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Now that the holiday season is over and your Christmas tree is gone, you might be looking around your living room and thinking, “Something is missing.”
Even though an Xmas tree isn’t an appropriate year-round decoration, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some sort of indoor tree that is! Plus, the alternatives don’t require lights, ornaments or tinsel.
If you already have house plants or succulents in your home or apartment, you already know how beneficial a touch of greenery in the home can be. But if you’re looking to step up your indoor gardening game a bit, it might be time for a full-on indoor tree!
Here are the best indoor trees that you can enjoy all year long, including good beginner trees that are perfect for people who don’t have much of a green thumb.
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How Can an Indoor Tree Brighten Your Space?
Greenery makes a stylish addition to any interior living space. But indoor trees, and all house plants for that matter, have a variety of benefits that can easily brighten up any room in your home.
Indoor trees are known to improve moods and boost performance levels. They can relieve stress and anxiety as well. Greenery in your home can also improve air quality, which can, in turn, relieve headaches.
Plus, they add beautiful color to bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and any other room in your home. Bringing small trees indoors is an incredible way to lift your spirits, make you feel more at ease and create a happier, brighter space at home!
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying an Indoor Tree
Buying an indoor tree isn’t like buying a new sweater or another pair of shoes. You shouldn’t hop online and purchase a random tree just because you like the way it looks.
The look of the tree may be important in terms of your design style, but there are some other things to consider, many of which are far more crucial when deciding which tree or trees to buy. First, consider how much natural lighting you have.
Some trees need indirect sunlight, while others require direct sunlight. There are certain green trees that must receive bright light, but some only thrive in low-light settings. Think about where you want to place the tree and the type of lighting that the location will provide.
From there, choose a tree that can live successfully under those lighting conditions. Then, think about the level of humidity in your home. Some indoor plants need a humid environment, particularly tropical plants. Others can survive and thrive in drier climates.
Consider how much time you have available and can devote to plant-related care. Some trees need a small amount of water every now and then, while others require slightly moist soil at all times. Certain trees must be watered frequently to keep them from drying out, but others need to be lightly misted on occasion to keep their leaves intact.
Related: 5 Ways Plants Help With Your Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
Many trees are low-maintenance plants, but there are others that require daily care, so think about your everyday routine before committing to a tree. If you work long hours outside of your home or you travel often, you’ll want to choose a tree that survives with less upkeep.
Fourth, consider the size of the plant and how big it will grow. Trees can always be pruned and clipped, but you should make sure you measure your space before you introduce a new plant or tree into your home.
Finally, if you have pets, take the time to research whether or not the tree or house plant that you have is safe for your pet. Certain types of greenery are toxic to various pets, so only buy an indoor tree that won’t cause any harm to your furry friends.
Take it from Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. As the chief executive officer of a company focused on introducing high-tech solutions to the lawn care industry, Yamaguchi recommends a money tree for pet owners who are looking for the best indoor tree!
You can also check out the toxic and non-toxic plants list on the ASPCA website just to be sure!
The 12 Best Indoor Trees for Your Home
So, which plants are best for the inside of your home? Whether you can give your tree full sun or maintain low light conditions, we’re going to take a look at the 12 best indoor trees for your home!
1. Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
The Fiddle Leaf Fig has a somewhat silly name, but with proper care, this much-loved indoor tree can live for over 25 years!
Officially known as the Ficus Lyrata, this tree has dark green leaves and a skinny trunk. Plus, it thrives in bright yet indirect light.
Be careful not to keep the soil dry or moist, as the tree is at its best when the soil is somewhere in between. As far as watering goes, the Fiddle Leaf Fig needs two to three cups of water once per week.
2. Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm loves high-moisture conditions and an average amount of light, so it’s the perfect indoor tree if you’re looking to add some greenery to your bathroom. With the botanical name Chamaedorea Elegans, the Parlor Palm tree is the perfect way to add natural elegance to your home.
This tree ranges in height from about 18 inches to upwards of four feet tall. They only need to be watered once every one-to-two weeks as well.
The leaves are prone to catching fire and burning if you place the tree in direct sunlight, so it’s best to position it a few feet away from a south-, east- or west-facing window. The tree will receive far too much sunlight throughout the day if you put it in front of a north-facing window.
Related: 20 Houseplants Safe For Pets [And 20 Plants Toxic For Pets]
3. Weeping Fig
The Ficus Benjamina, or the Weeping Fig, offers a cool, tropical look. However, consider yourself warned. The leaves of this tree will regularly fall to the floor if you don’t provide it with an adequate amount of water. When properly cared for, this tree can grow up to twelve feet tall.
The Weeping Fig has a slender trunk. In fact, it’s so slender that some growers braid them and sell the braided trunks! However, the Weeping Fig is a bit trickier to care for than some of the other trees on this list.
For starters, it needs bright lighting, but it cannot be placed in direct sunlight. Also, the soil should always be moist but not fully wet, so it’s a balancing act.
4. Calamondin Orange Tree
Citrus trees are gorgeous and they smell incredible, but trying to get a lemon tree to flourish indoors is not easy. That’s why a Calamondin Orange Tree is the better way to go!
The Calamondin Orange Tree needs direct sunlight for a few hours each day. It must also be watered as soon as the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. With proper care, this tree will produce little white blooms along with tiny oranges that you can pick, eat and enjoy!
If you want an indoor tree that smells amazing, this is an excellent choice.
5. Money Tree
As a symbol of luck and wealth, the Money Tree has a truly unique look thanks to its thick and braided trunk. A Money Tree needs bright yet indirect light to thrive. It also must be thoroughly watered about once per week.
However, with adequate care, these trees can survive for a solid ten to fifteen years indoors. The leaves form an arched umbrella shape, making the tree a cool contrast to a squared-off corner or placed beside a couch with square arms and edges.
6. Dumb Cane
The Dumb Cane plant, which has the botanical name of Dieffenbachia, is an ideal plant to grow indoors for one main reason, that being it doesn’t require a ton of light. From shady conditions to indirect light, this plant will always grow towards the light regardless, so be sure to rotate it from time to time if you want it to grow evenly.
The Dieffenbachia plant ranges in size, from small tabletop plants to trees as grand as ten feet tall. This tree requires slightly different types of care during the growing season compared to the winter months. As such, you’ll need to make sure you’re administering the right amount of water and exposing the plant to the appropriate humidity levels throughout the year.
Related: What is Japandi? And 9 Ways to Create It in Your Home
7. Umbrella Tree
The Umbrella Tree grows at a fast pace, so if you’re not around to prune it on a regular basis, this is not the indoor tree for you. But if you excel in the art of tree pruning, this tree will certainly make a statement in your home!
This tree grows in low-light settings, but similar to the Dumb Cane tree, the Umbrella Tree grows towards the light. As such, if you want your Umbrella Tree to grow upright, you’ll need to rotate it every once in a while. As for watering, about once every ten days is usually enough.
8. Yucca
The Yucca Tree is an excellent choice for people who don’t have a lot of experience caring for plants.
What’s really cool about the Yucca is that it has a thick trunk and spiky leaves. If you’re a tequila fan, you might also be interested to know that the Yucca is part of the same family of plants as agave.
Bright light is best for these trees. Since they grow in desert-like conditions, your Yucca won’t need a ton of water. Watering the tree about once every ten days will typically suffice!
9. Bird of Paradise
Want to bring a bit of the tropics into your home? The Bird of Paradise is the perfect indoor tree for any modern, boho or casual home that needs a chic yet laidback touch.
When fully mature, this tree can grow to be six feet tall and four feet wide. With its banana-shaped leaves, the Bird of Paradise Tree looks super cool, even if it’s on the small side!
This tree will thrive in total exposure to sunlight as well as more humid conditions. Keep in mind that you’ll only have to water it once every week or two as well.
10. Rubber Tree
Medium sunlight, once-a-week watering and normal humidity conditions are all it takes to care for a Rubber Tree. The Ficus Elastica is hardy and easy to grow in nearly any region.
When planted outdoors, rubber trees can grow to be about 30 feet tall. However, when grown indoors, a small Rubber Tree can grow to reach about three feet tall.
It can be tempting to buy a taller tree when you’re first starting out, but small or young trees are a great tree to start with if you are new to indoor plants.
11. Madagascar Dragon Tree
If a low maintenance tree is what you’re looking for, consider the Madagascar Dragon Tree. With thin trunks and spiky leaves, this tree does well in low-light conditions as well as in partial shade, which are perfect requirements of an indoor tree!
Also called Dracaena or Dracaena Marginata, this tree does well with typical household humidity levels. It only needs to be watered about once per week as soon as the topsoil starts to feel dry. If your house is drier than most, don’t be afraid to mist the tree with some extra water on a regular basis.
12. Lady Palm
The Lady Palm makes for a lovely indoor tree. When cared for the right way, it can grow up to seven feet tall and five feet wide. But don’t worry! It doesn’t grow overnight.
The Lady Palm is great for indoor settings because it can thrive in both partial light and low-light conditions. Place one of these trees in the corner of your living room or place one on either side of an entryway to make a bold, tropical statement in your home.
Can an Indoor Tree Really Make Your Home Happier?
A dead, dry tree with brown leaves will likely not make your home a happier place. But a well-cared-for tree that is living in a suitable environment with the right lighting conditions can absolutely brighten your space!
And if this is the first time you’re attempting to care for an indoor tree, best of luck! Becoming a skillful house plant owner can be quite the trial-and-error learning experience, but if you follow the grower’s instructions in terms of soil, lighting and watering requirements, you’ll learn the ropes in no time.
You might also be interested in: The 18 Best Air Purifying Plants [Stay Green. Stay Clean]
The 12 Best Indoor Trees for Your Home:
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
- Parlor Palm
- Weeping Fig
- Calamondin Orange Tree
- Money Tree
- Dumb Cane
- Umbrella Tree
- Yucca
- Bird of Paradise
- Rubber Tree
- Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Lady Palm