Houseplants inside and out

Regular care will keep them happy all summer

- Ruth Hayes

THERE is so much going on in the garden at the moment, and it is such a busy time outside of our plots, with summer activities and holidays, that it is easy to neglect our houseplants.

I'll put my hands up and say I'm guilty of 'I'll water it tomorrow' syndrome, which is why in summer I can periodically be spotted dashing round the house with a watering can and bottle of liquid fertiliser, resuscitating and reviving floppy indoor greenery.

I haven't lost one yet, but this is not the recommended way to care for indoor plants.

During the summer they grow just as strongly as their outdoor cousins, and have very similar requirements when it comes to care.

They need watering more often, so check the dryness of their compost with a finger every few days. Don't overwater as this will cause roots to rot, but make sure compost stays just damp.

Growing houseplants need feeding too. There are many branded houseplant fertilisers available, but most plants will do just as well if you add multipurpose liquid feed to their water.