Aloe Vera

Aloe vera loves a bright spot with plenty of direct sunlight, so give it your sunniest windowsill; the more light it gets, the happier and more compact it stays. It stores water in its leaves, so it copes easily with the odd missed watering.

Water deeply only once the soil has completely dried out, and cut right back through winter, as soggy soil is the quickest way to lose an aloe. Plant it in a free-draining, gritty succulent mix and tip away any water that collects in the saucer so the roots never sit wet.