thrives when placed in an eastern-facing window. You should keep the tree moist, but don’t let it sit in water. Any fast-draining potting soil will work for this plant.

Height: 10 feet

Source: Gardenista

5.  Norfolk Pine Tree 

This plant is not actually a pine tree, but it has similar evergreen foliage and an upright, pyramid shape. The tree can grow fast – up to 6 inches a year when potted. It is a popular choice during Christmas, but can be enjoyed year-round. Warning to pet owners: It’s toxic to dogs and cats. 

Botanical Name: Araucaria heterophylla

Care: Intermediate – This tree grows fine in typical indoor temperatures. It should be placed in an area where it can receive a few hours of direct sunlight and plenty of indirect light during the day. Rotate the plant a quarter every week for even light distribution. Only water this plant when the top inch of soil dries, and pour the water into the soil until it drains out through the bottom. Let the soil drain for at least 15 minutes and then dump the water.

Height: 10 feet indoors

Source: House Plants Guru

6.  Kentia Palm

This plant is a fantastic indoor plant. It’s also one of the easiest palms to maintain and care for, due to its tolerance for medium to low light. Lucky for pet owners, this tree is nontoxic to cats and dogs!

Botanical name: Howea Forsteriana

Care: Easy – Even though this plant tolerates low light conditions, it grows best in conditions with lots of light. Place it in a spot that provides as much sunlight as possible. Plant this tree in a container with adequate drainage and soil formulated for potted plants. You can water this tree less often during the winter, but it must be watered regularly in the summertime. You only need to water it when it’s dry during the winter.

Height: 10 feet indoors

Source: Real Oasis 

What’s your favorite indoor tree? Do you have any in your home?

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