A cool indoor tree?

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Mount_Prion

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2012
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Honestly had NO clue where to put this. Please feel free to move. But I feel like MFKers will likely have some kind of answer for me.

My company just opened up our first office, and it's got really high ceilings, but almost no natural light.

I kind of want to put a legitimate tree (or very large overhanging plant) in the corner, but I'm not into palms, huge blocks of wood with pothos stapled to them, or most "indoor" trees in general.

Being a fish/reptile nerd, I know more than the average person about lighting, and I figured I could probably install lighting fixtures above the tree with some intense aquarium flourescents, or maybe even get something from a hydroponics store.

a) Am I crazy? Is any real tree going to die under artificial light?

b) Anybody have some recommendations for cool/unusual looking trees or very large (or large-growing) plants that could grow under these circumstances?

c) What's the best kind of lighting\fixtures to get for this? I could just stick a spare 36'' fixture with 6700k bulbs in it above, but I'm sure there are better options.

As always, thanks all!
 
not sure how this would work. you should definitely look for a tree that grows as an understory tree because it wont need as much light, but from what i know trees don't do well indoors unless they have access to 8 hrs of natural light.
 
I'm not sure you'd be into this type of tree, but if I remember correctly from working in a greenhouse years and years ago, look into a Ficus tree. I think they can deal with low light conditions and can get rather large.
 
A pot large enough to support good root growth and also be stable to hold a tall tree.. Some t5 ho lights would be good for supplemental lights..


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I'm not sure you'd be into this type of tree, but if I remember correctly from working in a greenhouse years and years ago, look into a Ficus tree. I think they can deal with low light conditions and can get rather large.

They look pretty cool! I'd be down with that potentially.

A pot large enough to support good root growth and also be stable to hold a tall tree.. Some t5 ho lights would be good for supplemental lights..


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Yeah, definitely going to get a big ornamental pot for it. And yeah, definitely HO lights, depending on what I find out from the hydroponics place. I think I'm gonna call a couple of them tomorrow and see what they have to say.
 
Would be a great choice. You really can't go wrong with the "weeping fig" for an indoor tree.


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Definitely true. I have one about 6 feet tall and I love it. I use it as a perch for my water dragon when I bring him upstairs to hang out while I watch movies.

You could also do a citrus tree. I have an orange tree and it flowers about half of the year. The flowers smell so wonderful.
 
Definitely true. I have one about 6 feet tall and I love it. I use it as a perch for my water dragon when I bring him upstairs to hang out while I watch movies.

You could also do a citrus tree. I have an orange tree and it flowers about half of the year. The flowers smell so wonderful.

Nice! I also really like the schefflera aesthetically but I suspect it would get too dry in the office and they say this plant likes humidity.
 
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