Sophie King
Sophie joined the Ideal Home team as Gardens Editor in June 2024. Her love of writing began as a child – spending a lot of her free time crafting fairytales or writing up wildlife projects.
After studying English at Royal Holloway, University of London, Sophie began writing for Grow Your Own magazine, which spurred on her love of gardening.
Sophie's tried growing almost every vegetable under the sun, and has a soft spot for roses and dinner plate dahlias. Her favourite rose variety is ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ and she loves 'Café au Lait’ dahlias. She's also a big fan of houseplants, especially orchids – she finds it impossible to resist adding more to her collection when visiting her local garden centre!
Sophie has interviewed a myriad of incredible gardening experts throughout her career, including guest stars on The Dirt, the gardening podcast she co-hosted during her time at Grow Your Own.
As Gardens Editor, Sophie's always on the lookout for the latest garden trend. She loves sharing growing hacks for every space, from herbaceous borders to compact balconies.
When she hasn't got her hands in the soil, Sophie can be found curled up on the sofa with her cat and a good book.
IDEAL HOME TRUTHS
Where’s your happy place?
At the end of my garden, there’s a gravelled area that’s secluded behind a trellis screen with a swinging bench. It’s incredibly comfortable, and I love lounging out there in the evening, surrounded by cosy festoon lights. Honeysuckle grows along the trellis and puts out a beautiful scent when it’s in bloom during the summer, too.
What’s your home addiction?
Orchids! I’ve been obsessed with them since I was a teenager, and they make a lovely feature in my bedroom. I’m especially fond of the light pink Dendrobium varieties.
What is your next home project?
I want to continue working on my bedroom. There’s a wall I’d love to make a feature out of with some nice wallpaper, so I’ll be hunting through the catalogues to find the right design.
Latest articles by Sophie King
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I was sceptical, but these expert-approved plants and flowers convinced me that Mocha Mousse, Pantone's Colour of the Year, is the perfect colour for gardens
These are the best varieties for coffee and chocolate tones
By Sophie King
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Are greenhouses worth it? 5 of the best benefits for your most productive garden yet
We've weighed up the pros and cons of buying a greenhouse
By Sophie King
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Are heated propagators worth it? 3 reasons you should buy one before spring
Squeeze everything out of this gardening year...
By Sophie King
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Experts reveal the most active garden pests to watch out for in winter — and how to keep them at bay
What's chewing your garden shed?
By Sophie King
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How to grow a Christmas tree from a cutting — 5 simple steps to a free Christmas tree
Simon Akeroyd's expert advice
By Sophie King
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Should you mist plants in winter? Here's why you shouldn't skip this important care tip
Hold onto that plant mister...
By Sophie King
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How to remove ice from a driveway – and the one method experts say you should never do
What you should and shouldn't use to defrost your paving
By Sophie King
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What to sow in January – 5 vegetables and flowers to start now for spring harvests and blooms
Crack open that seed tin and get started!
By Sophie King
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Do houseplants go dormant in winter? Here's what happens to indoor plants during the colder months
To snooze or not to snooze? We asked the experts...
By Sophie King
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What to do with a wreath after Christmas — 8 creative ways to preserve, reuse and recycle real wreaths
Wondering what to do with a fresh flower and foliage wreath after Christmas? Take a look at these ideas...
By Sophie King
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When to take hardwood cuttings — experts reveal the best time to start propagating new plants for free
Free plants? Right this way...
By Sophie King
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How to grow indoor azaleas — a complete guide to beautiful winter blooms, from watering to deadheading advice
Indoor azalea 101 — everything you need to know for flourishing houseplants
By Sophie King
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I'm Ideal Home's gardens editor — these are the 5 houseplants I'll always have in my collection
I've rounded up my favourite houseplants, from orchids to tradescantias
By Sophie King
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Nectar's Hybrid mattress can be tested for 365 nights at home - I tested it and this is what I found
My Nectar Hybrid Mattress review puts this popular mattress to the test
By Sophie King
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Romantic tulip displays are going to be in all the chicest gardens in 2025 – these are the go-to colours and varieties to buy now
We asked garden experts for their go-to shades and styling tips
By Sophie King
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7 common winter houseplant problems – how to identify and solve them before it's too late
These are the winter houseplant mistakes you might be making
By Sophie King
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How long does a poinsettia last? 4 ways to beat the average lifespan
With the right care, your poinsettia plant could last a lot longer than you'd expect
By Sophie King
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4 plants you should never prune in December – and why pruning in winter could cost you next year's blooms
The trees and shrubs you should avoid pruning this month
By Sophie King
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How to care for poinsettias – 8 ways to help them thrive, from choosing a healthy plant to the perfect watering schedule
A complete guide to caring for a healthy poinsettia plant
By Sophie King
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Should I spray my Christmas tree with water? Why this common care tip could do your tree more harm than good
Is spraying a real Christmas tree with water helpful? We asked the experts...
By Sophie King
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How long will a real Christmas tree last? The average lifespan to help you time your tree purchase perfectly
Here's when you should be buying your Christmas tree to ensure it lasts the festive period
By Sophie King
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The ultimate guide to buying a real Christmas tree – the 5 most popular types, and what to look out for when selecting a tree
Spruce or fir? We asked the experts...
By Sophie King
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When to prune clematis – how to identify the type you have so you know the right (and wrong!) time to cut it back
Here's how to tell which pruning group your clematis belongs to
By Sophie King
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How to grow cyclamen indoors – everything you need to know about watering and planting for festive flowers this Christmas
Get the most out of this festive perennial
By Sophie King