Bonsai trees have become extremely popular in recent years both indoors and outdoors. They make excellent gifts because they are different and say something about you.

Houseplants brighten a room and they bring real health benefits. Recent studies have indicated that in the presence of plants people recover from illnesses quicker. The care for houseplants can vary from species to species but there are a few easy guidelines to follow for indoor houseplant care.

The organic option for great houseplants, naturally.

Here, we provide advice for the various types of orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Oncidiums, Dendrobiums and Cymbidiums.

Air plants or Tillandsias require warmth, air, water and light. These plants are robust and require less attention than other houseplants, but because they grow differently they need some special care.

Palms grown outdoors or indoors can give a tropical feel to a house. There are a lot of palms that will thrive outside. The information on palm care is provided in two subsections: indoors and outdoors.

There are a huge variety of cacti and succulents, some with amazing flowers. They are ideal for sunny windowsills and are very easy to look after. Both cacti and succulents have modified leaves and stems that store water and nutrients, which allows them to survive periods of harsh conditions.

It is possible to grow olive trees in Britain, especially in urban, coastal or southern areas. They are great as ornamental trees and they will often produce a few olives. Please be aware that you cannot eat the olives off the tree. Here are a few tips from Dr Manos, based on his experience of growing olives commercially in Greece.