The Houseplant Encyclopedia

by Ursula Kruger and Ingrid Jantra

Book Overview

Step by step to success with more than 1,000 indoor plant varieties. This highly regarded encyclopedia contains all the expert advice the indoor gardener needs, from purchase and placement to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1552090272
• ISBN13: 9781552090275
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.5" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent--"plain speak" good advice

I have a huge assortment of plant/gardening books, and often do alot of cross-referencing w/my hobby. This book is one of the first that I always pick up. It's "plain speak" approach (i.e. author will say, "I have always found..." etc.) is just terrific; I often find myself wondering how "Ingrid can help me with this?!" The tips are a wonderful "sidebar" feature, both highly informative, and just interesting! The descriptions the author provides of each plant is a true DESCRIPTION....detailed, and geared to educate the reader. They're not just a bullet-point listing of a few of the essentials on the plant, with questions left unanswered.I went to my library over and over again, consulting this book on a number of plants questions and issues, until finally, I got my own precious copy!!100% worth the investment of time and money for your gardening needs, both indoors and (gosh, what a bonus!) outdoors as well.

Very comprehensive!!

This is a wonderful book. Having only recently discovered the joys of houseplants, I was looking for a thorough and comprehensive book that would help me identify my plants, and properly take care of them. This book does both and more. There is a section devoted to the conditions and care required for a wide range of houseplant species, plus great sections on diseases, pests, and common mistakes. After each in depth section is an "at a glance section" for quick reference.Another very important and often overlooked feature is that it has a list of poisonous plants, so that we can make sure we place plants that can be dangerous out of reach of our pets and children (or better yet, avoid buying them all together).I am also a big fan of its construction. Sturdy hard cover binding and glossy pages make it easy to wipe off all of the potting soil that gets dropped on it. :-)Great book! Worthy investment!

Pet Owners Need This Book

The one indispensible item this book provides that I have not found elsewhere, is a listing of which plants are poinsonous to pets and people, and which are not. I always review this book when I am considering bringing a new plant into my house. If it says they're not poisonous to my pets, I bring it on home. If it is poisonous, I avoid it. I have not found as comprehensive a list any place else.

An end to all my searches

This is the most comprehensive, enjoyable and infinitely readable book on indoor plants I have been able to find in my long period of searching. The first section of the book is a joy to anyone trying to find all the data relevant to the upkeep of indoor, patio and greenhouse plants, with a superb section on all tools, growing media and placement of all these plants. Green issues are tackled in an informative manner, and the detailed explanations of general plant care are suitable for both the expert and beginner. The section dealing with the actual identificaion of the plants is comprehensive, dealing with every aspect for care of each individual plant shown, and the subject matter is immense. This book is written in a friendly, uncluttered manner, and is a total joy for someone like me, who has scoured the bookshops of the UK to no avail. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Outstanding !

I checked all my local bookstores for the right book to give to a friend who is always asking me for "horticultural advice" on his collection of houseplants. I grew up in a family of wholesale flower growers, and have 30 years of experience with my own houseplants. This book is the best I've seen. It has a very complete (about 125 pages) section on cultivation, light, water, placement in the house, patio, or balcony, containers, re-potting, nutrients, overwintering. It's wonderful for neophyte houseplant enthusiasts, and has much to teach me as well. I especially liked the extensive pests & problems section, which had actually recognizable pictures of plant symptoms, and charts of how to solve the problem. A unique addition are very useful non-chemical alternatives, including herbal concoctions, to getting rid of pests & diseases, (essential for pet lovers like me who love their animals as much as their plants). After all of this, there are the photographs! Not just the usual plants for beginners, but also a separate section of 150 "Specialties & Rarities". Each picture has info on flowering time, placement, care, propagation, pests, & uses. Throughout the book are prominently placed concise "TIPS" for quick & easy reading both in the general info section and amongst all the photos. Now that I've got one for my friend, I need a copy for myself. An incredible book for the price!