Now is a good time of year to think about giving your house plants a spruce up. You may want to repot them to get them ready for the spring season.

Luke Newnes, gardening and plant expert at Hillarys, has shared some tips about how to best take care of your indoor plants. He said: “As we get closer to spring, I always think of this time of year as a bit of a ‘wake up stretch’ for houseplants.

“They’ve been sitting quietly through winter, using very little energy, and the increasing daylight is their signal to get moving again. So the best thing you can do right now is simply help them ease back into growth.”

He said the first step here is to give your plants a little more water, but very gradually. Mr Newnes explained: “People often rush into spring watering far too quickly, and plants aren’t quite ready for that. If the top of the soil feels dry, then water; if it still feels cool or slightly damp, leave it a couple more days.”

Another good practice is to wipe down the leaves on your plants. The expert said: “Cleaning the leaves makes a bigger difference than most people realise too. Dust builds up over winter and blocks light, so a gentle wipe with a damp cloth helps them photosynthesise properly again.”

Mr Newnes also said now is the prime time to think about repotting your plants. He said: “In my view, early spring is absolutely the best time to repot. Plants are gearing up for a growth spurt, so giving them fresh soil and a bit more space now means they can use it straight away.

“When I repot, I never go more than a couple of centimetres bigger in pot size – anything too large holds onto too much water and can cause root rot.” He explained how to exactly how to manoeuvre your leafy companion into its new home.

Mr Newnes said: “I loosen the roots a little, place the plant at exactly the same depth it was before and water just enough to settle the new soil. You don’t want to drown it straight after moving house.”

You may also want to think about expanding your collection. Mr Newnes spoke about what type of plants could add some welcome nature to your home.

He said: “Personally, I love adding fresh greenery in late winter because it instantly lifts a room that’s been feeling a bit grey. Snake plants, peace lilies, spider plants and pileas are brilliant choices right now as they respond quickly to the increasing light and look their best through spring and summer.” You can currently get snake plants from B&Q for £15.99 or £16.99.

On the question of what plants go best in which parts of your home, he said this depends on the conditions. Mr Newnes explained: “In bright living rooms, statement plants like monsteras, areca palms and fiddle leaf figs thrive. Bedrooms suit plants that enjoy a calmer space, like peace lilies and philodendrons, and snake plants are brilliant at night because they keep releasing oxygen while you sleep. Bathrooms are fantastic environments for ferns and calatheas, thanks to the natural humidity.”

He also said the some plants do well even in areas with minimal light. The expert said: “Plants like snake plants, pothos, aglaonema and the cast iron plant are incredibly forgiving. They don’t just tolerate low light, they genuinely do well in it.

“When people get it wrong, it’s usually because they imagine ‘low light’ means ‘dark corner.’ It doesn’t. It simply means the sunlight isn’t hitting the plant directly. An east facing window or a position a few feet back from a brighter one is usually perfect.”

He shared a key principle to bear in mind here: “If you match the plant to the environment rather than forcing a plant to fit the décor, everything thrives more naturally. That’s the biggest secret I can give anyone heading into spring: work with your home’s light, not against it. Your plants will reward you for it all year long.”