You’ve been watering your houseplants all wrong… this pencil trick will change everything and stop them from dying

KEEPING your own houseplants has been on trend for a while now but many of us, while we love how they look, can't manage to keep them alive for long.

To keep houseplants thriving their need to be well cared for with varying degrees of sunlight and water depending on the type of plant you're working with.

Given that plants don't grow so much in the winter months, it's best not to water them as much until spring, but getting the right amount of hydration is a challenge to us all.

An indoor plant expert shared her handy hack for testing the soil to work out how much to water your plants.

Kate Lindley, Product Manager at Baby Bio, told : "Instead of sticking to a rigid water regime of once or twice a week, insert your finger or a pencil into the top two inches of the soil  If this is still moist, there is no need to water.

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“If the soil is dry beyond the top layer, aerate the soil to allow for an even distribution of water, again using your finger or something like a pencil.”

The issue with watering your plants too much - the default for people who don't really know what to do is that you can cause your plant to rot.

"Misting" - the practice of spraying the leaves of your plant with a mist of water, is also a great way to make sure you don't drown your greenery.

The expert also advised against using cold water on your plants and explained that room temperature water will prevent them from going into shock.

And another handy hint from the pro is to water the bottom of your plant if the pot has drainage holes.

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Meanwhile, gardening whizz Alan Titchmarsh reveals why you should NEVER declutter your small garden & how to make it bigger.