If you don't have a garden, you don't have to go without fresh greenery. Some small trees and bonsai can also be kept on a balcony or terrace, but they are not suitable as houseplants. However, you can use indoor trees from the tropics or subtropics that feel comfortable in the living room all year round.
Which trees are suitable as houseplants?
Some tropical and subtropical trees are suitable as houseplants, including the linden tree (Sparmannia africana), birch fig (Ficus benjamina), violin box tree (Ficus lyrata), rubber tree (Ficus elastica), lucky chestnut (Pachira aquatica) and room fir (Araucaria heterophylla). Palm species such as yucca palm, dragon tree and hemp palm are also suitable.
Why native trees are not suitable as houseplants
Whether oak, beech, larch or maple: with a little skill and the right care, these native tree species can be trained as bonsai. However, they are purely outdoor bonsai that belong outside all year round and not in the room. There are various reasons for this, but the most important is the change of seasons and the associated dormancy of vegetation. Native trees have adapted perfectly to this process over the course of evolution and react very sensitively when it is disturbed. In winter, these trees have to hibernate in the cold and must not stay in the warm living room - this exhausts the plants, drains them and ultimately leads to their death.
Cultivating native trees in pots
Nevertheless, you can cultivate them in a sufficiently large pot. However, regular pruning measures are then necessary - which also includes root pruning - as well as watering and fertilizing adapted to the seasons. Also keep in mind that not every type of tree is equally tolerant of pruning, and some trees are extremely vigorous and can grow very large even in a container.
Large selection of indoor trees
For indoor cultivation, however, you should stick to the various indoor trees that originally come from the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and therefore do not experience a change of season. These trees can easily stay in the living room all year round as long as they have enough space and light. Examples of suitable species are:
- Zimmerlinde (Sparmannia africana)
- Birch fig (Ficus benjamina)
- Violin box tree (Ficus lyrata)
- Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
- Lucky chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
- Carpenter fir (Araucaria heterophylla)
In addition, many types of palm trees and palm-like plants such as the yucca palm (Yucca elephantipes), the dragon tree (Dracaena) or the hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) are also suitable for indoor cultivation - although, strictly speaking, these plants are not are trees.
Tip
Some tropical trees, such as the avocado or the mango, can also be grown from a seed or core with a little effort and a lot of patience. However, the resulting plant should be cultivated in a winter garden if possible.
