In our homes, big leaf plants are the bold statement that adds personality and style to our living spaces. The striking presence of house plants with big leaves can perk up our homes to create a true jungle vibe! These versatile beauties can soften and warm a modern aesthetic, making it more inviting, or enhance a boho vibe with their lush, natural charm. Organic contemporary decor wouldn't be complete without these stunning natural wonders. With the right nurturing touch, indoor plants with big leaves can elevate the aesthetics of our homes and infuse a touch of nature indoors.
But with big leaves comes (a bit) bigger responsibility. Because they're so prominent, these big plants need the right care. It's mega frustrating when our big leafy friends don't cooperate. When your towering fiddle leaf fig tree or philodendron goes on strike, it deflates the room and can defeat the purpose of these statement plants. In the world of plant care, it can be intimidating to care for an indoor plant with big leaves. But not to worry, a thriving big leaf houseplant can make all your design dreams come true, so it’s worth it for the extra education! Take a deep, cleansing breath and let’s learn the best indoor plant care practices to keep your home decor looking dope and fresh (depending on which generation you identify with).
In this guide, we'll help you pick which type of plant may be right for you and how to nurture it to its full potential.
Why choose big leaf plants?
Let’s learn why big leaf plants are great for indoor spaces, and why you need one (or five) in your home.
- Low effort staging: Big leaf plants thrive in bright indirect light, making them perfect for placement near south, east, or west facing windows.
- Minimal maintenance: Houseplants with big leaves typically need minimal maintenance since they tolerate fluctuations in humidity and temperature well (compared to calatheas and ferns).
- Purifies the air and eliminates pollutants: Big leaf plants are stars at improving air quality, acting as natural air purifiers, removing pollutants and toxins from indoor air such as formaldehyde and benzene. The microorganisms found in potting soil also pitch in to clean the air, which is important especially in winter months when we spend much of our time inside (Vanno et al, 2021).
- Aesthetics, aesthetics, aesthetics: Indoor plants with big leaves add lush greenery to an otherwise empty corner of a room, transforming it into a better designed and more beautiful space. The foliage also adds a focal point to the space, creating texture and visual interest – interior design 101.
The most popular big leaf plants for indoors
Time to explore the top 5 most popular big leaf plants for indoors. Which ones can you imagine in your home?
Monstera
Arguably the most photographed big leaf plant, the monstera is a common big leaf houseplants for good reason. It grows quickly, has big dramatic leaves, and loves humidity, making them perfect for a bright bathroom. It’s voted the easiest big leaf plant to take care of.
- Full name: Monstera deliciosa
- Sunlight: Thrives in bright indirect light, not spotlight.
- Watering: Fully water when soil is dry half way down the pot, avoid watering too frequently.
- Soil: Monsteras do well with well draining soils.
- Mature Size: Can reach heights of 6-20 feet indoors.
Bird of Paradise
The bird of paradise is a tropical plant that loves a sunny and warm environment. Place it near a window to watch it bloom and flower into a beautiful bird taking flight. These houseplants have a self-heading habit, which means the foliage sprouts from a single stalk.
- Full name: Strelitzia reginae
- Sunlight: Prefers bright direct light.
- Watering: Water once a week, or when soil is almost completely dry.
- Soil: Well-draining
- Mature Size: Can reach heights of 5-7 feet indoors.
Philodendron
The philodendron, closely related to the monstera, is known for its distinct lobed leaves and wide structure. It’s a low maintenance plant and makes a statement in any room!
"Philodendrons are amongst the easiest plants to care for. There are so many varieties to choose from and are perfect for styling as beautiful, living home decor." —Brandon Frias, plant collector
- Full name: Philodendron selloum
- Sunlight: Medium bright, indirect light. Can tolerate low light conditions too.
- Watering: Around once a week, or when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Soil: Well-draining potting mix with good aeration.
- Mature Size: Can grow 8-10 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
Fiddle leaf fig
The fiddle leaf fig is the diva of the big leaf plant world, but oh-so-beautiful when properly nurtured. Characterized by their violin-shaped green leaves and tall beautiful stature, the fiddle leaf fig can even be pruned to best fit your interior space.
Check out our fiddle leaf starter kit to really make these babies shine and grow into full-sized trees!
- Full name: Ficus lyrata
- Sunlight: Bright, indirect light.
- Watering: Water only when soil is dry 40-60% down the pot.
- Soil: Fiddle leaf figs do well with LECA but will grow tallest in a well-draining soil that can better support roots.
- Mature Size: Can grow up to 12 feet tall indoors.
Calathea
Last but not least, the calathea pinstripe big leaf plant is a beautiful swirl of green stripes and pink undersides. It can be low maintenance is also low light friendly – the perfect indoor houseplant combination. You can place the calathea in a diverse range of places inside, and watch as its ‘prayer’ leaves move with the rising and falling of the sun!
- Full name: Calathea ornata
- Sunlight: No direct sunlight.
- Watering: Use only distilled water when top 30% of soil is dry.
- Soil: Well-draining potting mix with slightly more water retention.
- Mature Size: Can reach up to 3 feet tall indoors.
How to best care for big leaf plants
Generally, big leaf plants require a bit more attention to thrive and flourish in our indoor spaces than outdoors. Leaf shine and care is the most important for bright aesthetics and healthy plants. Here are some general care tips applicable to most house plants with big leaves mentioned above:
- Provide ample light: Big leaf plants mostly thrive in bright indirect light, mimicking their natural habitat. Find the right balance so you don’t scorch their beautiful big leaves.
- Water to maintain consistency: Maintain consistent waterings during the growing seasons if you want to see your plant become a tree! Avoid watering too often. Typically, all indoor plants should be allowed to dry out at least half way down the pot before another soak. Ensure you fully soak the pot when you water.
- Use fertilizer: Use Big Green Leaves® fertilizer for all tropical and subtropical indoor houseplants. Adding fertilizer into your plant care routine is an absolute must for growth and health, especially for nitrogen-hungry, big leaf plants.
- Prune and clean: Regular pruning and cleaning of leaves helps prevents pests and diseases, as well as encourages healthy new growth. Don't be scared to cut your plants, grab your gardening gloves and lean into care of the big leaf houseplants!
Styling tips for big leaf plants
Style is one of the main benefits of owning a big leaf plant. But elevating your interior home decor involves a bit more than just placing it in a corner and walking away. Here are styling tips and insta inspo to help you incorporate these beauties seamlessly into your living spaces.
“Plants are a part of the finishing touches for any interior design space I complete. They add life, dimension, color and texture, and I wouldn’t think of completing a project without them. I often use tall palms or fiddle leaf figs to add height to a space and I love using succulent arrangements for tabletop accents.” — Rejoy Marsella, Interior Designer
- Finding the best placement: Strategically place big leaf plants in areas that need a touch of greenery in contrast to its surroundings, like empty corners or beside darker toned furniture.
- Choosing the right pots: Finding the right pot to fit your aesthetic is incredibly important! Consider materials like ceramic, terracotta, or woven baskets to add texture and complement your already-existing furniture.
- Height variation: Experiment with different heights to add depth and dimension to your plant arrangement – this includes mixing taller plants like fiddle leaf figs with shorter plants like calatheas. Dynamic displays are way more eye-catching than a single plant.
- Grouping for dramatic effect: Grouping several big leaf plants together can create a lush, jungle-like atmosphere to make a truly bold statement when you walk into a room. Try clustering them in groups of 3 in a sparse corner or on plant stands.
Common issues & troubleshooting
Big leaf plants are definitely not immune to common issues, so let’s discuss potential problems you may encounter and tips for addressing them without freaking out.
- Yellowing / depleted leaves: Yellow leaves can indicate overwatering, underwatering, or nutrient deficiencies. See our watering guide for best practices in plant watering, or supplement with a broad spectrum houseplant fertilizer.
- Brown leaf tips: Brown tips on leaves are a sign of low humidity or inconsistent watering. Learn how to keep shiny, clean leaves so you never have discolored or depleted leaves ever again.
- Pests and diseases: Prevention is always better than trying to treat a problem, so take a few preventive steps to keep pests off your plants. Regularly check your big leaf plants for signs of infestation, such as webbing, sticky residue, or tiny insects on the leaves. Add 1mL of Big Leaf Energy concentrate to eat watering, and mist the leaves bi-weekly with ready-to-use Big Leaf Energy® spray. This is a neem oil based liquid with the added benefits of essential oils to boost plant protection. Plus it smells great.
- Irregular care: Just like our pets, our plants like consistency. Irregular lighting or watering will lead to irregular results (see image below). Nurture your big leaf plant as you would a good friendship, and it will reward you with beautiful growth.
Putting plant care to practice
Big leaf plants have it all – they warm up cold spaces and enhance the chill for laid-back spaces. They purify our air and bring joy into our homes. As you’ve learned, caring for these statement plants is rewarding, and surprisingly achievable with the right knowledge and care. We all want big beautiful indoor plants, and now you know that it’s attainable for you!
We’d love to hear about your favorite big leaf beauties and how you’ve incorporated them into your indoor spaces. Share your story and photos—DM us on Instagram @ohblessyoursoil.
For more plant care insights and inspiration, join our community of fellow plant enthusiasts. Together, let's cultivate a thriving garden of knowledge and greenery, bringing joy and vitality to our lives and homes.