Question
Hi, i am a college student who lives in a dorm. I love to grow outdoor trees/bushes and have been denied this pleasure due to an absense of outdoor growing area. I am partial to my 'bloodgood' Acer Palmatum, but I am well aware of Japanese Maples' fondness of the outdoors and dislike of the low circulation indoors. I saw a question you had posted and was wondering if you have had any luck with your japanese red maple grown indoors. The ideal outcome of my situation would be to bonsai a japanese red maple indoors, but i was just hoping that you could either give me some advice on growing a JRM indoors or other good (tabletop size) potted plants to grow indoors. Thank you for any way you can help.

-josh

Answer
First, I would like to clear up the confusion. I am not sure if you read Rob's question to me, about growing Japanese Maple's indoors, but I will tell you pretty much what I told him.
To best answer your question, I will do a refresher course in biology. The genetic makeup of houseplants has evolved from adapting to the conditions of low light,low humitity, poor air circulation, lack of season transitions of light, and temperature,and being confined to a container. When you try to bring in a plant that is not adapted to those conditions, it will suffer, and die. Even bonsai plants are kept outdoors. They are allowed to go through the seasons, loose their leaves, and perform just like the larger trees that have normal, unconfined roots.
Some trees that are able to grow indoors are, Abutilon, Ficus, Philodendron, Shefflera, Fatsia, Rubber tree, Palms, Banana Tree, Avocado, Citrus, Aralia, Deffenbachia, Norfork Pine, Yucca, Corn plant Dracaena, Fiddleleaf Fig, and Monkey Puzzle, to name a few. Some of these plants can become very large after a few years, so they will need plenty of room to grow. Unless you live in a very warm climate, they will not be able to be planted outside.
For a small dorm room, I would recommend a Spiderplant, Pothos, Boston Fern, Begonia, Jade plant, Hoya, Sansevieria-Snake plant, or Wandering Jew to name a few. All of these plants are easy to grow, and will tolerate most anything in a dorm. Just remember to keep your plant away from heat vents, drafts, and direct sun. Give it good light. Check the soil to see if it is dry enough, before you water, and don't say I will water it later, if you see it needs it. It will need to be potted up to a larger pot when it becomes root bound in the pot. And most of all, don't let your roommate set their books on it.


bakerplanter
bakerplanter