Large Indoor Plants to Transform Your Home
If you’re looking for big, beautiful plants to liven up the interior of your home, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll run down some of the best large indoor plant options and provide all the information you need to choose and care for them like a pro. Whether you want something tropical, low maintenance or with dramatic foliage, I’ve got you covered.
Chinese Evergreen
- Scientific Name: Aglaonema
- Size: Up to 4 feet tall
- Care Level: Low maintenance
One of the hardiest and most forgiving large indoor plants is the Chinese evergreen. From my experience, these plants are practically impossible to kill – they’ll survive lowlight conditions and infrequent watering. Their broad, colorful leaves come in shades of pink, red, yellow and green. Chinese evergreens cleanse indoor air and thrive in mostly any location inside your home. Just water whenever the top inch of soil is dry. If you want a truly carefree option, this one’s for you.
Dieffenbachia
- Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia maculata
- Size: Up to 5 feet tall
- Care Level: Moderate
Often called dumb cane for its ability to cause irritation or numbness if eaten, dieffenbachia makes a striking large indoor plant statement with its bold, tropical foliage. Their waxy green leaves are accented with white markings. In my experience, dieffenbachia enjoy partial sunlight and high humidity. Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry and mist leaves regularly to boost humidity levels. They serve as an eye-catching accent piece while also purifying indoor air.
Dracaena
- Scientific Name: Dracaena species
- Size: Up to 6 feet tall
- Care Level: Low to moderate maintenance
Here’s another great large plant option that comes in many varieties – dracaena. The most popular types are “massangeana” with long, strappy leaves and “fragrans” with narrow foliage that smells sweet when brushed. Dracaena thrive in low or medium light and only need water when the top soil becomes dry. They’re a bit pickier than Chinese evergreens in terms of water needs. But in my experience, once established, dracaena are pretty low fuss and will forgive occasional missed waterings. Their stately height and colorful foliage brighten up any room.
Monstera Deliciosa
- Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa
- Size: Up to 10 feet tall as a houseplant
- Care Level: Moderate
No list of large indoor plants would be complete without mention of the monstera – it’s basically a plant celebrity these days! Known for its unique fenestrated or “swiss cheese” leaves, monstera deliciosa brings serious tropical flair to your home. These beauties thrive in medium to bright indirect light and enjoy moist but well-draining soil. From my experience, they’re not too finicky as long as you supply consistent water and humidity. Monstera can climb trailing poles to develop massive 5+ foot leaf spans, or be pruned more compactly. Their wow-factor foliage makes them a statement piece perfect for large indoor spaces.
Fiddleleaf Fig
- Scientific Name: Ficus lyrata
- Size: Up to 10 feet tall indoors
- Care Level: Moderate
With their huge, glossy leaves reminiscent of violin shapes, fiddleleaf figs are a showstopper plant that turns heads. However, in my experience, they require a bit more finesse to thrive compared to lower-maintenance options. Fiddleleaf figs want medium to bright indirect light and evenly moist soil that doesn’t fully dry out. They’re sensitive to fluoride in tap water, so use filtered or distilled water. With the right conditions though, these beauties will grow rapidly into a dramatic indoor tree specimen. Just be prepared to give them regular TLC to keep those giant leaves looking lush.
Corn Plant
- Scientific Name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’
- Size: Up to 6 feet tall
- Care Level: Low maintenance
Also called the dracaena massangeana, corn plants are truly awesome plants that don’t get enough love in my opinion. These guys grow multiple long, strappy green leaves in tight whorls that give the illusion of corn. They thrive in low or medium indirect sunlight with occasional watering. One pro tip: use room-temperature water to avoid leaf edge burn. Corn plants can tolerate all kinds of indoor conditions and still look fabulous. They clean the air, last for years and add neat natural texture without demanding constant care. Definitely one of the best large houseplants in my book.
Rubber Plant
- Scientific Name: Ficus elastica
- Size: Up to 6 feet tall
- Care Level: Low maintenance
Last but certainly not least is the ubiquitous rubber plant. With their thick, shiny leaves that resemble sheets of rubber, these beauties are not only striking but tough as nails for neglectful plant parents to boot. Give them bright indirect light, water when topsoil is dry and leave them alone – that’s rubber plant care in a nutshell, folks! From my experience, their resilience has earned them a spot in homes and offices worldwide. You kinda canβt kill these bad boys. They add stylish texture and cleanse indoor air for years to come. What more could you ask for in a large indoor plant?
By now, I hope I’ve given you an overview of some fabulous large plant options to fill out your home and provided everything you need to choose the right fit and care for it properly. Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions. Growing big, beautiful houseplants is one of life’s simple pleasures. I wish you the best of luck finding your new leafy companion!
Top Large Plants For Indoors
Plant | Size | Light Needs | Watering | Humidity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fiddle Leaf Fig | Up to 6ft tall | Medium to bright light | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Moderate |
Palm | Up to 10ft tall | Bright light | Water weekly | Moderate to high |
Chinese Evergreen | Up to 4ft tall and wide | Medium to bright light | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Moderate |
Dracaena | Up to 6ft tall | Medium light | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Moderate |
Rubber Plant | Up to 6ft tall | Medium to bright light | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Moderate |
FAQ
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What are some good large indoor plants?
Some top choices for big indoor plants are spider plants, pineapple plants, peace lilies, and fig trees. These plants grow pretty big but still do well inside a home. Spider plants have long stalks full of green leaves and are nearly impossible to kill. Fig trees have beautiful large leaves and can add a nice tropical vibe in your home. Peace lilies will pump out large white flowers and their leaves can get to be 2 feet long. So those options will give you some pretty sizable greenery for inside.
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What qualities make a plant suitable for indoor use?
For a plant to do well indoors, it basically needs certain traits. It has to be fine with lower indoor light conditions compared to outdoors. It should also be okay with typical home temperatures and not need super hot or cold conditions. Most importantly, it must have a tolerable water need that average folks can keep up with. So large plants that don’t require as much direct sun or frequent watering tend to work better inside where conditions can’t be perfectly controlled.
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What lighting conditions do large indoor plants prefer?
While some huge indoor plants can manage in medium light, many will grow best in a spot with brighter light. Sites near a south or west window often work nicely. At the same time, putting plants too close to a hot window can scorch their leaves. But north windows usually lack enough lumens for sizable plants. Maybe try repositioning plants as seasons change to get adequate indirect rays. You can also use floor or table lamps with plant grow bulbs to supplement weak indoor lighting in winter.
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How often should big indoor houseplants be watered?
Watering schedules vary widely depending on plant type and conditions. However, it’s generally best to let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings for big indoor beauties. Stick your finger an inch down to check moisture level. Despite needing less frequent water than small plants, these guys do still need regular drinks. Perhaps check them weekly in summer and every 10-14 days in winter. Good drainage is also important so water doesn’t accumulate in the pot. Under-watering is safer than overdoing it with huge houseplants.
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How do I ensure the health of large indoor plants?
To keep big indoor plants thriving, be sure to provide conditions they favor as mentioned before. Also, check leaves regularly for signs of bugs or issues and treat trouble areas promptly. Every few months, repot plants that have outgrown their containers into slightly larger pots using good potting mix. Giving large plant friends a dose of water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season per label directions also helps them stay vigorous. Proper care like this can enable your huge indoor beauties to continue brightening your space for years.
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What are some problems that commonly affect big houseplants?
Unfortunately, sizable indoor plants are still subject to the same issues as their little cousins. Leaf drop, yellowing leaves, or stunted growth may indicate issues like too much or too little water, poor drainage, low humidity, insufficient light, or pest/disease troubles. On the other hand, occasional leaf scar irregularities, spots, or edges aren’t usually serious by themselves. The most common big plant problems are probably root rot from overwatering, spider mites, or scale insects that sap the foliage. Checking your huge houseplants regularly makes it possible to catch potential problems early.
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Are large plants harder or easier to care for than small ones?
There’s no definitive answer – huge indoor beauties can involve more complex care than their little brethren, yet also provide certain perks. While water and fertilizing needs increase with plant size, bigger foliage effectively controls indoor humidity. Nevertheless, sizable rootballs may demand sizable pots with good drainage. In addition, insufficient light or air flow issues become more critical as plants mature. On the other hand, established large plants prove sturdier and can endure minor lapses in care. Overall, commitment to proper conditions suits these lovely specimens best – but that rewarding effort adds beauty for years.