When considering which plant to choose, you need to think about light, temperature, humidity, and space. Plants like to be in environments that closely resemble their natural habitat, whether that’s dry desert plains or a humid jungle floor. To help you with this, we have filters on our site that allow you to choose the plants that will match your space, be that a small plant that likes low light, or a tall one that thrives in sunny spots.

Don’t worry, everyone starts somewhere! Have a look at our beginners edit – a collection of easy to care for plants that will help you get started.

For most plants, you only need to water them when the top inch or two of soil is dry – we recommend using the ‘finger dip test’ to check. Just pop your index finger in the soil up to your second knuckle (or use a skewer if you’d rather not get your hands dirty). If it comes out covered in moist soil, your plant is fine, but if it’s dry it’s time for some water.

It’s hard to say exactly, as this differs from plant to plant and season to season. We recommend using the finger dip test we outlined above to regularly check up on your plants, rather than trying to set a strict ‘watering schedule’. That way, you’ll quickly get a feel for how often and how much each individual plant likes to be watered. Remember that it’s easier to fix under-watering than over-watering, so it’s best to water little and often rather than drowning your plant once in a blue moon!

It can be a bit tricky to tell, because the symptoms of over and under-watering can look similar. Typically, an over-watered plant’s leaves will go yellow-brown, start to droop, and maybe even drop off entirely. You may also notice a bad smell coming from the soil or light fungus growing, which can indicate root rot. If a plant has been under-watered its leaves may also turn yellow or brown and start to wilt, but they’ll typically feel lighter and ‘crispier’ than normal if this is the case. You might also see the soil ‘pulling away’ from the sides of the pot – this is a sign your plant needs a drink.

All plants need light to photosynthesise, but some plants cope better than others in shadier spots. Each product page on our website has details about the specific light conditions each plant needs – just type the name of your plant in the search bar to find out more.

Sunlight for plants is always best, but there are some good alternatives out there if your home isn’t bright enough. Look for specialist horticultural light bulbs – these are stronger and brighter than regular bulbs, imitating the sun’s rays more closely. They also contain the correct light wavelengths to encourage plant growth, whereas most normal bulbs do not. If all else fails, you can try some plants that cope well in darker spots – check out our low light edit.

Bumps, lumps, and spots are all signs that a plant may have bugs – you may even see a creepy crawly or two on the plant’s soil or leaves. If you do, don’t panic. They won’t harm you, and with a few tips you can easily get rid of them.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to pest removal, so it’s best to seek expert advice. However in all cases the first thing to do is to move the infected plant away from any other plants, this will stop the bugs from spreading any further. Once you’ve done that, feel free to snap a picture and send it to our horticulturists at shop@plantdesigns.co.uk or on social media and they’d be happy to give you some tips on how you can get rid of the pesky critters.

Pruning your plants every once in a while can help them grow back fresher and healthier. This is because the process of removing damaged or excess leaves allows your plant to put all its nutrients and resources into supporting new growth.

No! You can repot your plant if you wish, but we would recommend waiting a while before doing this until your plant adapts to its new surroundings – usually a few weeks or so. At that stage you can repot it into a decorative planter if you choose. However many people find it easier to keep the plant in its grow pot and simply place it into a decorative pot, rather than potting it directly. This can be cleaner, less hassle, and also can prevent conditions like root rot as all grow pots are fitted out with water drainage holes.

At bare minimum we recommend you invest in a jug or watering can, a spray bottle, a pair of secateurs, and a pack of two cleaning cloths to dust your plants’ leaves. If you’re looking to get a bit more in-depth, tools like forks, trowels, and scoops can be useful in repotting, while gardening mats and pads will help you if you’re kneeling for a long time.