Tips for healthy house plants

At BBC Gardeners’ World Live, we caught up with house plant expert Joe Bagley for his top tips on how to home happy house plants.


Plus, we’ve put together some house plant guidance from our friends at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine to help you get the most out of your plants.

Watering

Getting the right amount of water for your plants can be crucial to their care. Be careful to not overwater your plants, as if the compost is too wet, the roots won’t be able to absorb oxygen. Make sure to check the label on your plant to find out how much to water it. If you’re not sure, try waiting for the leaves to wilt before you water – this is usually easy to remedy, while damaging the roots is not.

Feeding

It’s important to feed your house plants over time as the nutrients in the soil begin to deplete. You can use liquid feed diluted in water, but be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle. Most house plants don’t need feeding more than once every one to three months.

Remove dead leaves

Cut off dead and brown leaves to avoid pests and diseases. Cut just above a leaf point of tug the leaves off gently.

Dust!

Dusting your house plant helps with your plant’s ability to photosynthesise. Rub leaves with a damp cloth, but be careful to support them to prevent any tearing.

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Misting

Frequently mist the leaves of house plants to increase the humidity around them. You can also arrange potted house plants together to raise humidity.

Getting rid of house plant flies

If you’ve seen small black flies around your house plants, these might be fungus gnats, also known as sciarid flies. While they’re fairly harmless, they can be a nuisance. Water less – wait for the soil to dry out before watering again.

Use gravel mulch, grit or glass pebbles to make a layer on top of the soil to prevent the flies from laying their eggs.

Browse the gallery

At BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022, to celebrate the BBC’s 100th anniversary, the Floral Marquee featured some fantastic floral displays inspired by popular BBC programmes. Did you see Joe Bagley and Samantha Theakstone’s Top of the Pops! inspired House of Plants? Check out the gallery below…

New year, new garden, new trends!

We’re through the garden gate into 2023, with a host of gardening trends blooming throughout the country. From house plants reaching dizzying heights of popularity, to the colour of the year ‘Viva Magenta’, read on for our full list of trends.

To get up close and personal with fresh garden inspiration, new plants, the latest gardening kit and more, join us in 2023.

Colour of the Year 2023

Hand-picked by Pantone, the colour of the year has been named as ‘Viva Magenta. 

Pantone describe the colour as ‘brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.’

Discover a world of colour and scent in the stunning Floral Marquee,  bursting with award-winning nurseries and display.

Sustainable gardening

Whilst your garden might seem to already be very green, it can always be greener!

Discover ways you can make gardening more sustainable, like upcycling common items to make stylish features. What was a pallet, hessian bags, bits of pipe, and tin cans, could become a planter, grow bags, water features, and wildlife habitats.

Be inspired by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editorial team as they’re joined by experts to give tips and advice.

Grow your own food

Looking to go from soil to supper this year? Get brilliant advice from the National Allotment Society at the event.

Peat-free gardening

Learn about the latest peat-free compost from exhibitors who can offer face-to-face advice.

Indoor gardening

Foliage doesn’t just belong outside – bring nature indoors and be inspired by the Houseplant Hub.

Mindful gardening

Beautiful Borders returns with this year’s theme ‘My Garden Escape’ to give you space savvy ideas.

Gardening on a budget

Discover different ways you can let your garden bloom under a tighter budget, with advice from expert gardeners.

Fermented foods

Visit the BBC Good Food Summer Show (with free entry with your ticket!) and discover the latest foodie trends.

Feeling inspired? Find out what else is happening at BBC Gardeners’ World Live this June!