The dos and don'ts of indoor gardening, according to Plant Society's Jason Chongue

I firmly believe that anyone can be a proficient gardener – once you’ve been pointed in the right direction.

However, occasionally I come across a plant magician whose natural affinity with green-leafed creatures leaves me in rapturous awe.

Mild-mannered and bespectacled on first meeting, Jason Chongue transforms into a green-thumbed “superman” when he goes anywhere near a plant.

“They just seem to respond to me,” says a very humble Chongue, who trained as an architect and interior designer and now uses his style background to green urban spaces across Australia.

Chongue’s own Melbourne home, which he shares with partner Nathan Smith, is filled with more than 400 thriving plants.

For tips on how to create your own indoor oasis, grab a copy of Chongue’s debut garden guide, Plant Society (Hardie Grant).

Here are some of his dos and don’ts:

Assess your home’s natural light

Always select plants that will thrive in the light on offer in your home. Place plants in conditions in which they would naturally grow in the wild.

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Water consistently

Always check the top layer of the soil to make sure it’s dry before watering. Nominate the same day every week to water your plants.

Use good quality potting mix

A nutrient-rich potting mix is important to providing a good base for your plants. Never use cheap potting mix or soil from your garden. It may cost a bit more, but a premium grade potting mix will make your gardening life easier.

Plant maintenance

Regularly clean your plants of dust and possible pests. Your plants will breathe more freely. Pests are inevitable, even indoors, so check foliage and the underneath of leaves to prevent nasty outbreaks.

Indira Naidoo co-hosts Sydney’s 2CH breakfast show with Trevor Sinclair from 6am-9am Monday-Friday. Purchase copies of Indira Naidoo’s garden cookbooks The Edible Balcony and The Edible City at Dymocks.