I love, love, love this plant! Don't you guys go snapping them up 'cause I won't feel special anymore!

Nice pics -- though they are photo shoots, I'm guessing? In the last photo, the "trunk" or "stem" is only slightly cocked -- the weight of the outward leaning branch would surely tip that container. Practically, these are great to have in the house, but they need to be managed. They can grow beyond their own good (not a bad thing.) For a few of my ganglier ones, I've had to tether them the ceiling to allow them to keep upright. And/or I've ... uh, not sure of the word here... "bodiced" a few to keep some of the legginess in check (tied outlying branches back into the core of the tree so they have some support.)

Recommendations for a kid/pet friendly plant that looks just as good?

second that dcirene!

Does this have the usual ficus annoying habit of dropping its leaves if you look at it wrong? Lovely plant, but I need one that's fairly hardy if it's going to survive me.

Does anyone have any tips for growing these things? Big ones cost a fortune, and I can't seem to get my "babies" past the 10" container stage.

I had one that no matter what I did just slowly died. Would love to try it again, but I wish I knew what I did wrong first.

ooh... love this one. i currently have two large plants in our home - both doing well but they're a little boring looking. i'd love to give this one a try! any tips on care would be much appreciated!

Love the plants, love the wood table, love the ceramics...love it all!

I have one, it's a great plant. It grows quickly! The leaves are huge and stiff enough that my cats aren't interested in eating them.

Mine is several skinny shoots coming out of the dirt, so it looks more like a bush than a tree.

I meant to say, if you want a big one but can't afford, just get a baby one and put it in front of a sunny window. You'll be surprised!

Love Ficus. Are these pet friendly?

Funny. These were widely used in public spaces during the 60s. My negative impression stems from seeing these in sad, dated lobbies in the 70s and 80s, where they were overgrown and forgotten.

It seems like the "houseplant as decor" trend is back. I associate it with the 70s and that sort of bohemian / Victorian decorating phase. Spider plants hanging in macrame hangers... even the 80s saw a lot of ficus trees in woven baskets. I have to admit I still love that stuff! It will be interesting to see how it is reinterpreted for today. (I don't think I remember how to make a macrame owl, but I could probably pick it up with a quick tutorial.)

Love everything. Where did you get the great pillows?

I don't see why they wouldn't be kid/pet friendly? All ficus species are technically edible (non-poisonous). A similar looking plant that is NOT safe is the Dieffenbachia, which, when eaten can cause paralyzation (sp?) of the vocal chords (may seem like a good idea sometimes!)

They do seem to be fairly cat proof for a houseplant, as I've noticed my goat-cats tend to ignore them-must taste bad, or something.

I LOVE mine!!! There was Scale (those little oval bugs that suck the juice out of the leaves), but I found a great systemic insecticide (powder that you add to the soil and then water in). Doesn't hurt the plant and I don't have to get on a chair and ladder and spray it with rubbing alcohol every two weeks.

Funny. I almost bought one of these a few weeks ago, but then remembered the one that died on me years ago no matter what I did to save it.

I may try again after talking to my goat-cats about nibbling on things - again.

@STH : Believe it or not, overwatering is usually the culprit when a tree houseplant is in trouble. Try only 1 cup every week.

BTW, this tree has really good feng shui. The broad flat non-pointy leaves are wonderful.