Tips for giant house plants

■ Right plant, right place. Have a look at the lighting conditions around the desired location for your new plant. If the plant is situated more than 2.5m from the window or light source, you may have to look for larger-leafed/tropical-looking specimens, such as a monstera or philodendron. Sunny locations where a chocolate bar could melt will require sun-loving plants such as the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) or a yucca.

■ In darker areas of the home (for example, room corners or smallwindowed cottages), take care not to water too often. Raise the plant’s nursery/ coir pot higher so that the top lip is level with the decorative pot. This will be highly beneficial for the health of your soil, as it will also be exposed to the natural lighting, which in turn will dry the soil quicker (thus reducing the risk of soilborne issues such as root rot).

■ Keep leafy greens looking great by gently rinsing the foliage under the shower to remove dust and replicate the rainfall of their natural habitats. This is best carried out on those plants that will grow in dark rooms to improve their light-capturing efficiency.

■ Regular feeding is essential for healthy and reliable growth. Give your plants a feed once every third or fourth watering by mixing the recommended amount with a litre of water.

■ Mature plants can make fantastic family heirlooms. Once your plant becomes too large to keep in its current location, take stem cuttings to root in either water or soil. This is a fantastic opportunity to give them as gifts to friends or family – or even to encourage the younger generations to become horticulturalists!