House plants going big!

Huge indoor plants have never been more popular. S House-plant expert Joe Bagley shares his advice on buying, growing and caring for these green giants

Large house plants are arguably far easier to grow successfully than smaller ones; for example, the much greater volume of compost in the container will result in an improved ability to retain moisture over time, which means that forgetful gardeners won't be punished so harshly for leaving these plants unattended for long periods. Secondly, larger leaves will capture more light energy that can then be reinvested in varying departments of the plant, such as the roots and new leaves.

So, read on as I highlight here the dos and don'ts of growing statement plants in the home, along with my top 10 picks to look out for should you wish to go big.

Bare necessities The desire to have a large statement plant in your home will usually stem from one of two thoughts: there may be a certain empty space in a room that needs filling up, or you may just want a bit of greenery added somewhere in your home.

Choosing a suitable house plant species is relatively simple, but start off by studying the characteristics of the space in your home.

For example, the amount of sunlight or indirect light the plant will receive once in place is by far the most critical aspect to success, and this is where you should aim to replicate the lighting of its natural habitat.

Once you have met your house plant's light needs, the rest of its care requirements will be far easier to manage. I've found that if the plant is happy where it lives in your home, its tolerance of our forgetfulness is much better when it comes to watering or fertilising. Try not to get overwhelmed by the complexities of caring for the newest member of your house-plant collection; as long as you fulfil two important objectives - its light and water requirements - everything else will feel like a walk in the park.

My best tip for knowing when to water your house plant is to gently lift the container to feel its weight, and to look at the texture of the compost itself.