Houseplants are a great way to brighten up any home and help provide clean air and, depending on the variety you choose, many require little more than watering, feeding and the occasional re-potting.

The most important thing is that plant information labels should always be read carefully, however as a general rule, if you get the following right your house plants should thrive.

The first is watering.  There’s no rule that covers all plants, but plants will die if they’re given too much or too little water, tending to like their soil damp.  Most plants are happy to have water poured into the pot, however some do prefer to be watered from below.  Water should also always be at room temperature to avoid shocking plants and plants generally should be watered until it starts to drain through the openings at the bottom of the pot.  House plants also need more watering in the warmer months.

In order to thrive most indoor plants need light of varying degrees and plant information labels should be followed carefully.  Preferred temperatures vary, but a room temperature of around 18˚C or 65F tends to be ideal.  Also bear in mind that plants aren’t keen on temperature fluctuations, so keep them away from radiators and draughts.

Central heating can cause a few problems for house plants who prefer some humidity in the environment.  To compensate for this, many plants benefit from having their leaves wiped with a damp cloth or sponge a couple of times a month.  However this doesn’t apply to all plants as some, such as African Violets, can be damaged by getting their leaves wet.  Another tip to raise humidity is to group plants together so that they can create their own micro climate.

With feeding, freshly potted plants don’t really need feeding for the first couple of months to enable new roots to form.  Some plants require specialist food, like orchids and bonsai, but generally foliage plants benefit from food high in nitrogen and flowering plants for those high in potash.  The best time to feed house plants is also when they are in active growth, from early spring to late summer.

Most houseplants grow better when regularly re-potted into larger pots.  Spring is the best time to pot on, but generally if you can see lots of roots when you remove your plant from its pot, it’s time to re-pot your house plant.  A pot the next size up is ideal.

Finally, for beginners, Dobbies recommend a great tried and tested plant like a Dracaena, Peace Lily or a Yucca.