Large easy care house plants

[Sunshine Flock]

Oh, I know. This discussion is just going to explode with excitement.

I bought two large ficus trees earlier this year, one for each bedroom on the north side of our house. They were thriving until the obnoxious heat of summer arrived. We don't have air conditioning. They were not happy plants and lost most of their leaves, and now they're bye bye.

We have two large, beautiful glazed pots to fill with new indoor trees or plants.

Do you have any recommendations for plants that do well in indirect light (large sliding glass doors but north facing with tree coverage) and that can tolerate the heat but also be okay with indoor temperatures of 60F degrees or so?

Does such a plant even exist? I can't do faux. I just can't. Please don't send me to Michael's or Walmart for a faux plant!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[black_dove2]

Oh, I know. This discussion is just going to explode with excitement.

I bought two large ficus trees earlier this year, one for each bedroom on the north side of our house. They were thriving until the obnoxious heat of summer arrived. We don't have air conditioning. They were not happy plants and lost most of their leaves, and now they're bye bye.

We have two large, beautiful glazed pots to fill with new indoor trees or plants.

Do you have any recommendations for plants that do well in indirect light (large sliding glass doors but north facing with tree coverage) and that can tolerate the heat but also be okay with indoor temperatures of 60F degrees or so?

Does such a plant even exist? I can't do faux. I just can't. Please don't send me to Michael's or Walmart for a faux plant!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I lived in L.A. I was able to grow a rubber tree and a Rosemary shrub. I'm sure you'll get a lot of great ideas

 

[PirateGirl]

I have a mass cane that I acquired in 2003. It's lived in 4 or more homes in a variety of lighting conditions in a variety of rooms within the home and is always fine. I water it once in awhile (maybe once every week and a half). It's been re-potted twice in that time. It's probably the easiest and hardiest house plant I've ever had, and I've had a lot. It's currently about 7 feet tall.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Some of the palm trees, umbrella trees, corn plants, peace lillies get pretty big. One of my ficus grew to like 30 feet in FL!

 

[perchie.girl]

Oh, I know. This discussion is just going to explode with excitement.

I bought two large ficus trees earlier this year, one for each bedroom on the north side of our house. They were thriving until the obnoxious heat of summer arrived. We don't have air conditioning. They were not happy plants and lost most of their leaves, and now they're bye bye.

We have two large, beautiful glazed pots to fill with new indoor trees or plants.

Do you have any recommendations for plants that do well in indirect light (large sliding glass doors but north facing with tree coverage) and that can tolerate the heat but also be okay with indoor temperatures of 60F degrees or so?

Does such a plant even exist? I can't do faux. I just can't. Please don't send me to Michael's or Walmart for a faux plant!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ficus Benjamima and most ficus need good drainage.... did your pots have drain holes in them.?

They should have done well in a hot and humid climate... as well as in the shade. They will stress and drop leaves but once you get the stress figured out they should grow back.

here is a decent article on them.

https://www.thespruce.com/grow-weeping-fig-indoors-1902440

Unfortunately I am in a Mediterranean climate so just about anything that doesnt require a hard freeze will live here. But I have known people on line that have grown dwarf Oranges and Lemons in doors as far up as NewHamphsire. Again WEll draining soil and moderate moisture.

Ferns are another good plant indoors. Just be careful because some are toxic... As are many favorite indoor plants, Diefenbachia, Philodendron, Aloe, Pothos. all are poisonous to children and pets.

Another good indoor plant are Orchids. Cymbidium are pretty easy to care for and forgiving.

But I would suggest to head over to the local nursery and talk to them. There maybe plants in your area happy with the climate that I dont know about.

Oh and I only worked in a Garden shop for about three years a very very long time ago....

deb

 

[Sunshine Flock]

When I lived in L.A. I was able to grow a rubber tree and a Rosemary shrub. I'm sure you'll get a lot of great ideas

I love rubber trees, but I did something wrong and the big beautiful leaves kept falling off until all I had left was a rubber stalk.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Shoot, what isn't toxic to people and pets?

I have a pathos on top of the fridge. The cats don't go up there anymore, but it doesn't matter. The ONE plant everyone says can't be killed is on its death bed.

Rosemary indoor is an idea. We had a dwarf lemon tree I wanted to move inside, but the thing had killer sharp needle things. I got rid of it because of the chickens jumping up on the pot and the pets, and I'd often forget and get stabbed in the hand.

 

[perchie.girl]

Sigh Oranges have thorns too... Its usually the young plants that have em... You can cover the pot with a net...or hardware cloth to keep birds and cats out.

deb

 

[Sneebsey]

I like Aloe Vera, which can grow fairly large with time, and has medicinal benefits as well. It does fairly well in my temperate climate, but I think that in a warmer climate like yours it will do even better.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have just the IDEAL plant for your needs. Heat tolerant, cool tolerant, does not need much watering, does well in shade.

But I have NO IDEA WHAT THIS PLANT IS.... We got it at a yard sale many years ago. Peeps had no idea what it was ether. Summer it stays outdoors, and winter it is in home. It is super prolific and hardy.
Have never ran across this plant anywhere else so I could not find out name. I even posted it in a GARDENING THREAD here on BYC few years ago. No responses..
For reference purposes among family, we cal him SEYMOUR.