Need advice for a tall green plant for sunroom

My daughter-in-law would like me to buy an artifical fica tree to put in my sunroom between my loveseat and chair with a table and lamp in front of the plant. I'd really like a live plant. Maybe a palm? The furniture is rattan Morocan decor.
Need suggestions please!
What tall tree would make a good houseplant in a sunroom year-round?

Thanks!

Deborah

I vote for a Dracaena, they come in wonderful colors these days. They have the advantage of foliage at the top and the clean stems below so they don't take up too much space where you are sitting.

My first thought would be a banana tree or palm but I am in a colder zone and maybe more impressed with them than you might be. LOL A brug would be another consideration but it might obstruct the view until it gets taller and I'm not sure if you have kids or critters that could be hurt by the plant. You might even think about a real Ficus if you like the idea of the Ficus. A lot of people might be tossing them this time of year if it's too cool for them outside and they are getting too large to drag into the house.

I agree with BS. I intend to use a Fiddleleaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) in our sunroom.

Thank you. I'll check out HD and see if they have Ficus, or Dracaenea.

Ur..why might a Brug hurt my cat?

I personally have not known anyone furry or otherwise that was hurt by a brug but the potential is there so I like to exercise caution if I recommend the plant. They can be quite dangerous for anything aside from pretty flowers. :)

I'm a fan of cordylines (tis), some are green and nearly all get tall. They are easy to care for too. And non-poisonous, in fact, have been used as food.

dutchlady1, your vote wins. I bought your suggestion today...ur...yesterday. A dracaena, Madagascar dragon tree

Hope the color in this pic is bright enough to see. Oh, well too dark. I'll try taking the pic when the sun comes up.

You big tease! The sun is up! Where is the new pic?? LOL

Here's two shots. Hope they come out ok.

next pic coming into the room...

The leaves are green with red margins.

Excellent choice. I have one of those and easy to maintain.

I'm glad to hear that. The tag says moderate water and likes sun. Sunroom is facing west. I looked for a ficus at HD but there weren't any for sale. I think this variety of dracaena gives me a good tropical feel for the room.

This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 11:50 AM

yes be skimpy w/ water. I have killed more than one with too much water. It is tricky sometimes w/ tropicals. One immediately assume tropicals = water, and I've found the hard way that is not necessarily so. Can't tell you how many I've killed this way (bending head in shame)

I think well-draining medium & pots are key, don't let sit in water, and check soil for moisture. Now that my tropicals are inside, I'm misting rather than really watering, and I've set some of them into humidity trays. It's my first year with them so I'm trying this way to keep them over the winter. I do not want to pay my energy company big $$$ for heat.

Very nice plant! I hope you enjoy many long winters together. :)

I was wondering if this tree goes dormant? I'm hoping it stays evergreen.
I'm clueless when it comes to tropicals.

I just found one of these in the front yard. LOL I forgot I put it there........ http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/78099/

Whoops! Didn't like my dots.

This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 3:23 PM

I saw that one at Home Depot and started to get it! It's tropical too, right? Your's must have multiplied. Are you leaving it in the ground over winter?

Oh that is not my picture! It was taken in Pakistan. I just linked to it. :)

I had to bring it in which is how I found it again. I am only in zone 6. It's been sitting in my shade garden all summer.

If you saw my greenhouse, kitchen table, front window, etc, you'd be in hysterics. LOL

Girl, please, you warned me about you! LOL

.....and I'm as gullable as they come. You should see the trick photography on the canna forum that X and Paul did. I fell for it hook line and sinker.

You just *might* have been warned......LOL

I looked for the Canna thread. What did they do to you? I did find the seedless pod with the face and wardrobe update. LOL

I'm glad you bought that - I have always liked them for house plants for their really tropical look and ease of care.

I'm tickled over my new dragon tree. Just sets the room off.

Badseed, I don't know how to copy a thread but if you'll see Cannaforum 10-05 -06 "Any one alive here" by Phicks you'll see the canna with the iris bloom. I got too excited. Wanted one really bad....Then I figured it out right in the middle of posting. Newbie's...yep I'm one!