The Houseplant Encyclopedia

THE HOUSEPLANT ENCYCLOPEDIA

INGRID JANTRA AND URSULA KRUGER

Houseplants bring fresh air and life to indoor environments, but many would-be gardeners go without these benefits because they find it too challenging to keep indoor plants alive and flourishing. This step-by-step guide to more than 1,000 houseplants is intended to make the task easier. With advice on where to place given plants within a home, instructions for how to select plants appropriate for specific air temperatures and sunlight and moisture conditions, and tips on which plants can be poisonous to people or pets, this guide goes beyond basic upkeep. The authors, gardening and plant specialists, include tips on pruning, watering, pest and fungus control, and propagation of seeds and cuttings. The core of the book is a 250-page, alphabetical listing of common houseplants, which includes at-a-glance symbols indicating requirements for sun, water, atmospheric humidity, and fertilizer and whether or not the plant is poisonous. Each entry also includes the plant's scientific name, native habitat, flowering time, and potential uses. Firefly, 2006, 384 p., color images, paperback, $29.95.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Science Service, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning