Top tips for keeping house plants

With the colder months approaching, many garden plants will begin to suffer as temperatures drop. However, that doesn't mean you can't bring the outside in. By investing in house plants, you can add life to your home.

When they’re not adorning Pinterest boards or Instagram feeds, house plants can improve the mental and physical wellbeing of their owners by reducing stress levels and providing better air quality. So it pays to pamper them.

Which house plants should I choose?

While it is easy just to choose the prettiest plant at a garden centre, it's important to be mindful of where it’s going to live. Is your home draughty? Will your house plant spend its time in a conservatory or in a cold corridor?

Once you’ve worked out where you want your new addition to go, the next step is choosing the right plant. Unfortunately, as there is no one-size-fits-all for plants, you will need to do a little bit of research beforehand.

Some tropical options such as jade plants prefer sunny, humid areas, whereas plants like kangaroo vines thrive in shaded areas. A full list of house plants and their preferred conditions can be found on the RHS website.

How often should I water house plants?

It may be tempting to water house plants at every opportunity, but try not to over-do it. Watering too often can lead to root death and cause the plant to collapse.

One of the best ways to monitor them is by getting green fingers; feel the compost and if it is still wet, don’t water it. The roots need to breathe in order for them to consume nutrients in the soil. Too much water will stress the roots, which can lead to premature rot.

How do I maintain healthy house plants?

Knowing when your house plant is likely to flower and how big it is going to grow are just some of the things you should prepare for.

Here are our top tips for looking after your house plants:

• buy some liquid feed if you have flowering plants, as this will promote buds.
• when you need to move a plant to a bigger pot, you may need to add some slow-release fertiliser to the compost to disperse nutrients around the plant.
• prune dying flowers, remove wayward branches and discard any damaged or yellowing leaves.
• clean leaves with cotton wool dipped in water. Dust prevents plants from growing properly.