apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love large plants in a home. I have several in my apartment and they look lovely. In addition to the ones mentioned above, I would highly recommend a schefflera. They are leafy and will grow quite large in the right conditions.

Any ideas for finding big pots that are inexpensive? I like this idea.

Wish I could post a picture of "Audrey," my 5' feet tall peace lily potted plant...she fills (very elegantly, I might add) a big corner in my living room, near two large windows.

She is very happy there; I wouldn't dare move her ...she might swallow my hand when I water her. Audrey rewards me with super-sized white blooms that last three or four weeks at a time.

Not only is she a clean air machine, but she is like a living sculpture with her giant glossy and leathery leaves.

Bah humbug on faux silk trees, with their dusty, tacky appearance. If an admitted black-thumb like me can nurture a spectacular indoor potted plant, so can anyone.

on the flip side...if you are cramped for space: bonsai!

clampers- try IKEA - I bought there two big pots last year and I'm very happy with them:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80151504

i second the big planter question.. ive got plants that need a nice home!

Home Depot -- no kidding -- is an excellent source of oversized and very attractive planters for indoor or outdoor use. The ones I bought resemble glazed Anduze pots, but they are made of lightweight resin or fiberglasss.

Save your back muscles and buy the lightweight planters. Soil and water double the weight of a planter, BTW, so ix-nay on the stone or ceramic pots, unless you plan to keep the potted plant in the same spot forever.

I would recommend against IKEA planters. I got two simple terra cotta ones there, and they disintegrated within 6 months. Hardware stores have large planters for decent prices, and craigslist is always an option.

the nearest ikea is over an hour away. boo. otherwise, i probably would have been there a million times by now and def would have bought planters there.

Ooh, we have a huge palm in our bedroom and some giant peace lilies and maiden hair ferns in the kitchen... I have a bunch of giant glazed pots from either Home Depot or OSH that are waiting for occupants. Big plants really make the room!

Aychihuahua: I like your idea about the lightwieght resin planters, I think that is good advice about saving my back! I'll take anything lightweight to avoid lugging it upstairs. Your Audrey sounds like a sweet plant! I have some kind of gigantic palm plant that I rescued from a friend's apartment hallway that I want to jazz up with a fun pot.

Although regarding faux plants: my mom generously gifted me with an giant old faux ficus tree a few years ago. At first I had the same thought as you, "Yuck!" But I decided to take it's fake-ness to the extreme. I bought fake butterflies, fruit, glittery leaves and feathery birds from Jo-Ann Fabrics, outfitted the tree with clear Christmas lights and went to town with the fake accessories. Sounds kinda lame, I know, but it looks very pretty tucked in a dark corner and is always a conversation starter.

Anyone have any recommendations on large-scale plants that are non-toxic? I love the look of the elephant ears above, but apparently its a no-no in an apartment where the cat eats anything green that is within reach (including the fringe off my green chenille throw and several summers worth of spider plants and window-sill herb gardens).

Thanks!

Question: Are any of the above good under low-light conditions? I have a northeastern exposure and am looking for large plants with interesting foliage. Dracaena Marginata is already on my list. Any others? Oh, p.s., I have a bit of a black thumb, so hard-to-kill is a plus.

rosenatti....always check the little plastic insert or ask at the nursery about which plants need what sort of light. Some plants do adapt to whatever light they are in...and once they adapt to AC, be careful before putting them back outside too fast.

I have two large plants. The problem is, if you move, they are so hard to deal with and SO heavy.

Thanks for the info, baileyb. The weight of large plants might explain why I see so many popping up on Craigslist... maybe I'll put 'em on wheels.