The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-how for Keeping (Not Killing!) More Than 160 Indoor Plants

by Barbara Pleasant

It’s a whole new world of houseplants, so make yourself at home in it! If you love the idea of keeping houseplants, but struggle to care for them, you’ll find solace and invaluable advice in this comprehensive guide from expert gardener Barbara Pleasant. Even experienced houseplant enthusiasts will benefit from Pleasant’s expansive knowledge of indoor gardening, which includes personality profiles, growing needs, and troubleshooting tips for 160 blooming and foliage varieties. Create a greener world, one houseplant at a time. 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Plants, How To, Nature, Horticulture

373 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[DJ Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-how for Keeping (Not Killing!) More Than 160 Indoor Plants by Barbara Pleasant is the Bible of raising Houseplants! Before this book I think I killed everything Green! Now I can grow everything.

Many of the skills are transferable. Now I have an outside vegetable garden, using the inside plant skills I learned with this book. I have used a lot of the skills I learned in this book to keep those outdoor plants alive, so don't think this books knowledge just stops at the door!

Excerpt:

"The world of houseplants is huge and varied, so this book is organized to help you quickly and easily find the information you need."

This book is laid out in an easy-to-use and simple-to-read format that invites you in. Trust me, if you get this book you will be filling your house up with plants the very next day! It gets addictive!

I would Highly Recommend this book. The photography is exquisite and the text is compelling. This is a must read for plant lovers amateur and experienced.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST houseplant book! The only one you'll ever really need, particularly if you're a beginner like myself. Thorough care guidelines, bright and instructive photographs, and clearly written advice: you can't beat it. After having borrowed it from the library, I think I might just need to buy this one now. Recommended to anyone who wants to raise plants indoors.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 3 was the only part of the book useful to me. I learned quite a bit but not nearly enough and I really could have used more pictures, particularly with descriptions of diseases and other problems.

Also, in the ebook version, it would be great if subsections were included in the contents because it is difficult to go back and find specific information.

[Brad Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every #plantparent needs this book

Incredibly detailed and meticulous directions for care of the most common (and uncommon) houseplants. Water schedule, fertilization, and common problems are demystified in this easy to use guide.
It saved my Euphorbia - I was spraying it with soap and it’s one of a few plants who hate soap! I had no idea until now.

[Vlad Ardelean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, good tips

I am not particularly fond of house plants. I have however received over the years a fair number of them, and have bought some myself, because my wife likes them.
In my situation, I feel like I have received a lot of good tips about plants to make me appreciate them more and care for them better.

I now understand better what types of soil to use (apparently there are 6 common types of soil), why/how to repot, how to water, and where to place plants. Another weird thing thay I never understood, namely the trimming of plants, is explained well here. Plants are apparently not like people. You can cut away large portions of them and they dont't mind, or even enjoy it.

Another magical part that I didn't think possible was plant propagation. In short and rough words, you can apparently cut away parts of the plant, and make a new plant out of that. This works for almost all plants. Who would have guessed? :D

This book contains sections that help you identify your plants. If so, identification is harder if you're reading this on a kindle device. To make up for this, look up the plant classes on the internet, and you'll be fine.

I do recommend this book to whoever likes house plants, but people who are only trying to not kill their plants (like myself) can also benefit a lot from this :p

[Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information in one book! I think this book is most helpful for looking up quick care needs of specific plants, so it's good if you know what you have or what you are interested in getting. It also contains a more general section full of good basic tips for various parts of houseplant care. For a total novice though, it might make houseplant care seem a little daunting.
I took it out from the library but I can see it as the kind of thing I might refer to again in the future if I'm having specific problems or want to try certain things, such as the different ways of propagating plants it describes.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a truthful title. Loved reviewing the first houseplants I owned and cared for while a college student. I don't see many of them today and I have moved on to succulents other plants and vines. This book is a great guide for purchasing, growing, propagating, staging and caring for houseplants. Highly recommend for those of you who want to return to living plants in your home. Includes, bulbs, palms, succulents, vines, bromeliads, begonias, ferns and philodendrons. Part III is all about houseplant care with detailed illustrations. A great glossary too. Very helpful.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book for those starting out with plants or for those that haven’t had any for a while. There’s a great deal of information to help you have success with your plants without being overwhelmed with information. I used this book to help me choose which plants would be a good fit for my home as well as for the time that I can give to them. If you’re thinking about buying some houseplants, then I recommend reading this book first so you’ll know what to look for when you go to purchase your first plants.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will most likely be buying this book which is why I give it 5 stars. It’s a great reference manual and the only houseplant I have that isn’t in the book is my Bids of Paradise. I did learn a few things too and I added to my list of houseplants I want to buy too 😂 I just need more flat spots to put these plants!

[Keith Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my starting point for dealing with any plant I obtain. I almost gave a 4 instead of a 5 only because a some of the plants I've researched aren't included. Considering 99% percent of my plants are included, accompanied by great photography.and spot on info , which gave me great success in keeping and propagating, a rating of 5 is quite appropriate.

[M.W. Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not finished with this, but I will never be finished: it is a resource not a novel.

Pleasant's book is a good guide to houseplants. Lots of good information contained in it with good easy to follow instructions.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful. A lot of great information on a large selection of plants. Gives helpful information like optimal temperature, light, and humidity, and gives special attention for things to watch out for.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and concise, helpful and straight-forward.
Hopefully my houseplants will finally have a chance at a long, healthy life.

[Dianelys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like the bible of growing houseplant. Very helpful.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with plenty of information on plant care, propagation, repotting, soil types and most everything else you may need to know if you like growing plants, which is my case! 😉

[Salliewt]

Had a digital copy that either wouldn’t load, or would freeze, then crash my app.
Probably a good book.
.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive guide for caring for houseplants. Easy to navigate and answered several of my questions about my individual plants. Would recommend as a great reference manual.

[Paulene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but the ebook version doesn't translate well as there were many references to page numbers that were difficult to keep track of with an ebook

[Ann Frances Geffert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource! I go back to it often.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative: like the layout. Plan on buying a copy.

[Jenny Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this from my library, but will definitely buy a copy to own!

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite houseplant book. I work in a garden center with a great houseplant department, and I know I'm going to end up recommending this to a lot of people. The sections about flowering houseplants and foliage plants list them in alphabetical order. Each type of plant has its own page with a detailed description of the plant's needs, such as light, fertilizer, and soil requirements, as well as how to propagate and how long the plant can be expected to live. The final section of the book is more general houseplant info, such as types of pests and diseases you may encounter, methods of watering, and so on. It's a nice, large-ish book, well laid out and very easy to find whatever specific info you might be looking for.

I think this will be a great reference for me when helping customers with our less familiar houseplants, and I think it would also be very helpful for anyone who has several varieties of plants in their home.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. I checked it out from the library, but I think I might look for a copy to buy.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I asked for this book after flipping through my brother's. Highly recommend!! Easy to use, actual tips that WORK! The only book on houseplants you need if it's a side hobby.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information. Can give anyone a green thumb.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saved me on multiple occasions. A great book with lots of answers!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good information on keeping houseplants healthy and happy.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, well laid out, and the photography and illustrations are beautiful. I read it for enjoyment and refer to it again and again.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very solid reference on houseplants. Thorough without being overwhelming. My houseplants have a fighting chance, now!

[etherealfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and attractively laid out format - but a little bit overwhelming and intimidating for such a brown thumb. My goal is to re-read and reorganize my plant maintenance scheduling.