INDOORS

Live plants beam life and vitality into a room at any time of year, but they’re especially important when winter has us spending most of our time inside.

Houseplants help us feel good, not just because they look great. They’re fantastic air fresheners too, scientifically proven to improve the air we breathe. The rate at which indoor plants can absorb toxic carbon dioxide and replace it with healthy oxygen has been shown to make a significant difference to the health of homes and offices.

Beautiful peace lilies ( Spathiphyllum) rate highly as ‘healthy air’ plants, as do colourful crotons, cordylines and bromeliads. These easy care plants offer floral and foliage interest that lasts many years.

Loved for their stunning foliage, ferns make great indoor plants because they are naturally adapted to low light conditions. To get the best from ferns, give them pure rainwater, feed them only with diluted organic plant food and keep them away from heaters. A wornout maidenhair fern can be given a new lease of life if it is cut right back and repotted into fresh potting mix in spring.

Fresh flowers make a room look loved in a way that fakes can never match. If you want something that lasts longer than a bunch of cut flowers, treat your home to a beautiful flowering houseplant. Make the most of the fabulous array on offer at this time of year. Elegant moth orchids and anthuriums are surprisingly easy care, and flower for many months. Cyclamen and Chrysanthemums never fail to look lovely, with a colour to suit any décor.