The ancients knew that late fall was the perfect time to bring greenery indoors, allowing nature spirits into their homes.

These days we do the same with houseplants and while we can enjoy our indoor gardens all year round, the darker months are when they come into their own.

But it’s easy to be wrong: I speak as someone who has successfully killed many houseplants over the years.

However, with a little knowledge we can find the ideal position for everyone.

Grouping plants together can help create a microclimate and make them easier to water. Most prefer a constant temperature and do not like sitting in cold drafts.

Think about where they grow in nature and place them in a location that best replicates those conditions.

HUMIDITY LOVERS

Bathrooms are ideal for plants that love humidity and don’t need direct sunlight.

Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum) are notoriously fussy plants that come from the American tropics, where they grow in damp shade, so a damp bathroom is ideal for them.

Bath Treats: Prayer Plants, from Brazil, as if kept warm, moist and shaded

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) grow in the swampy edges of the South American rainforest. They are shade tolerant but need indirect light to flower.

Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura), so called because at night their leaves fold like two hands in prayer, come from Brazil and like to be kept warm, moist and shaded.

If you have a sunny windowsill, consider an aloe, native to South Africa where we find

are accustomed to living in dry and rocky places. They won’t mind being near a heater. Cacti thrive in a bright, warm spot where you can let them dry out a bit and then water freely.

GREEN PURIFIERS

The flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum) has rich red flowers and removes xylene from the atmosphere, a compound found in computers, and is therefore ideal for the home office.

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) also filter man-made chemicals.

Many houseplants are known to purify the air and are particularly suitable for bedrooms. These include the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) which prefers warm, humid, shady conditions.

The palm-like dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) brings an exotic touch to a room and filters benzene from gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke from the air.

Rooms are perfect for statement plants that like to stay warm and enjoy bright but indirect sun, much like humans.

The Kentia palm was so popular in the Victorian era that it was known as the parlor palm. They grow slowly and can stay in the same pot for years. But they are toxic to pets, so avoid them if your dog is likely to chew them.

One of my favorite houseplants is the String of Hearts (Ceropegia Linearis), which is falling off our shelf. Originally from South Africa, it can withstand drought.

For shady corners, consider a snake plant (Sanseveria), jade plant (Crassula ovata), begonias or African violets (Saintpaulia), as all will tolerate low light levels.