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Trees
thatonegecko

Trees for indoor container growing?

11 years ago

What trees do you recommend for indoor container growing? Or, should trees even be grown inside? What is the general consensus about this? I don't mind some difficultly with growing, but I am relatively a beginner and would not like to kill it on accident because it's care exceeds my newbie skills. I live in zone 9a, Florida, so it is generally rather hot and sunny.


Nothing known to be poisonous to animals, please.


Thank you for your time!

Featured Answer
  • 11 years ago

    @subtropix Its not stupidity of the animal; things just happen sometimes. I, very ironically, have personal and numerous experiences with this. I am a certified veterinary tech and have practiced for years. I am currently attending college to get my DVM. You would be surprised what animals eat. I just took care of a cat last Tuesday for eating lilies, a notoriously poisonous plant (the whole species, actually) for cats. Last year, my dog ate a good portion of an onion, which causes basophilic stippling (poison of the white blood cells). A dog came in two months ago who not only ate a whole bag of grapes, which causes renal failure, but half of his neighbor's azalea bush, which is a majorly toxic plant, all within half an hour. Yesterday, a dog came in with three Littlest Petshop figurines in his intestines. The moral of all of this is that crap happens. Sometimes, animals eat things. Why? Heck if anyone knows. But they do. If your animals did not have any inclination to eat plants (or plastic animals), that is absolutely wonderful; but, people should not just assume their animal would not try it, because there are always going to be exceptions. I do not wish to tempt fate, especially when my gliders have shown a strong inclination to venture on trees and scratch and bite at them, as they would have done in the wild in order to take care of their nails and teeth. Ficus, particularly noted the benjamina, has sap/juice that can cause minor to major (relatively; my animals are very small) skin rashes, irritation, and if wounded by it, can cause large, painful blisters for them. Can you understand why I would not risk it in good conscious?


    Thank you though for the opinion on the camellias. I've decided not to grow them as inside plants.


    @Dave Subspecies of species can change dependent on where they are geographically and the features that affect their day to day lives (predation, food supply, competition, etc.). This is true for all animals and plants. So it isn't far-fetched to believe that a different subspecies can hold different traits, such as poison in order for protection. For example, the urtica diocia is known commonly as the stinging nettle, has 6 subspecies, where only 5 of them actually sting you (with hypodermic hairs that inject histamines and other chemicals). The 1 leftover can not harm you. Another example would be butterflies; some are poisonous due to the predators that live in that specific area.

    And I was just making a comment on my zone. That is all. I do realize that inside growing isn't really affected by your zone.

    Like I stated above, ficus, particularly noted the benjamina, has sap/juice that can cause minor to major (relatively, my animals are very small) skin rashes, irritation, and if wounded by it, can cause large, painful blisters for gliders.

    And thank you for the suggestion of stating more of what I was looking for. I should've done that, and I will certainly remember that for next time. I've decided to go with some air purifying plants instead of a tree, due to construction in the building and what definitely smells like formaldehyde lingering everywhere.


    Thank you all for your suggestions and time.

    Comments (9)

    • 11 years ago
      last modified: 11 years ago

      Ficus trees (f. elastica and f. benjamina) are pretty well proven. Seem less popular these days.

    • 11 years ago

      try the houseplant forum ...


      and why in the world .. in z9 ... would you even bother... your idea of winter.. is my idea of a mild summer ..


      i suspect you know the answer .... but you say it first ...


      most 'trees'' are full sunshine creatures ... except for those commonly called houseplant ... and those.. in their native habitat.. most likely are understory trees... and can grow in deep shade.. equivalent to indoors ...


      that said.. nothing was ever learned.. without someone pushing the limits.. go for it ... but set the bar of expectation ot very low success.. but come back and brag.. if you succeed


      ken


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    • 11 years ago

      Best 'trees' for indoors are species of Ficus (benjamina and macrophylla are good)..., of these macrophylla is less prone to leaf drop if you are less than skilled with tropicals indoors. If you want fruit, Kumquats are easy and tree like. Norfolk Island pine for the conifer look, or podocarpus. Umbrella trees are good too; the dwarf being somewhat easier. Can't think of others right now.

    • 11 years ago

      @bostedo Thank you for the suggestion, and the specification of the species! I'll check them out. I can't do ficus benjamina due to my pets, but I'll see for ficus elastica (and macrophylla from subtropix).


      @ken_adrian Would you mind expanding on that? I can honestly say I am not sure what you're referring to.


      @subtropix Thank you also for all the suggestions! I appreciate the multiple options. I unfortunately can't use most of them due to my pets though... Sugar gliders make it hard to have plants.


      What do you guys think about camellias? Some gardener friends of mine are suggesting them, and I was wondering what the general consensus is about that?

      Oh, and apparently I'm a zone 8b. My city is on the cusp of 9a, which is where the confusion arose.

    • 11 years ago

      What do your pets have to do with Ficus benjamina? If Ficus benjamina is no good, then forget about macrophylla (no different). Pets don't eat toxic plants, they are not stupid. I have always had....cats, dogs, birds, and lots of those poisonous plants. Nobody has ever died of botanical poisoning; they die of old age. In fact, everybody should have been dead by now given my toxic collection.

      P.S., I don't think of Camellias as a 'houseplant', nor do I think they are really tree like.

    • 11 years ago

      If you want large house plants, there are hundreds to choose from. Might be best to say what you are interested in primarily...foliage? Flowers? Fruit? Large leaved? Small? Green? Variegated? What is your light situation? Low? Lots of sun? How large?

      Really your zone does not matter if you are growing plants in the house 365 days a year. Or are you moving them out in summer?

      What is the problem with F. benjamina? But other Ficus are OK? Not understanding.

    • 11 years ago

      @ken_adrian Would you mind expanding on that? I can honestly say I am not sure what you're referring to.


      ==>> i am guessing apartment or condo.. and no yard to grow trees outside


      if you do have access to mother earth.. why fool around with trees inside?


      ken

    • 11 years ago

      Lia, I for one can certainly appreciate ficin sensitivity, as I have it! I am extremely allergic to ANY Ficus sap. No matter WHAT species! My reaction is worse than poison ivy. I am still growing Ficus lyrata, but am very careful to wear gloves when repotting or to not brush up against leaves!

      Yeah, somewhere online there must be a list of non-poisonous house plants for your home. Choose ones with low light-level requirements.

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