Have I missed my chance for lupins?

Is it too late to plant lupins in my border? – Nancy, via email DAVID: Planting lupins that have been grown in a pot can be done almost all year round. Autumn is a good time to plant too. It lets plants send out roots then settle, ready for next year’s growing season. Make sure they’re well-protected against slugs – they love lupins.

Bringing plants into the home makes us all happier and healthier. It’s a no-brainer – a well-placed houseplant or two can light up any room.

Any interior designer will tell you plants are completely integral to creating a warm and inviting space.

And researchers have shown time and again that bringing nature into the house is good for our well-being.

But we live undeniably busy lives – and many of us will have had the experience of buying a lovely houseplant, then watching it die because we don’t have the time or attention to give it.

Happily, there are many houseplants out there that are really easy to look after – even for the very busy.

If you are thinking about getting a plant for a very specific position, think about the conditions in that spot.

Does it get direct sunlight or not? If it’s a windowsill, it helps to know what direction it is facing. Is it a draughty spot or near a radiator?

Most plant’s labels will describe the ideal conditions, such as needing good light, an aversion to cold air or requiring regular watering.

Buying from a garden centre or 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 easycare 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 than occasional watering and feeding.

And bromeliads are bold-looking plants that won’t ask for much in return – you simply keep their vases of cupped leaves filled and forget about them.

The ultimate no-care plants, though, are today’s trendy cacti and succulents. They will withstand most maltreatment except for heavyhanded watering and feeding.

All you need do is check on them and give them water about twice a month and that’s it.

Crassula ovata, also known as the jade plant or money tree, is a succulent with a unique look that makes a fantastic houseplant.

It can grow quite large if you want it to, but it is slow-growing and easy to control if you want to keep it small.

Whatever you choose, don’t be afraid of houseplants.

There are plenty that are dead easy to care for, and they are well worth a little effort.

House plants give such a positive feel to a house, adding life, colour and vibrancy to any room.

Aspidistra, the ‘cast iron plant’, thrives on little or no attention