Giving houseplants as gifts, particularly over Christmas, is increasingly popular. What are the favourites

A. Excluding the poinsettia, which pretty much whatever you do will only have a shelf life of a couple of months at the most and so is really little more than a festive decoration, the most commonly given houseplants are azaleas and cyclamen, both of which provide welcome winter colour.

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Others that are popular include citrus trees, both orange and lemon, which are again very fashionable in our conservatories, the Winter cherry (solanum pseudocapsicum), indoor jasmine and ferns.

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A.� Most houseplants dislike sudden changes in temperature at any time of year, but in winter be particularly careful about exposing them to cold drafts from windows and doors.

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As a general rule most houseplants, like their outdoor counterparts need a period of dormancy during the winter. Often this is obvious, with plants visibly dying back. When this happens watering should be greatly reduced, just enough to keep them slightly moist, but not wet. Over-watering at this time of the year is one of the major causes of houseplant fatalities. Feeding should be stopped so as not to stimulate them just when they need to rest. They may also benefit from being moved into cooler, but constant temperatures.

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A.� Unlike other houseplants, winter flowerers need to be kept moist and damp. In the wild azaleas come from areas that have cold winters and they like a cool place within the house. They should be in decent light, but not in direct sunlight which can, even in winter, scorch the leaves. They also like it humid, so bathrooms are actually as good a place as any in winter. Azaleas are one of the few houseplants that need constant watering during the winter to help them flower. Ensure the compost is always damp.

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A.� To get the best out of winter flowering jasmine keep it in a cool place with plenty of light, ideally a conservatory and don't let the atmosphere get too dry, misting if necessary. Winter cherry, should be kept moist but not waterlogged while citrus really do need a conservatory or heated greenhouse that won't go under�four degrees Celsius. They don't like the dry air inside the house, where they tend to suffer from scale insect ,and like plenty of direct light. Over-watering is a common problem. Instead of watering little and often let them dry almost right through and then give them a one-off soaking.

Ferns like a shady, and if possible damp position. The bathroom is ideal, and elsewhere they should be regularly misted.

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