Forget all your preconceptions – house plants have moved on since the 1970s. Isabelle Palmer, a.k.a. the Balcony Gardener, is on a mission to show people how to grow and display houseplants in a more contemporary, personalised and decorative way.

Ham & High: Kemp RoadKemp Road (Image: Helen Cathcart)

She is launching a series of workshops this autumn on a range of subjects, but the first one ‘How to Houseplant,’ will explore how to use plants as interior décor.

The urban gardener will be hosting the event, appropriately enough, in her home, which she says “is a great place to do it because apart from anything else, it’s full of plants.

“We’ll be looking at the best ways to display houseplants, from terrariums to hanging displays and the more unusual breeds you can have in your house.

“I have a large succulent display in a really big bowl but you can also do so many really small and delicate things too, such as table displays.”

Ham & High: Kemp RoadKemp Road (Image: Helen Cathcart)

Palmer wants to encourage people to think about how they can express their own personal style and taste with their indoor gardens but she does acknowledge that there are some basic hurdles to overcome before people feel confident getting creative.

“The main thing with keeping houseplants is, it’s really all about keeping them healthy and keeping them alive. People always say to me ‘Oh, I had a plant and it died.’ So we’ll look at ways around that.

“For a houseplant novice I personally love the aloe plant. It’s really great because it’s so easy to look after but it’s also got such a striking appearance. Plus there are so many varieties, you can go for all sorts of different looks with it.”

As well as the lecture and q and a, a seasonal lunch will be provided, cooked by Garden Museum Café Head Chef, Sorrel Ferguson and guests will get a gardening goody bag to take home with them.

To find out more and to book tickets visit www.thebalconygardener.com or call 020 7431 5553.