Generally most indoor plants will be happy with the temperature range in the average UK home (18-20°C). Just be sure to keep your plants away from heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces, and from draughty positions such as near doors, hallways and single-glazed windows.

The average humidity in peoples homes is around 40-50%, this is on the low side for plants which tend to need humidity levels of at least 60% in order to thrive. Tropical plants are used to humidity levels as high as 70-80% in their native rainforests.

So most indoor plants will appreciate some extra humidity.

There are 5 good ways to increase humidity for your plants:

1) Group your plants together and that will boost humidity

2) Mist your plants regularly

3) Set your plants on a tray of pebbles

4) Consider using a humidifier

5) Put your plants in bathrooms or kitchens were humidity tends to be higher

If the edges of your plant's leaves become crispy and brown this is often an indicator that humidity levels are too low.

Most indoor plants will benefit from liquid plant fertiliser or slow-release pellets. Fertiliser will give your plants a top-up of nutrients that have been absorbed from your plant compost. In general we recommend diluting liquid fertiliser with water to half the strength recommended on the bottle.

You should only fertilise your plants during the growing phase in Spring and Summer.

Add half strength liquid fertiliser to your plants when you water them. In general we recommend adding the fertiliser monthly or twice a month. We have specific instructions on each plant product page.

All plants need some light in order to thrive, although some such as snake plants can cope better with light shade (and can even survive with no natural light). In general most plants prefer bright indirect light, for example the middle part of a south facing room. A few plants, typically succulents prefer direct sunshine, and others such as peace lilies prefer light shade. We have specific instructions for each plant on its product page.

If plants are getting too much light they may get burnt, typical signs are very dry soil, brown and crispy leaves and brown patches. Most plants can not cope with direct afternoon sunshine particularly in the hotter summer months.

If your plant has limp leaves and stems, and for variegated plants if the variegation is missing on new leaves, this can be a sign that your plant is not getting enough light.

You should also wipe down leaves every few weeks to remove dust and help light absorption.

Plants that tend to grow well in light shade include peace lilies, snake plants and zz plants.

The tell-tale signs that your plant has grown as much as it can in it's current pot and needs to be rehoused are the following:

1. Roots are growing out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the plastic nursery pot
2. Roots are pushing your plant up out of it's pot
3. Your plant is growing slower than normal
4. Your plant is top-heavy

Follow-our step-by-step guide to repot your plant.

Water the plant a few days before you are repotting as it will be easier to work with moist soil. Then tease out your plant from its old plastic nursery pot, gently untangle the roots, move into its new container, add potting mix and carefully remove any air pockets. Then give your plant a thorough watering.

We recommend repotting your plant in Spring at the beginning of the growing season. This will help to make sure that you don't shock your plant and the roots will be able to readjust into their new home as quickly as possible.

In Spring we recommend the following key plant care tips:

1) More watering

2) Less direct sunlight

3) Repotting

4) Pruning

5) Give regular fertiliser

In Summer we recommend the following key plant care tips:

1) More watering

2) Mist and humidify more often

3) Move out of direct sun

4) Move plants outside

5) Give regular fertiliser

The amount of water your plant needs will depend on its variety and size. In general we always recommend assessing your plant's soil before watering.

When you water your plants we recommend giving them a thorough watering and then letting them drain for a few hours before putting back into a decorative pot.

Our top advice for working out how often to water your plants is to follow the finger-dip test. Simple put your index finger into the soil up until your second knuckle. Remove your finger, and if your finger is dry and no soil is sticking to it, then you should water your plant. If soil sticks to your finger this shows that the soil is already moist enough.

Overall the best approach is to wait for the top of the soil to dry out in between waterings, although some plants prefer to have the soil always moist (but not wet) and some desert plants prefer dry soil. We have specific instructions for each plant on its product page.

There are three main methods to water your plants:

1) From above using a watering can - aim to water evenly around the soil and water until the water drains through the soil (and water comes out of the bottom)

2) From below, this is a particularly good method when you want to avoid the risk of damaging plant leaves by soaking them (relevant for succulents and cacti)

3) Dip and drain, dip your plant in it's plastic nursery pot into water and then leave it to drain

Overwatering plants is the most common way people accidentally kill their plants. Overwatering can lead to plants effectively drowning and risks root rot.

Typical signs of overwatering include: wet soil, soft and limp leaves and wilting.

In serious cases it is better to move your plant to a new container and replace the soil.

Generally most plants will be okay if left for a week or 10 days especially if they are looked after properly before you leave. Make sure you give them a thorough watering and keep them away from places with fluctuating temperatures and away from direct sunlight.

If you are going away for longer we recommend asking a friend or neighbour to help with some plant sitting. You can also make your own slow release watering device by making a whole in a bottle lid with a pin and leave this upside down in the plant pot.

Water - the most common plant care issue is people overwatering their plants. Make sure that you check the soil moisture before watering, and always avoid wet soil.

Light - if you plant looks burnt and is yellowing or has brown crispy leaves then it might be getting to much light and be getting burnt. If your plant isn't getting enough light it may look limp and weak, move it closer to the window or into a brighter room.

Temperature - if your plant gets too cold it may go dormant or could even loose leaves. If it is too hot this may reduce humidity and your plant may look dry and parched.

Humidity - if the humidity is too low your plant may have brown and crispy leaf edges. Most plants will not have enough humidity in the average home so we recommend misting regularly.

Common pests include spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, scale insects.