Some plants are happy to live in the home all year round, while others have short stays and are brought in to decorate the home while in flower then put outdoors when their display fades.

And, with improved modern lighting and heating, many plants that would otherwise grow only in hothouses can now live happily indoors.  

One, two or three houseplants cleverly positioned have the ability to instantly add a friendly, warm atmosphere to a home making it feel comfortable and welcoming. 

Choose a position where plants will not be overlooked but displayed to their advantage.

Gone are the days when indoor plants were mainly ferns, aspidistras, monsteras and rubber plants; now there are so many more stunning and exotic choices when it comes to indoor plantings.

There are philodendrons, palms, jade plants, peperonia, coleus, sandeveria, ginger lilies, poinsettias, ficus, crazy grass, Chinese water bamboo, begonias, orchids, spring bulbs, cyclamens, strelizia, hoyas,  bromeliads, epiphyllums, African violets and anthuriums to name just a few.   

There is also an indoor succulent range that is easy to grow providing they are given plenty of light. 

For terrariums and bottle gardens there are smaller plants available especially suited for this micro-environment. 

Here, the creeping moss-like plant, baby’s tears, forms a marvellous green carpet for the base. 

Once established these mini gardens can be left for months without attention except for the occasional watering.

Another form of indoor gardening is the dish garden which can be designed in as many different ways as outdoor gardens. 

Some of the loveliest dish gardens are made in the Japanese style with miniature conifers, temples and sunken pools. 

With miniature gardens it’s important to keep everything in scale and use plants that require the same growing conditions.  

The best way to keep your houseplants healthy and flowering is to give them precisely the right growing conditions. 

When plants drop unopened buds they could be suffering from a sudden temperature change caused by draughts, low humidity, chemical damage or injury to their roots. 

When you purchase any plants it’s a good idea to keep the labels as they have the cultural notes on them.

Over-watering and over-fertilising are usually the main reasons houseplants die.

In general, when in vigorous growth plants require plenty of water and the soil should not be allowed to dry out too much between waterings.

When growth slows down the soil should be kept a little drier. In winter water only to maintain life. 

Feed with a liquid fertiliser, at half the recommended strength, at night, in a foliar form when plants are in active growth. 

To remove dust wipe both sides of the leaves using warm water or put plants outside for a time in light rain.    

Most houseplants if carefully watered, given the right amount of light and not over-fertilised should thrive and look their best for a long time.  

January 6-7:  The North-West Lilium Society will hold its annual Lilium Show at the Burnie Arts Centre from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. 

Note: Most garden clubs take a break at this time of the year but will be meeting monthly again in February 2018.