THE GREEN INDOORS

Buying from a garden centre or nursery (rather than a supermarket) also means the staff should be able to answer any questions about care.

When picking your plants, look for shapely specimens that are strong, healthy and vigorous. That will help them settle in their new surroundings.

Tough vine plants like ivies or the “kangaroo vine” (Cissus antarctica) can cope with a bit of manhandling and fluctuating temperatures, and make wonderful, no-fuss houseplants.

You can stick them in a shady corner or on top of a shelf or cabinet and they will do fine.

Monstera deliciosa, the “Swiss cheese plant”, is a gorgeous option – and a perennial favourite – with its signature perforated foliage.

From the warm climes of Mexico and Panama, it loves getting cosied up in a British living room.

Just give it partial shade and it will instantly bring the feel of the tropics to your home.

Another easy plant that will give your room a botanical burst is old favourite, the aspidistra – sometimes known as the cast iron plant as it thrives on little or no attention.

Dracaena is also undemanding and has dramatic strap-like leaves, often with red and yellow variegation on stems that can reach up to 1.8m tall.

A classic parlour palm has a really friendly vibe, is very easy to care for, and is a superb way to brighten up any space.

A relative newcomer to the easy-care indoor plant world is the interesting Zanzibar gem, or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, which is often called simply “the ZZ plant”.

It looks a lot like the tropical cycad known as the cardboard palm, but has thick, fleshy, naturally glossy leaves. It thrives in living room conditions but hates a lot of water.

Peace lilies, which produce white, cupped spathes with a pronounced finger-like spadix are outstanding for removing airborne contaminants and can live for many years on little more