Are indoor plants that important at all? What could be the best indoor plant for your apartment? You’re probably stuck on deciding the suitable tall indoor plants that best redefines the phrase “bold statement” in your space. Therefore, before you make an unprecedented decision, please go through these well-researched details about 5 plants that can print you a beautiful interior design. But first, let’s briefly look at 2 ways Indoor plants can help you.
Benefits of Indoor Plants
It’s a solution to both physiological and psychological stress. Indoor plants splash your mood with a comfortable inborn and soothing feel that will automatically get you off your stress levels.
Indoor plants, such as the snake plant, regulate a healthy airflow within your room by absorbing toxic pollutants such as Xylene and CO2. They are an excellent defence mechanism against airborne allergies.
And so, let’s dive into the very crucial details about these 5 Tall indoor plants. They have different needs when it comes to aspects such as light, temperatures and others. That empty spot beside your bed might be a perfect match for your dream indoor plant. Pay critical attention to each plant needs to get the best from them sustainably.
1. Draecana Marginata
It is a drought-tolerant plant that grows up to 20 ft in its native habitat and 6 ft high indoors. Their leaves are whorl, simple, linear and shiny. Furthermore, these leaves are broad and evergreen, and as a plant person, you can enjoy the white, pink and yellow combination on the leaves, given that their natural colour ranges from gold-yellow to green pink and white.
The stem comes with a cream-tan colour, and luckily you can prune it to suit your interior designs and architectural finish. When pruned, more than 2 branches can grow from it. These indoor plants are considered medium maintenance plants as we shall see from its needs below:
Water
Over-watering and under-watering don’t work best for this guy. Too much water results in root rot, a significant cause of death for this tall indoor plant—therefore, water only when half of the topsoil is dry. The plant speaks of its dehydration through numerous yellow leaves.
Light
Dracaena Marginata works best under medium light. This preference does not mean it can’t survive lowlight situations. It does but will grow slowly and yield smaller leaves. Avoid direct sun which burns the leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep the plant under temperatures that range between 21.1°C -26.7 °C, and the average humidity level within your house should be okay with it.
Soil
Ensure that the soil has a ph that ranges between 6.0- 8.0. Besides high organic matter, it should be loose and quick draining.
Diseases and Common Problems
Sadly this plant is prone to various pests such as spider mites and mealybugs. You can detect the latter from the small, sticky cotton-like deposits they leave behind, unlike the spider mites. Overwatering causes root rot. However, there should be no alarm-cause in lower leaves turning yellow and falling off it. This indoor plant is a stalk plant, and such happens for new leaves to grow at the top.
Fertilization
Specialists take spring and summer as the best seasons for feeding your plant. Of course, not winter and summer. It’s a slow-growing plant; thus, large amounts of plant food are not necessary. It should be a water-soluble and well-balanced diet that diluted to half the specified amount.
Precautions
Please keep your cat, dogs and horses away from this plant. It considered toxic to them.
2. Birds Of Paradise
These indoor plants derive their name from its orange flowers, which look like a pattern brightly coloured birds draw when in flight. Its scientific name is Strelitzia reginae, and it is a native to South Africa. The elegance of this is that you can nature it indoors to pepper your room with its beautiful flowers. Since it resembles banana plants, there are high chances of their leaves being split into two by strong winds. Therefore as an adaptation, the leaves are divided along their lateral seams to give them a look that resembles bird morphology.
Can we consider the plant easy or hard maintenance? Let’s look at its features and find out.
Water
Plant experts recommend that you water this plant once every week. Make sure that the soil dries out after every watering. Overwatering causes root rots which severely damages the plant. The watering should be more often in brighter light and vice versa. It looks like filtered water and overnight water yields better results.
Light
This guy appreciates bright indirect light. It can adjust to full sun. However, it does not function well under lowlight conditions.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep the plant at temperatures ranging between 18°c- 30 °c and humid conditions for the best care. Use humidifiers to improve the humidity level of your room.
Soil
The soil should have good drainage for proper soil aeration. Consider mixing it with lava rocks; for better results, grow this tall indoor plant in loamy, nutrient-rich soil with a ph of (5.5-6.5).
Diseases and Common Problems
Overwatering, under-watering, and spider mites can severely damage the plant, although many studies consider it a pest-free plant generally. Overwatering causes the lower leaves to turn yellow and a wet potting mix. When thirsty, the plant wilts and forms curly leaves and a dry potting mix results. To deal with spider mites, use natural pesticides to spray the plant weekly and wipe it occasionally on the downside.
Fertilization
It’s essential to feed the plant after 2 weeks during early spring and once per month during summer using liquid fertilizers since it grows each season rampantly. Reduce the feeding during winter and fall.
Precautions
Keeping the plant away from cats, dogs, and small children will save you a lot. It contains toxic foliage that irritates the internal organs when consumed.
3. Monstera Deliciosa
This tall indoor plant is a Swiss cheese plant that can attain a 10 ft height when grown indoors. The leaves grow with perforations that enlarge as the plant becomes old. With its heart-shaped and pinnate leaves and massive size, the plant can paint a beautiful statement in your room. Please don’t take this plant for a split-leaf Philodendron. They look similar, especially when they are young.
What’s more interesting? It’s the fact that you can reduce the plant by 2 leaves in case it’s too huge and display them steadily in your clear glass vase. Furthermore, maintaining this tall indoor plant doesn’t seem way demanding given its requirements below:
Water
For a healthy Monstera Deliciosa, a medium amount of water is vital. However, before watering, ensure that the soil is relatively dry. Accompany brighter lights with more water and vice versa.
Light
This plant appreciates bright indirect sunlight. Intense direct sunlight can severely damage it, especially when it’s still new to your place. However, you can train it to withstand such intense light with time. Low light is never an option either since the plant will fail to grow to its total capacity.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperatures in the range 17.5°C- 29°C are suitable for such a plant. Humid conditions are vital for the plant to thrive. This condition possible through misting. However, when the plant has fully adapted to your place, it might not be that necessary to maintain such humid conditions. It can survive under your average room humidity.
Soil
Monstera Deliciosa thrives well in slightly sandy soils with proper drainage. However, enrich it with enough nutrients and perlite-oriented standard potting mix. The soil ph should lie within ( 5.5-6). When acclimated, it can withstand a ph of (5-7.5).
Diseases and Common Problem
Pests such as grasshoppers and spider mites damage this plant by consuming the foliage. You can spot the spider mites by their red-brown colour and bodies that resemble spiders. Call it adaptation but these spider mites coexist in groups under the foliage and the leaf joints of this plant. This tall indoor plant speaks of this invasion by displaying brown leaves and curled up foliage with yellow marks. However, insecticides will clear away these pests. You can also opt for non-chemical alternatives such as Eucalyptus oil, Neem oil and Rosemary oil.
Fertilization
To boost the growth of your indoor plant, apply a liquid fertilizer after watering it. One cup of water should be enough for a tablespoon of the liquid fertilizer. Natural organic fertilizers can also come in handy with magnesium and organic nitrogen sources that further boosts its growth. The growing season should be the best time to apply the fertilizer.
Precautions
Is Monstera Deliciosa highly toxic to cats? Yes, and Why? The leaves contain insoluble calcium oxalates. When ingested, the oxalates develop a condition called acute hypocalcemia, resulting in vomiting, drooling, and a burning sensation in the mouth.
4. Lady Palm
This tall indoor plant scientifically named Rhapis excelsa seems to adapt well under lowlight conditions. We would be safe to term its growth rate as slow since it can only gain more than a foot in one year. Its maximum height indoors is 6 ft. Grow it in the spring at the beginning of the growing season to boost its slow growth.
Get your hands on this plant, get accustomed to the everyday needs below, and keep it blooming.
Water
Since it’s a drought-tolerant plant, average amounts of water should be enough. Most of the watering should be done during spring and summer when the plant’s growth is active. During this season, water it when an inch of the topsoil feels dry. During winter and fall, the development is relatively slow. Thus water it only when the two top inches of the soil is dry. Overwatering leads to root rot, a condition that kills the plant.
Sunlight
This palm species appreciates bright indirect light. Direct unfiltered sunlight leads to leaf burns. However, it can also acclimate to full sunlight. The leaves will develop a darker green colour when exposed to more shade.
Temperature and Humidity
Average room temperatures are suitable for this indoor plant. However, during cold seasons, when temperatures tend to be extremely low, protect the plant from cold drafts. Aim at keeping the temperatures above 55° F. A low humidity approximately below 50% makes the plant develop brown leaf tips. To boost humidity, wipe the leaves and regularly mist the plant.
Soil
Loamy soil with good drainage works well for this indoor plant. To achieve aeration better, use a potting mix with peat moss with Perlite and vermiculite mixed evenly. The soil should be either acidic or neutral and light moist with plenty of organic matter. However, It can also work well with other soil types apart from loam.
Diseases and common problems
This Lady palm species speaks of a disease invasion through circular, elongated and brown leaf spots. Some pathogens are affecting it:
- Bud rot. Apart from fungal pathogens, this disease can also be caused by bacterial pathogens. The infection develops black lesions in buds and young fronds, which later grows into firm rot.
- Ganoderma Root and Butt Rot. You will notice this disease when the older fronds wither and droop next to the trunk. In worst cases, the condition may severely damage the roots.
- False Smut. It’s mainly associated with high humidity and initiated by Graphiola species. Some of the signs include wart-like structures forming on the infected leaves.
Most of these diseases occur due to high humidity and improper irrigation. Employ proper irrigation, especially during high rainfall seasons. Remove and destroy any infected fronds and palms to prevent the disease from spreading. Prevent the disease from occurring by applying Fungicides with copper on plants exposed to it.
Fertilization
Nutritional deficiencies can severely damage your beautiful indoor plant. Occasionally feed your houseplant with a liquid fertilizer with nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, boron, zinc and copper. You might need to increase the feeding during the growing season.
Precautions
Aside from purifying your house, this tall indoor plant is essentially non-toxic to your dogs and cats. Sounds friendly? I know; if you need a pet-friendly indoor plant, you might consider this palm species lady.
5. Snake Plant
Scientifically named Dracaena Trifasciata, this indoor plant will suitably meet your need for a bedroom décor given its ability to clear toxic pollutants and improve health airflow within your room. It’s native to Asia and Africa. You can pick your favourite from varieties such as:
- Bird nest Snake plant. Besides growing leaves that assimilate birds nests in look, this type is considered small due to its 6 feet height.
- Cylinder snake plant. The name itself describes the long round leaves that grow outwards to appear like a crown.
This tall indoor plant requires minimal effort when it comes to maintenance. Here’s what you need to know concerning its growth;
Water
This guy doesn’t need a lot of water. It can survive in relatively dry environments. Therefore, it’s advisable to water it once a week when the topsoil layer feels completely dry. Overwatering results in root rot.
Sunlight
To get the best, place your tall indoor plant in indirect light for a few hours. It can also survive partial and complete shade conditions. If you need a variegated look, consider placing it under brighter light. Direct sunlight distorts the familiar face, so it’s important to filter any bright direct sunlight towards it.
Temperature and Humidity
Normal room temperatures works just fine for Dracaena Trifasciata (20°C -33°C). Shallow temperatures lead to slow growth ( below 13°C). However, as an easy plant, it will adapt to your average temperatures. Just avoid the extreme temperature ranges. In addition, a standard room humidity level is suitable for this tall indoor plant. It’s manageable since you don’t have to mist the plant regularly.
Soil
Pepper your plant with slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soil with excellent drainage. Your potting mix should be porous and well aerated. The soil should provide the essential nutrients and drain excess water as well.
Diseases and Common Problems
You’ve probably walked into a Dracaena Trifasciata with yellow spots, leaves collapsing and foul smells. Well, this could be a sign of diseases such as Fluoride toxicity, Flecking Dracaena Marginata, soft rot and Fusarium Leaf spot. Their solution lies in maintaining proper temperature ranges and soil ph. In addition, Use fungicides to prevent the fungus and buy a tall indoor plant free of such diseases. Remove and dispose of affected plants to reduce the spread of the disease.
Precautions
Is this tall indoor plant toxic to pets and children? Yes, it is. The leaves of a Dracaena Trifasciata consist of a lethal component called Saponin. When they ingest the Saponin, It irritates the membranes and walls of the digestive and respiratory tracts leading to appetite loss, vomiting and severe weaknesses.
Conclusion
Therefore, before picking any tall indoor plants for your interior décor, keep in mind the requirements for each plant. These plants can be very fussy and picky, but when you find one that best suits your space and climate, I bet you’re a mile away from paradise.
If you are looking for some more suggestions for indoor plants, we have another post for you to look at: 12 of the Best Indoor Plants for Low Light
