Dwarf Shefferlara (click to enlarge)
Picture: Tom MacCubbin
Just about everyone would like to create an indoor
jungle but finding the trees is a problem. You have be
very selective to locate the taller plants that won’t
mind the lower light levels.
Most trees and large
shrubs turn yellow and drop their leaves when set in a
room with little outside light. They also do not like to
be placed in dark corners. But if you don’t have a
choice give the dwarf schefflera or bamboo palm a try.
These tolerate the low light for extended periods of
time but like other foliage plants do grow best in the
medium to high light levels.
Good selections six
feet and taller for the brighter areas of the home
include the aralia, corn plant, croton, false aralia,
fiddle-leaf fig, Indian rubber tree, Norfolk Island
pine, podocarpus, schefflera, spineless yucca and
weeping fig. Give each room to grow tall and wide plus
as much light from bright windows and skylights as
possible.
In the more dimly lit rooms you might
try adding artificial lights to extend the indoor
display life. Also give the pot a turn every week or two
to make sure all sides of a plant have good exposure to
available light.
Following are a few more tips
to keep an indoor tree attractive:
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Moisten when the surface of the soil
feeds dry to the touch with enough water to run from the bottom of the
container.
Feed plants in low to medium light
every other month with a house plant fertilizer; plants in high
light monthly.
Control scale insects, mealy bugs and
mites with a soap spray or wash as needed.
Remove declining branches as needed to
prevent diseases.
Rejuvenate thinning plants outdoors in
the shade until again ready for indoor display.
