Tall Houseplants
Large plants can make a statement in the home and add texture. They often require less care than smaller plants, too.
Large green leaves, like the Bird of Paradise, are fast-growing and thrive in bright light. They also give your space a splash of color.
Dragon Tree 'Madagascar
The Madagascar Dragon Tree (or Dracaena marginata) is a popular tall houseplant due to its easy care and stunning foliage. The plant is part of the Dracaena Genus and is commonly recognized for the red blood-like resin it produces when damaged or cut it is believed to resemble the dragon's blood from its native Madagascar homeland.
Like other members of the dracaena family The Madagascar Dragon Tree is quite hardy and adaptable. It thrives in containers and can reach 6 feet or more when not pruned. However, it can be cut down by pruning regularly. This plant will thrive so long as it gets sufficient light and water. It should not be overwatered.
A suitable location for your Madagascar Dragon Tree is a bright room with indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunlight, as this will cause the leaves to burn and cause the red resin to ooze out. The ideal spot for your Madagascar Dragon Tree is a North facing window ledge, or a spot that receives shade from East / West or South windows.
Dragon trees prefer reasonable humidity, which can be achieved in most homes by misting the leaves regularly. This is particularly important if you have the plant in a place that is prone to becoming dry, like your bedroom or office.
If the soil becomes too dry, the Madagascar Dragon Tree will begin to develop leaf tips that are brown. To correct this, try adding more water to the pot to ensure the soil's moisture or increase humidity by putting it in a group with other plants that release moisture through their leaves, or by placing it on a tray with pebbles and water (so that the bottom of the pot is on the pebbles, above the water line). It is a very tolerant plant and can be easily revived in the event that the root ball stays healthy.
Propagating a Madagascar Dragon Tree is easy as can be, and it is usually sold at retail nurseries in cuttings of the mature plant to be sold as new plants. It also grows quite easily by air layering a stem, which is a simple process to carry out and will eventually create a full plant.
Dwarf Umbrella Plant
The Dwarf Umbrella Plant is a popular choice among home plant growers. It is one of the fastest-growing plants in its class and can reach six feet or more with adequate light levels and regular feeding. It can also adopt climbing tendencies and is ideal for rooms with high ceilings. The foliage is beautiful dark green with blotches of creamy cream and it comes in a variety of different varieties, including all-green and variegated.
Umbrella plants can tolerate various conditions, but it's recommended to give them lots of sunshine and keep temperatures below freezing. They can also grow quickly and get overgrown in a single growing season. To keep best houseplants looking at their best, cut them frequently and remove dead leaves. These plants grow well in small pots, which is why it is easy to repot them.
It is important to ensure that you water your dwarf umbrella with a watering hose or watering container that releases a fine mist. This will ensure that the soil is evenly moistened. This kind of hydration is necessary to prevent root rot. Wait until the top inch of soil has dried before re-watering and make sure that the soil doesn't remain too damp. The amount of watering you need can vary based on temperature and humidity. In the summer, water more frequently and in winter, less often.
Fertilize your Dwarf Umbrella Plant every two weeks using a general household fertilizer that is specially designed for plants that produce foliage. This will allow it to produce healthy, lush growth and support the growth of flowers if you so would like. This can be done in conjunction with the time you irrigate your plant.
Regularly trimming your dwarf Umbrella Plant is also a great idea. This will prevent it from becoming leggy and tangled, as well being able to maintain the healthiest, most vibrant foliage possible. It's also a good idea to remove the flowers as soon as they appear and to remove any flower that is faded when you notice them.
If you plan to propagate your Dwarf Umbrella Plant, the University of Florida recommends snipping off 1-inch foliage-free stem cuttings from below the uppermost leaves and placing them in a sterilized medium like seed-starting mix or rooting gel. Keep them warm and damp until they start to grow. It usually takes between 1 and 2 months.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Fiddle Leaf Figs might be the hottest houseplant of the moment, but they can be a bit difficult to keep. They require plenty of sunlight and don't like extreme temperatures or drafts. They can also shed leaves in response to changes in the environment which is common. However, if the plant loses too many leaves, it may have less surface area to absorb sunlight, which can slow the rate of growth.
Fiddle Leaf Fiddles can grow up to a foot per year in the right conditions. If a ficus begins slow down, it means something is wrong. It's usually due to the amount of sunlight the plant is getting, or it might be an indication that the soil or container isn't suited to the soil or container.
The most important thing to take care of the Fiddle Leaf Fig is to provide it with bright, filtered light. It isn't easy to get enough of this type of lighting in an indoor space, so it's usually necessary to supplement with LED lights or other types of lighting for plants. This way, the plant can thrive without being exposed to too much direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves or cause them to become brown.
This kind of plant requires an excellent potting soil that is well-draining. Over-watering can cause root rot, among other issues. It is better to let the soil air dry out between waterings. However, when you do, use water that isn't too hot or cold.
Give the plant more light to encourage branching. This will encourage it to stop growing straight up toward the sky and start branching out from the sides. To encourage branching, trim the plant regularly. Remove any overgrown or damaged foliage and trim branches that cross to keep it neat.
Mast suggests using the test of a touch to determine the right time to water your plant. If you feel the moisture on your fingers after pressing your finger into the dirt until it's at the middle finger of your hand, it's probably time to water.
Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are an excellent tall houseplant to be placed in the conservatory, sunroom or other tall space. They are a relatively easy plant to grow and propagate and also are great at cleaning the air in your home. Their unique green flowers are also pretty, and they add some color to any space.
These plants are fairly adaptable to different levels of light, however they thrive in bright indirect sunlight. They can tolerate low levels of light however their health and growth will be affected if they stay in dark locations for a long time. It is essential to water them regularly because these plants don't like to be dry. It is also essential to mist the plants frequently to prevent fungal issues. You can also put pebbles in a tray underneath the pot to give it some moisture.
One of the great things about these plants is their ability to grow baby plants easily! It is recommended to remove the trailing spiders from the mother plant once they have roots that are at minimum one inch in length. Then you can put them in pots that have well-draining potting soil. The baby plants will root within about a week. Then, you can take them out of the pot and allow them to continue growing.
It is a very durable plant that does not require frequent pruning, however, it would benefit from being pruned in the spring to encourage the growth of flowers and new leaves. They look stunning cascading from the ceiling and can be used as the center of a hanging pot. Spider plants are safe for homes with children or pets since they are not toxic.
They are susceptible to brown tips on their leaves which tend to be due to too much direct sunlight or low humidity, or excessive salt and chemicals in the water. It is also essential to regularly check them for bacterial and pest infestations as well as leaf blight.