Large Floor Plants

An empty corner is often the hardest spot in a room to fill. A large plant does it better than most furniture, softening the edges and drawing the eye upward. The catch is that a big plant is a long-term commitment and a real investment, so it pays to match it to the corner before you buy.

Before choosing, measure two things: how much floor space the plant can have, and how far the corner is from the nearest window. Big plants grow toward the light, and one that sits too far from it will lean, stretch and drop its lower leaves.

The plants

Monstera is the classic statement plant, with large, glossy leaves that develop their famous splits and holes as the plant matures. It grows wide as well as tall, often three feet across, so it needs a generous corner. Give it bright, indirect light close to a window and a moss pole or stake to climb, and it will grow quickly. Toxic to cats and dogs.

A tall variety of snake plant is the opposite: all height and almost no width. Its stiff leaves can reach three to four feet over a few years while taking up no more floor than a large pot. It is the right choice for a narrow corner, a spot beside a door, or anywhere a wide plant would get in the way. It also copes with corners further from the window than the other two. Toxic to cats and dogs.

A mature parlor palm makes a soft, airy clump of fronds about three to four feet tall indoors. It grows slowly, so buy it close to the size you want. It is the only plant here that is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Living with a big plant

• Put the pot on a plant stand with wheels before it gets heavy. Moving a large plant to clean behind it, or to follow the light in winter, becomes easy.
• Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every month or two. Large leaves collect dust that blocks light.
• Turn the plant a quarter turn every few weeks so it grows evenly instead of leaning toward the window.
• Repot only when roots fill the pot, usually every two to three years, and go up just one size each time.

Keep any toxic plant where pets cannot chew it, and call your vet if they do.