Large houseplants fill your home with beautiful, dramatic foliage and can help create an “I live in a botanical garden” kind of vibe. Certain houseplants like dracaena and monstera can grow quite big. And these plants need specialized care, from the proper amount of sunlight to the right kind of container. Some larger houseplants — like monstera and schefflera — can grow to be 6 feet tall or more. Plants that size are not necessarily harder to maintain; they just need different kinds of care, mainly more light, more water less often, and the right container.
Let there be (more) light
Large houseplants soak up more sunlight to power their growth than their more petite cousins. Without sufficient sun, some of the interior and bottom leaves can turn yellow and drop, so — especially this time of year — put your large houseplant in a south-facing window, then plan to move it to an east- or west-facing window next summer.
More water less often
As far as watering your big houseplant, because it’s in a bigger container, you won’t need to water as often. Plan on a thorough watering every three or four weeks in the winter.
Lightweight, moveable containers are best
If you’ve got a big ficus or dracaena or even a large Norfolk Island pine, make sure the container and base are large enough and mobile. The container itself can be made from lightweight plastic with drainage holes in the base and placed on a caddy with wheels. That way, you can move the plant to different rooms for optimal sunlight, and you’ll be able to roll the whole plant and lift it into the tub for a good shower once a month!
Repot and prune every two to three years
If the plant is in a big pot now and growing well, plan on repotting it every two to three years. When you repot it, give your plant a little root pruning, too. And speaking of pruning, some large houseplants like dracaenas and monsteras can be pruned down to keep to a slightly smaller size. Others, like the Norfolk Island pine or some palm trees cannot be pruned; doing so will ruin their shape.
