Red Orchid & White Pot

Think orchids are hard work? This one's far more easy-going than it looks. Three spikes of freckled wine-red flowers, each finished with a pink and white lip, make it a proper showpiece for a windowsill or sideboard.

It's part of the Oncidium family, often called dancing lady orchids for the way the flowers seem to twirl on their stems. Each bloom lasts for weeks, and once they're over, the long strappy leaves keep it looking green and full until it's ready to flower again.

It sits in a white ceramic pot with a gold-dipped base and a small gold star hanging from the front, a nod to the season that still works well into the new year.

Give it a bright spot out of direct sun, away from radiators and cold draughts. Water roughly once a week when the bark is almost dry, then let it drain fully, as orchids hate sitting in water. It's pet-safe too, so it can live wherever it looks best.