The aspect of your conservatory will affect your choice of plants. For example if it faces north it will be cool and shaded most of the day and chilly in the winter, when it will get no sun for long periods of time. Cape primroses, begonias and ivies are good plants to grow in these circumstances. These plants will fill the conservatory with foliage, and flowers can be brought in on a more short-term basis.

A south-facing position means that the conservatory will be lovely and warm on sunny days, but become extremely hot in the summer, when the temperature, light and humidity will be much harder to manage. This is the most favourable aspect for exotic flowering plants that benefit from high light levels such as bourgainvillaea, polygalas, oleanders and daturas. East and west-facing conservatories have their advantages and there are plenty of plants that can be grown in either. You will find that you are constantly rearranging your specimens as they grow and flower at different times

Sun-loving climbers trained into the roof can provide shade for other plants below. Evergreen climbers, such as passionflowers, need light to flower well and should be thinned out in the winter to allow light through. Deciduous climbers like the grape vine, shed their leaves in the winter, but provide precious shade in the summer, and hopefully, a supply of grapes!

Heating can make a considerable difference to the diversity of your plant collection. Artificial heat is usually needed to keep the temperature above freezing. A minimum temperature of 7ºC, would enable a considerable range of plants to be grown without being exorbitantly expensive to maintain.