Houseplants newbie, what should I get?

[GregorSamsa]

So I finally have a place to put plants where there is lots of light and a nice flat surface. I also have a bunch of garden centre vouchers.

It's a nice situation to be in, but I have very little experience of houseplants - what do people recommend?

There's s much choice it's hard to know where to start! Firstly - is it direct sunlight in your space or just good daylight? Most houseplants prefer the latter and find direct sunlight a bit too much. I haven't got too many in my current house as not much space, but have always had a few, my mum's house is full of them so I grew up with plants everywhere.

Currently I've got
Schefflera (umbrella plant) which is 25 years old and very low maintenance but quite big.

Money plant, also very low maintenance, definitely prefers being out of direct sunlight.

Peace lily, which needs a lot of watering compared to other plants. Don't grow lilies if you've got cats, they are deadly poisonous to them.

African violets, also need fairly regular watering compared to the money plant and umbrella plant.

This website is very useful guide

I have:
a spider plant in the bathroom - can't remember the last time I watered it, it seems to just exist on it's own...;

Orchids in sunny bay widowsill - these are supposed to be difficult to look after but I'm crap at plants and seem to be doing ok with them - water when I remember, they flower stay flowered for ages, die back the. Come back to life again.

I'd recommend going to garden centre and speaking to someone for advice. Tell them about the place they'll go and whr colour you want the flowers (my orchids are white in the living room but have a yellow monkey face one in the kitchen )

Good questions! I don't want anything too big, I think.

It's not direct sunlight, it's overhead daylight from a big rooflight, but not in the line of direct sun.

I do like the idea of orchids - never had those before, so will try.

I will do a garden centre trip at the weekend, but thought I'd ask here first to see if people had any particular favourites they would recommend.

Little bump and lurk. I need done plants to go in some nice pots I've been given in the kitchen

The kitchen is dark and north facing

I've got a peace lily but it never flowers

I'd like two small ones and one bigger one [specific]

Streptocarpus is my favourite. So many different ones, all beautiful.