Money hacks Fill your home with houseplants on a budget

The easiest houseplants to keep alive are the ones suited to your home.

- Amy Wild

"The biggest way to waste money is buying plants that aren't right for your environment. They'll struggle, or die," says the horticulturist Ellen Mary Webster.

"For a bright, sunny spot, go for crassula or strelitzia," Webster says. Both thrive in bright, indirect light. Place the crassula on a south-facing windowsill, or make the strelitzia a living room centrepiece once it grows tall.

If you have a shady room, try a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) - they are hardy, low-maintenance and thrive almost anywhere.

Epipremnum aureum, better known as devil's ivy, is another beginner-friendly option. It's hardy and popular, and will stay green even in low light.

"It grows quickly, propagates easily and is very low-maintenance," says houseplant influencer Julz Morris, who shares her plant tips on social media under the name Plantzbab.

Attend a plant swap

If you are looking to expand your houseplant collection on a budget, a plant swap is a great weekend activity. These community events let people trade healthy unwanted plants or cuttings, and head home with something new.

Lisa, who runs swapping event Another Plant Swap, has turned her passion for houseplants into a nationwide community. What began with 30 people in London in 2022 has grown into regular swaps across the UK.

"It's an event where everyone's welcome," she says. "People come to exchange tips, swap plants and connect with fellow plant lovers."

Tickets are often free, or under £20, with many including goodie bags, raffle entries or even a drink in the price.

Swap groups are easy to find on Facebook, such as Hackney and East London Plant Swap or South Manchester Garden Plant Swap.