The house plant you should NEVER buy as it always dies – plus how to make yours flourish, by gardening experts

It started with an avocado plant.

I remember when I bought it, about two years ago, the two women behind the counter giggled a little.

I looked at them. “It’s very big, it needs space,” said one. ‘And light!’ said the other.

It was February, sunny, and my bedroom had about the square footage for a bed and nothing else. Yet I didn’t listen. I paid my £30 and carried my avocado plant down the hill from Archway to my flat in Finsbury Park. (If you don’t know the geography of North London it’s not that far, but when you’re carrying a giant avocado plant it feels endless.)

At home I placed the plant next to my bed, next to the window. My roommate looked at it and said, “I’ll give it a week.” After two days, I noticed a disturbing brown avocado leaf with curled edges on my bedroom floor. Then another. Then another. A week later I put the – now almost leafless – plant in the garden and decided to let nature take its course. Within a few hours, a gust of wind had toppled my avocado plant, sending dark, dry soil all over the patio.

I threw it away and bought something smaller: a spindly purple orchid. The man in the store said not to give him too much water. I nodded and left the flower on the windowsill above the radiator. This one too was dead within a week.

Now I live in another apartment. For a long time this house had no plants, only fake flowers. (TK Maxx’s £10 knock-off tulips are excellent.) But I seem to be the only one; houseplants are everywhere.

Last month, Tesco revealed that sales of houseplants had increased by 130 percent since 2019. In response, Mairi Devlin, B&Q’s head of purchasing, said houseplants have “a real appeal to young people because they’re a super, super easy first outing.” to keep something alive,” which I, as a young person with a history of killing houseplants, find “super, super” grating.

So I bought a £10 peace lily from Ikea and decided to keep it alive. For help, I speak to two experts: James Field, an aptly named gardener from Sussex, and Sarah Gerrard-Jones, author of The plant savior, who has more than 400,000 Instagram followers. Here are their tips.

Stop overwatering

Many people think that plants need water every day. They do not. When I speak to Gerrard-Jones earlier this month, she says, “This is my yucca,” as she gestures to a huge, healthy-looking tree behind her. “I’ve only watered it four times since November.” The best way to check if a plant needs water is to stick your finger in the soil. If it is dry on the surface but moist underneath, leave it alone; if it is still dry a few inches lower, add water.

“Many people swear by using rainwater,” says Field. Because tap water contains an – albeit very low – amount of chlorine. The most important thing is to make sure the water is “neither hot nor cold, nothing too shocking to the plant.”

Also make sure that it is in a well-drained pot (i.e. one with holes in the bottom, which you then place on a saucer). “You don’t want your plant sitting in a puddle of water.”

Get away from the gentleman

Plant sprayers may look professional, but have “no proven benefit,” says Gerrard-Jones. ‘People think that misting plants makes the environment moist (which promotes growth). But you can’t just make a room damp by spraying water into it.’ In addition, fogging can be dangerous.

“Unless the windows are open, we don’t have much air circulation in our homes. Especially in winter. When you mist your plants, the water simply remains on the leaves, which can cause bacterial growth.’

Veld agrees. ‘You don’t want to get water on the leaves or stem of your plant. It’s a recipe for disease.’ Instead, he suggests using a slightly damp cloth to remove any dust from your plant’s leaves (this allows them to absorb more light). Gerrard-Jones continues; she brushes her plants with a toothbrush or a handheld vacuum cleaner on a soft setting.

Let there be light

‘People always say to me, “Oh, but my plants are in a very bright room.” That means nothing to a plant! Most actually need to be within a few feet of a window to thrive,” says Gerrard-Jones.

“So wherever you put your plant, pick it up and move it closer to the window.” Field also suggests rotating the position of your houseplants around the house fairly regularly. (“It gives them variety.”)

If you don’t have natural light, buy a plant lamp that mimics it (Gathera.co.uk sells a set for £22). And if artificial sunshine offends your green-fingered principles, try a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), which tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions. ‘It grows slowly when there is little light, but it will be fine as long as you don’t overwater it,’ says Gerrard-Jones.

Say no to calatheas

“My heart sinks when I see someone pick up a calathea,” says Gerrard-Jones. ‘I just want to scream at them: “Nooooo!” They have beautiful leaves – striped and purple with lovely patterns – but I don’t think they should be sold as houseplants.

Our houses are simply not suitable for that. You will never see an ancient Calathea. They are a nightmare! Avoid, avoid, avoid.’ As an alternative, she suggests the similar, but stronger maranta.

Avoid radiators

You might think – as I did with my ill-fated orchid – that plants like warmth. But leaving them on a radiator is a terrible idea, says Gerrard-Jones. Sporadic, intense bursts of heat can cause plants to “stretch and look a little funny.” Even worse, radiators cause evaporation. It means that when you water your plant, the radiator may dry it out before your plant has time to drink from it. Eek.

Forget flowers

Flowering plants are beautiful, but that is also possible

too much maintenance for a beginner. “I would choose leaf over flower,” says Field. ‘Succulents are a nice starter. Small and spiky. They may not be particularly beautiful, but if you’re starting your plant journey, they’re a good place to start.’ As for where to buy plants, Field recommends your local garden centre, but also reviews Marks & Spencer and Waitrose.

Gerrard-Jones loves online shopping Muntplanten.nlthat a department has ‘rescued’ cacti where second-hand or, as she puts it, ‘mature’ plant species are sold.

Failing that, TK Maxx’s £10 faux tulips are truly excellent.

Pots that hit the spot

Follow James Field on X@GardeningGhent and Sarah Gerrard-Jones on Instagram @theplantrescuer