How to create your own indoor garden

Orla Kiely ceramic plant pot with wooden stand in 60s stem dandelion yellow, £50, Cuckooland

There are several factors to take into account when it comes to choosing the most suitable plants to fit into your home and it’s not a case of one size fits all. Start off by considering how much natural daylight each room in your home gets as some species need a lot more exposure to sunlight than others.

For darker rooms (or small flats with limited light), you might want to opt for a dragon tree (dracaena marginata) if you’re after something tall and slender, or the popular spider plant (chlorophytum comosum) is notorious for being able to thrive in indirect sunlight. For a flowering species that doesn’t mind shady spots, try the low-maintenance peace lily (spathiphyllum) which blooms several times per year.

Brass planter on stand, from £78, Audenza

You’ll also need to look at how much attention different plants need, depending on how regularly you’ll be able to water and care for them. If you’re often away for several days at a time, go for greenery that only needs watering about once a week such as succulents, cacti or bamboo.

Unlike outdoor species, indoor plants don’t usually require a great deal of regular pruning, but it’s important to remove any dead or unhealthy leaves or branches periodically to keep the plant looking presentable and to help encourage growth. For plants that produce flowers, only prune them back after they have bloomed to avoid accidentally removing any unopened buds.

Hanging flowerpot holder tray, £30, Beaumonde

Depending on the size of your room, choose a plant that will fit in comfortably and not be cramped into a small space which may affect its growth. If you’re looking for a tall species that won’t take over the room, a yucca could be a sensible choice thanks to its narrow stature. Alternatively, if you want to introduce more greenery, opt for something like a monstera (cheese plant) or areca palm which have much fuller growth yet still with plenty of height. Always remember to avoid positioning plants too close to radiators or heat sources as this can cause them to overheat and wilt.

Wooden top metal stool, £35; large giraffe planter, £20; Bohemian wandered bowls and plates, from £2.50, all Sainsbury’s

A by Amara Beeston wool throw, £140; Trerice leaves cushion, £30, both Amara

Get creative when it comes to working greenery into your interior and think about the best ways to display different plants. Start off by investing in a decorative container for your foliage—a colourful planter will instantly upgrade the plastic pot you bought it in and allow you to coordinate it with your existing décor.

IKEA, B&Q and Homebase all sell a wide range of affordable containers in different colours and patterns that you can pick up at the same time as purchasing your new plant to ensure a good fit before getting it home. Raised plant stands are seeing a surge in popularity this season and are a great way to make more of a feature of your greenery by propping it up. Look out for multi-level stands to group together several pots.

Tabletop terrarium in recycled glass, £35, Garden Trading

Hanging planters are an alternative way to display house plants, particularly in rooms where floor or shelf space is limited. Retro macramé hangers are popular for creating a Boho-inspired look and can be hung from the ceiling or wall hooks, or even looped onto the end of shelves as a styling idea. Use open shelving to showcase smaller plants and group together several different species to create a relaxed look.

Some plants that can withstand humid environments, such as golden pothos vine and succulents, can be housed in glass terrariums, filled with soil, pebbles and moss, which can then be displayed on a coffee table as a centrepiece in the form of a miniature garden.

Glass top geometric coffee table, £119; tropical leaf print cushion, £6; crocodile ornament, £8, all George Home