One of the most simple and cost-effective ways to cheer up your house or flat is to invest in some house plants. However, keeping them alive is no mean feat. The problem with having plants in London lies in fluctuating temperatures (indoor heating plays havoc with most plants) and lack of light, but don’t lose hope. We’ve put together a list of the easiest plants to care for ¬– and instructions to prevent you from killing them.

Sansevieria Sansevieria, also known as ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’ or a ‘snake plant’, is probably the easiest indoor plant to care for. Its species comes from Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia, but it looks just as good inside our London homes. The Sansevieria has thick, straight-standing leaves which look amazing on display. It likes quite a lot of lightbut shouldn’t be kept in direct sunlight in case its leaves burn. Water your plant sparingly, as the easiest way to kill it is by overwatering. In the winter, about once a month is right, and in spring/ summer you should moisten its soil once every 10-14 days. This plant is particularly good for bedrooms, as it emits oxygen at night time and may even help you sleep. Rubber plant If you’re new to houseplants, then a rubber plant is one of the best plants to ease yourself in with. Proved by NASA as one of the best air-purifying plants, this little guy is as pretty as he is functional. Rubber plants thrive best in brightly-lit rooms with no direct sunlight, and they quite like their leaves being wiped with a damp cloth every now and then. Don’t over-water this plant, though, or its leaves will drop off. Once every 5-7 days in summer and every 10-14 days in autumn and winter should do it. Aspidistra Also commonly known as the ‘cast iron plant,’ the Aspidistra is pretty indestructible. Inside, it can grow up to 1 metre tall with the right care and pot. The cast iron plant can cope with temperatures just above freezing, but it prefers a room temperature with well-filtered sunlight. Don’t place it directly in front of a window, but deeper inside a brightly lit room to see it grow. When it comes to watering, the plant just needs to be kept moist – so top up very occasionally. If you really want it to thrive, use a liquid plant feed every two to three months during the warm seasons.