Most houseplants are hungry for sunlight, which is in short supply during a UK winter. Plants on a shelf or coffee table often get insufficient light, so they stretch, lean and thin out. Not everyone can move their plant to a south-facing sill, so the hunt is always on to make the most of what little light there is.

Place tinfoil, a mirror or a sheet of white card behind your plants to bounce natural light. The theory is that light is redirected on to the plant, giving it a more even, generous dose.

Position a reflective surface behind or beside your plant. A mirror gives the most powerful reflection; kitchen foil works if you keep it as flat and smooth as possible. Rotate the plant pot occasionally for even growth.

I set a mirror behind a leggy Euphorbia trigona that had been leaning hard towards the window. The reflected light noticeably softened the lean. Foil worked too, though it didn’t look great.

A mirror is the most effective and by far the most attractive option, but make sure it doesn’t get direct sunlight or it could be a fire risk. I wouldn’t use foil, as it looks like a messy science project scattered through the house.