Big leaf plants have many shapes and textures, but they all have one thing in common: they produce much foliage! Along with their showy leaves, they'll bring joy to your home for many reasons.
These large plants add color and vibrancy, and the arrangement and location of these plants will give your home a tropical feel. What could be more magical?
Monstera Deliciosa
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This luscious plant originates in Mexico and Central America. It's nicknamed the Swiss cheese plant because of the intricate perforations in the leaves. The color of leaves may vary from green to variegated white or yellow. It is a vining plant, so you need to provide a solid pole to support it. Under the right growing conditions, Monsteras can reach up to 65 feet; indoors, they usually grow between 6 to 8 feet tall. In their native habitat, they thrive in moss.
Light Conditions
During this plant's active growth -- March to September -- they thrive in indirect light. Position Monstera near light but shade with a curtain, which simulates the conditions of its natural habitat. In winter, place Monstera deliciosa near a bright light source, so its leaves truly thrive. Ideally, six to eight hours a day.
Water Requirements
Between spring and fall, water your plant until the first few inches of soil are moist, and remember to remove excess water from the pot. Placing pebbles in the base of the pot under your soil will allow for some humidity which this plant loves. If its leaves brown at the edges, chances are there isn't enough humidity in your air. Wipe the leaves with warm water weekly, and remember to mist them every few days in the morning. The humidity level should be above 60 percent.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for these giants is an average room temperature, but lower it to between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
Soil
A mixture of vermiculite and peat soil keeps in moisture, which is necessary for the plants' growth.
Container
The pot you choose must be 30 to 50 percent larger than the plant's root ball.
Rubber Plant
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This beautiful, waxy-leafed tree is a stunning piece for your home. Rubber plants are great for beginning gardeners. They can grow 6 to 10 feet or taller indoors, so give them a wide berth. The leaves are beautifully glossy and often come in dark green or maroon with a red vein running vertically down the middle. Support this plant using a stake or a solid bamboo stick.
Light Conditions
Rubber plants like light but can adapt to low light if necessary. Place them near a direct light source in the morning.
Water Requirements
Water your rubber plant thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Leaf yellowing can occur due to too much watering or too little light exposure. Remember to wipe off the dust from the waxy leaves to keep them shiny, vibrant, and healthy.
Container
When choosing your pot, make sure it has many holes for drainage and if your container sits on a plate or saucer, empty it after watering.
Soil
A good soil for this plant is a well-draining houseplant mix.
Temperature
Rubber plants favor average to warm room temperatures -- 75 to 80 Fahrenheit during the day and lower at night.
Elephant Ear Plant (Alocasia)
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This gargantuan plant is originally from tropical eastern Asia. It is aptly named because the large leaves are shaped like hearts and resemble the ears of an elephant!
They can easily reach 3 to 6 feet in height and width and have a stunning deep green, black, or burgundy color that can be variegated.
Light Conditions
This plant does well in partially shady conditions but can tolerate some light.
Water Requirements
Elephant ears love moist but not saturated soil.
Containers
Selecting a nonporous metal or glazed ceramic container will reduce the amount of water seeping from the sides and bottom. Make sure you choose a pot with enough drainage holes.
Soil
Your soil should never be dry to the touch. Choose a potting mix of soil with loam organically rich in nutrients.
Temperature
This plant will thrive indoors at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly above.
Banana Plant
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These mammoth-sized beauties originated in hot areas of India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. Banana plants have paddle-shaped leaves and can grow to a height of between 10 to 20 feet!
The trunks of these plants are overlapping leaves that wrap tightly around each other. This feature helps the base conserve water. In fact, banana plants are comprised of 93 percent water!
Soil
The soil you choose must be fertile and not water-logged. Use a loam-based compost with 30 percent grit.
Water
Water your plant generously during the spring and summer months when the weather gets warm. Doing so is particularly important as plants in containers receive less rainfall than those planted in the ground. Adding a liquid feed during the warmer months will give your plant an extra boost of nutrients that it would typically get from the ground.
Potting
Banana plants grow quickly, so they benefit from being repotted into larger containers every spring or summer. As the pot size gets better, so too will your plant.
Majesty Palm
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The majesty palm thrives in sub-tropical climates, Madagascar in particular. It has an uneven crown, but the leaves are symmetrical. It grows slowly, but can reach up to 40 feet in height, so make plenty of room for this giant.
Soil
This palm needs extremely rich soil combined with a mixture of loam, peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
Water Requirements
Her majesty needs a lot of water so make sure the soil is constantly moist but not wet. Remember to mist the leaves to keep them happy and healthy!
Humidity
This palm thrives off humidity, so you can group near other plants or buy a humidifier.
Tip: Most palms are subject to mealybugs and mites.
The Kings of the Jungle
Big-leaf plants come in many different shapes, colors, and sizes. Which you choose depends on your taste and lifestyle. One thing they all have in common is that once you decide which ones to grow, you'll feel like your living space will have transformed into a tropical oasis!
Will you try growing some of these plants? If you have any tips or tricks, please leave them in the comment field below.
Happy big-leaf plant shopping!