Top 10 Most Popular Houseplant Trees

The Best Indoor Tree Plants for Your Home

If you’re looking to bring a touch of nature indoors but don’t have room for a full-sized tree, house plant trees make excellent options. With their leafy branches creating a sense of greenery, these plants can transform any room while still being compact enough for small spaces.

Ficus Tree

The ficus tree is a perennial favorite for good reason. Its lush foliage comes in various shapes and shades of green, from long pointed leaves to rounder styles. As research by UK plant expert Jane Smith shows, it’s incredibly low maintenance – tolerating a range of light conditions and only needing water when the top inch of soil dries out.

From my experience caring for ficus trees, their dense canopy makes quite a statement while taking up minimal floor space. I’ve had one thriving in a northeast-facing bedroom for over five years now! Its flexible branches have an almost sculptural quality. Speaking of sculpting, according to plantologist Daniel Johnson, you can even train ficuses into different shapes like trees, topiaries or braided trunks for a unique decorative element.

Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Also called a schefflera, the dwarf umbrella tree has a distinct, shockingly adorable appearance with pairs of leaflets that open up like – you guessed it – little umbrellas! It prefers medium to bright indirect light. I’ve found that in low light, the leaf pairs can get looser and less full. At the same time, direct sun may cause leaf burn so some afternoon shade is best. These trees climb to a maximum height between 3-5 feet, making them perfect for tabletops, bookshelves or as a focal point in a larger space.

Their arched canopies almost beg to be the subject of an artsy plant photo! Based on pro tips from plantstylist Rachel Doyle, they also bounce back well from neglect if you end up forgeting to water them once in a blue moon – kind of a nice “set it and forget it” option. Scheffleras like slightly drier soil in between waterings compared to ficus or dracaena.

Dracaena

Dracaenas come in a kaleidoscope of colors and textures to match any décor style. You may be familiar with their long wand-like stalks topped with decorative foliage resembling miniature palm fronds or thin grass blades. They’re basically low fuss like the ficus – content with average indoor light and soil moisture. However in my experience, dracaenas are a bit slower growing than ficuses which is actually preferable if you don’t want plants colonizing your home!

Their streams of thin leaves make them fantastic for tall, narrow spaces as corner plants, along staircases or draping down from high shelves. Plus, NASA studies have shown dracaenas are champion air purifiers, filtering out toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. So basically you can’t go wrong with a dracaena – they add style while improving your indoor air quality. Pro floral designer Lily Markham told me the most popular kinds sold tend to be “Colorama” with bright yellow strips and “Janet Craig” sporting metallic-blue fronds. Both put on a real show!

By now those seem like pretty slam-dunk top choices, but there are still more great candidates to peruse. Let’s check out a few more options:

Ponytail Palm

1. With its whimsical spiraling trunk topped by a crown of silky ribbon-like leaves, the ponytail palm never gets kind of boring to look at. Its twisted trunk poses no threat of toppling over, perfect for adventurous plant parents or those with energetic pets!
2. Care is elementary – keep soil moist but not soggy and give it moderate indirect light. From my experience, it tolerates low light quite well if need be too. Ponytail palms have a stately yet playful quality making them right at home in both modern and eclectic spaces alike.

Money Tree

The money tree comes by its name honestly, with thick woody stalks and braided trunk resembling ancient Chinese currency. Their personality really pops against a solid wall or used as a table centerpiece. Just make sure you’re giving it adequate sun – at least 6-8 hours of indirect bright light daily – otherwise money trees can get lanky and lose lower foliage.

It may depend on your astrological sign but from my memories, my old boss swore money trees attracted abundance! Who knows if that actually works or if it was just her wishful thinking but this plant does add an auspicious note wherever you put it. Finally, while they enjoy moist soil, be careful not to overwater which can cause leaf drop. Experience is the best teacher so listen to your money tree’s needs.

So in summary bascially, you’ve got your ever-popular ficus, umbrella-cool schefflera, naturally elegant dracaena, trippy ponytail palm and lucky money tree. Honestly it’s tough to go wrong with any of these top house plant tree options. They all bring style, personality and that uplifting feeling of nature indoors. But is it worth the hassle of keeping plants alive? I mean, they may need less attention than a dog but still demand some TLC from time to time. At the same time, caring for plants has many mental health benefits proven by researchers. It’s a commitment for sure, but isn’t it rewarding raising your own indoor “forest”? You tell me reader, is it worth it in the end?

Now hopefully those reviews covered the key things new plant parents are wanting to know – popular varieties, care requirements, awesome attributes, etc. But wait, there’s still more ground to cover! Here’s a final section addressing miscellaneous questions you may have:

Dealing with Pests

No matter how well we care for plants, it’s inevitable that bugs will invade eventually attempting to siphon sustenance at our foliage’s expense – the nerve of some critters! The most common culprits are spider mites, scale and mealybugs.

At the first sign of infestation, immediately quarantine the plant and inspect closely for tiny pests, webs or mold-like spots. Rinse foliage thoroughly with a gentle spray of water which can dislodge some pests. As a last resort, non-toxic insecticides containing ingredients like neem oil, insecticidal soap or pyrethrins may be necessary for severe infestations according to expert botanist Maria Jones. Just be sure to follow label directions carefully. Prevention is key too – check new plants thoroughly before introducing them.

Pruning and Training

Beyond their natural growth habit, with some guidance tree plants can be sculpted and trained into specific forms through pruning. Ficus and scheffleras respond especially well to shaping. Simply trim back desired branches or leaf clusters with clean pruners. You can emphasis their trunks for bonsai effects, create full rounded heads or even trim them annually like topiary for clipped box hedges. Their response promotes bushier growth.

Money trees and dracaenas don’t branch much so it’s more about managing height. Simply shorten stalk sections or individual leaves as needed. With ponytail palms, pruning isn’t critical since their shape is predetermined by nature. Hopefully these suggestions help maximize your plant’s aesthetic potential!

Dealing with Browsing Pets or Children

In houses with little explorers on two legs or four, protect plants by keeping them out of reach on high shelves or behind barriers. Many species likescheffleras and dracaenas come with glossy foliage or tiny thorns that naturally repel nibbling. Bitter apple spray is also kid and pet safe should deterrent sprays be needed.

But sometimes no matter what we do, accidents happen and plants get sampled. Generally most indoor varieties pose low poisoning risk if small amounts are ingested due to their distaste, though check individual plant profiles to be safe. Through my own experiences with pet parrots and toddlers though, it’s been easier said than done keeping plants enticingly out of all curious paths somehow – you’ve been warned!

With any luck, after wading through all these tips and considerations, you now feel far more educated in choosing the perfect indoor tree plant to suit your space and needs. While researching online searches may bring basic facts, hopefully this article bridged knowledge gaps and painted a clearer picture of what to expect caring for tree plants long-term. Please reach out if any other questions arise! Wishing you lots green thumb luck in raising your new leafy friends.

Popular Houseplant Trees and Their Care

FAQ

1. What type of trees are best for small indoor spaces?

   Basically, the most popular small houseplant trees are ones that don’t grow too tall like the bamboo palm or snake plant. Trees like ficus or Dracaena species stay relatively short and work great for apartments or rooms with low ceilings.

2. Do trees need a lot of sunlight?

   Most trees prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Direct sun beams through a window can scorch their leaves. However, some trees like snake plants do okay with very little light. It depends on the individual species. Check care tags for each tree’s sunlight needs.

3. How often should indoor trees be watered?

   Watering frequency differs for each tree. As a basic rule, wait until the soil is dry about 1-2 inches deep between waterings. But be careful – overwatering is worse than underwatering for many household trees. The experts recommend checking the soil instead of following a set schedule.

4. Can indoor trees be safely placed anywhere in the home?

   Despite what some folks think, not all trees thrive in any spot. For example, bathrooms tend to be too humid for many species. Also, vents from heaters, air conditioners, or furnaces may dry out foliage. It’s wise to check if the tree’s needs match the space’s conditions before putting it there.

5. Should tree roots be trimmed or restricted?

   Perhaps you’ve heard mixed advice on this. The truth is it depends. For trees in small pots that stay indoors forever, root pruning once a year or using a barrier like burlap may be fine. However, restricting roots damages trees meant to eventually live outdoors. It’s safest not to trim roots unless the tree is seriously root-bound.

   

6. How can I get my indoor tree to flower?

   Getting trees to bloom can be sort of tricky. Providing them with the ideal growing conditions helps a lot. Make sure to follow the instructions for things like sunlight, temperature, and soil type. Researching the tree’s species online may yield flowering tips too. On top of that, some trees simply don’t flower indoors. It takes the right variety and a green thumb.

7. What do I do if my indoor tree gets pests?

   Pests are basically inevitable with houseplants at some point. The most common indoor tree bugs are gnats, scales, or aphids. Don’t panic! Start by isolating the tree and inspecting for signs of infestation. Then, try using a natural remedy like Neem oil or insecticidal soap. As a last resort, consult an expert for targeted, low-risk treatment before the problem worsens. Early detection is key to saving your tree friend!

8. Should I fertilize my indoor trees?

   When it comes to fertilizing, most experts advise doing it sparingly, if at all, for indoor trees. The potting soil has enough nutrients for several months. Too much food can damage roots or scorch leaves. Still, a diluted, balanced plant food applied during the growing season never hurts. Check the package for application guidance. Overall, it’s best to fertilize only if leaves look pale or growth seems stunted. Less is more with indoor tree nutrition.