Growing houseplants is nothing new. Three thousand years ago, wealthy Egyptians were already decorating their courtyards with potted plants. Their precocious taste for decoration may not have been the only reason. Did they already understand that caring for plants brought a sense of well-being?

Houseplants don't exist in the wild. In the wild, they grow in the tropical forests of South America and Asia, and in the deserts of southern Africa. Although they can't withstand our winters or frost, they do adapt to the temperature of our apartments and to growing in pots.

There are several types of houseplant: succulents, herbaceous plants, flowering plants, shrubs... They differ in their root system (bulb, rhizome...), stem (stipe, stem, aculeate...), leaves (lanceolate, lobed, elongated...) and flowers.

If you'd started collecting green plants in the 15th century, you'd have had to spend a fortune to get a few seeds from Asia or the New World to sow in your greenhouse. Nowadays, there are countless varieties available, and new cultivars are constantly being created to reveal the beauty of a leaf or prolong the radiance of a bloom.

The transition from the great outdoors to the living room requires a few adjustments. Each species has its own watering, exposure and maintenance requirements. Echeveria, for example, needs a bright spot to flourish, while ferns prefer shade and humidity.

You also need to consider your possibilities: do you really have room for a two-metre Monstera, or would you be better off with a dwarf mother-in-law's tongue? Whatever your time, skills and means, you'll always find a houseplant to green your home. From the indestructible ZZ plant to demanding porcelain flowers, there's bound to be one just right for you.

But be careful. Some green plants are toxic to the touch or when ingested. If you share your living room with a baby or a cat suffering from pica, adopt a Calathea rather than an Alocasia!