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The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 Beautiful Plants that Everyone Can Grow
“Tovah Martin has weeded through the world of indoor plants to find over 200 options tough enough for anyone to grow.”—The American Gardener Brown thumb? No problem. The Indestructible Houseplant is packed with indoor plants that are tough, beautiful, reliable, and virtually impossible to kill. In addition to plant profiles with concise information on water, light, and blooming times, this gorgeous book includes tips on care, maintenance, and ideas for combining houseplants in eye-catching indoor displays. Follow Martin’s sage advice and you’ll have a thriving urban jungle in no time.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2015
215 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
March 26, 2017
I'm slowly figuring out how to mentally survive the long Chicago winters (though this year hasn't been so bad). Part of my plan is to build up an indoor collection of houseplants so I get some green in my life while the outside world looks bare. I started with two plants, and now I have over twenty. Most of them are doing really well. I like the challenge of figuring out what they need: how much light, how much water, how much humidity, etc. It's been a good learning experience, and it makes our house feel happy.
Most of my plants right now are of the hardy, low-maintenance houseplant variety, which means they tend to have similar care instructions. But I've still been looking for a resource that can easily help me identify which plants I have and give me quick pointers on how I should take care of them. And, for the record, yes, I have the internet, and yes I could (should) just take a picture or write down the name from the plastic container the plants come in. But I'm a book person at heart, and I like to have a physical resource handy.
Well, cue angelic music and halos of light, I have finally found said resource. The Indestructible Houseplant has every houseplant I own within its pages--about fifty varieties listed in all. Each plant has its own big, easy-to-identify picture along with a short introduction detailing its attributes and care instructions. At the end of each plant's section is a handy (and brief) chart listing the plant's size, foliage type, exposure preferences, water requirements, optimum temps, rate of growth, soil type preference, fertilization schedule, as well as potential issues that might come up.
Not only has this book helped me care for the plants I already own, but it has given me guidance for deciding which easy-care plants I can safely purchase in the future, free from the fear of inflicting death upon innocents. And unlike many gardening books that I've read, this one isn't dry as toast. I completely read through each section and was not only impressed by author Tovah Martin's breadth of knowledge but also entertained by her playful, friendly, and forgiving tone.
In short, I love this book. I've already dogeared and marked up pages, because I reference it constantly. This has turned out to be one of the most useful plant books I've purchased this season.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
Most of my plants right now are of the hardy, low-maintenance houseplant variety, which means they tend to have similar care instructions. But I've still been looking for a resource that can easily help me identify which plants I have and give me quick pointers on how I should take care of them. And, for the record, yes, I have the internet, and yes I could (should) just take a picture or write down the name from the plastic container the plants come in. But I'm a book person at heart, and I like to have a physical resource handy.
Well, cue angelic music and halos of light, I have finally found said resource. The Indestructible Houseplant has every houseplant I own within its pages--about fifty varieties listed in all. Each plant has its own big, easy-to-identify picture along with a short introduction detailing its attributes and care instructions. At the end of each plant's section is a handy (and brief) chart listing the plant's size, foliage type, exposure preferences, water requirements, optimum temps, rate of growth, soil type preference, fertilization schedule, as well as potential issues that might come up.
Not only has this book helped me care for the plants I already own, but it has given me guidance for deciding which easy-care plants I can safely purchase in the future, free from the fear of inflicting death upon innocents. And unlike many gardening books that I've read, this one isn't dry as toast. I completely read through each section and was not only impressed by author Tovah Martin's breadth of knowledge but also entertained by her playful, friendly, and forgiving tone.
In short, I love this book. I've already dogeared and marked up pages, because I reference it constantly. This has turned out to be one of the most useful plant books I've purchased this season.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
January 17, 2023
Building two exceptionally large 40 & 50 gallon terrariums means homework. The library on the Libby app recommended a few wonderful options. What I like about Tovah Martin’s The Indestructible Houseplant is the simplicity of context amidst 500 plus pages.
The intro doesn’t have filler. Similar to those online recipes that go on and on until getting to the actual ingredients. Predominantly meat and potatoes reading.
The long list of plants each accompany a few short pages of need to know and helpful tips. Throughout the read there are important details added. Helping me make important choices. Even learned a few new pointers that influenced the two builds. To include help with a small tree, Northern Pine.
Overall I’m very happy to have found this book. Learning new things and have a list of a little over a dozen plants to help with my project.
My daughter in law and son are green thumb geeks. Meaning I’ve learned a little more to contribute during conversations and the new info added to my ability to ask better questions when conferring during the terrarium builds.
If you’re building a small terrarium or even a single potted plant this book can help. It’ll take less time if you know exactly what type of plant you’re using. Skip to that section. If a novice this book will expand and broaden your horizons. Assist choosing.
Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
The intro doesn’t have filler. Similar to those online recipes that go on and on until getting to the actual ingredients. Predominantly meat and potatoes reading.
The long list of plants each accompany a few short pages of need to know and helpful tips. Throughout the read there are important details added. Helping me make important choices. Even learned a few new pointers that influenced the two builds. To include help with a small tree, Northern Pine.
Overall I’m very happy to have found this book. Learning new things and have a list of a little over a dozen plants to help with my project.
My daughter in law and son are green thumb geeks. Meaning I’ve learned a little more to contribute during conversations and the new info added to my ability to ask better questions when conferring during the terrarium builds.
If you’re building a small terrarium or even a single potted plant this book can help. It’ll take less time if you know exactly what type of plant you’re using. Skip to that section. If a novice this book will expand and broaden your horizons. Assist choosing.
Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
February 26, 2017
As part of my desire to make my apartment into something more homey, I've been trying to grow a few houseplants. I'm not very good at it. I have the blood of many poor plants on my hands. I picked this up almost in desperation, and I'm so glad I did. It's got big beautiful pictures, easy to understand instructions, and enough good advice that I haven't killed my latest batch of houseplants yet!
March 15, 2016
I know some people just love this book, but for me it didn't provide. The author spent more time on how she arranged the plants and the containers used than giving information about the plants themselves.
November 15, 2017
I wasn’t crazy about the overly chatty and slightly judgmental tone (what do you have against spider plants, lady?) of this book but I got a lot of good information out of it.
November 4, 2015
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HOUSEPLANT by Tovah Martin has arrived in the mail just in time and is chock full of information about the hardiest of plants. I say just in time because my youngest son is in the process of moving into his own place (Finally!!!) and I know he both wants a few plants to brighten up his rooms and he will almost never take care of them.
Hence there is the need for a book just like this, or, in fact, this one.
Besides the 200 plants mentioned herein (Everything from the African Violet ((one of my favorites)) to the ZZ Plant (a little ol’ plant from Texas perhaps) there are the how to tips everyone who wants to be a capable gardener needs to know. What container is best for your plant, how to layer in the drainage and soil materials, watering essentials and humidity and, first and foremost, there is a warning about the poisonous nature of some of these plants. This is not to be taken lightly.
And of course there is mention of the necessity of finding the right plant to fit in with your family.
This is a wonderful book chock full of information every indoor gardener would need. It is both a well thought-out and designed book for those looking for a little horticultural adventure.
I won this book through the Goodreads program.
Hence there is the need for a book just like this, or, in fact, this one.
Besides the 200 plants mentioned herein (Everything from the African Violet ((one of my favorites)) to the ZZ Plant (a little ol’ plant from Texas perhaps) there are the how to tips everyone who wants to be a capable gardener needs to know. What container is best for your plant, how to layer in the drainage and soil materials, watering essentials and humidity and, first and foremost, there is a warning about the poisonous nature of some of these plants. This is not to be taken lightly.
And of course there is mention of the necessity of finding the right plant to fit in with your family.
This is a wonderful book chock full of information every indoor gardener would need. It is both a well thought-out and designed book for those looking for a little horticultural adventure.
I won this book through the Goodreads program.
June 13, 2017
Ive decided i need to try some houseplants instead of simply bring outside plants inside ( hint: most of the time it doesnt work). This book left me with an instant list of appealing candidates to bring some life and greenery to my home. Now to be brave and buy one :)
October 1, 2015
Just about every household has some sort of indoor plant. We do. Some die, some live. This book can definitely help you to make the right decisions for your indoor plants to survive a better life. Most likely you will see some plants in this book that you have now or tried to nurture at one time. Now you have a running chance to help your plants grow better and survive a longer time.
This book - THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HOUSEPLANT - is just that, to help make your plants Indestructible.
AND yes I won this FREE Coffee Table Book from Goodreads.com. AND glad I did.
This book - THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HOUSEPLANT - is just that, to help make your plants Indestructible.
AND yes I won this FREE Coffee Table Book from Goodreads.com. AND glad I did.
September 3, 2015
Beautiful pictures, but most of what I absorbed from the material was how Ms Martin arranged the plants. There was some info about what needed sandy vs peaty soil, but not a lot about different varieties of the same plants nor how to deal with propagation or health issues (yellow leaves, etc.) Also although I've had great luck with many of the plants mentioned I have killed at least 3 begonias.
February 3, 2019
Martin's book offers some good information but it was rather annoying to wade through her analogies, overuse of the word 'kinky,' and mentions of Einstein ( her cat). Otherwise it is a pretty great resource for choosing relatively common houseplants that will survive just about anything.
April 21, 2018
I'm looking forward to trying out some of these plants!
January 11, 2019
This book describes and gives care instruction for around 200 houseplants that need little daily attention or excessive water and schedules. The author asserts that these plants fit into our hectic lives while offering gracious beauty in our homes. The plants mentioned in this book tend to be flowers, ferns, and various members of the cactus or succulent families. There are no vegetable or herb plants discussed in this book.
March 13, 2019
i've been feeling like cozying up the house with more plants, but even though i enjoy gardening, i'm not a devoted houseplant mom and we live in a dry climate with no good plant windowsills. so i was pleased to come across this at a spring/plant/gardening oriented display at the library. great photos, lots of info, and solid, down-to-earth content. will be taking this with me to the plant nursery!
September 6, 2020
Wonderful book of plants that are easy to care for and because author has a cat she makes it very plain which are pet friendly and which to avoid!
April 12, 2018
I've got a great list of plants to go and buy now! Loved how helpful this book was.
Read
August 5, 2016From Beth F.:
"Winters are long in Iowa. By the time the middle of February comes around, Mother Nature begins to tease us with bright sunny days. But look at a calendar and you’ll see that we are still more than a month away from Spring.
If you’re itching to get your hands in the garden there is something you can do now that might make it feel like spring – get a new houseplant! Tovah Martin’s new book “The Indestructible Houseplant – 200 beautiful plants that everyone can grow is “for all the windowsill-gardener wannabes… For all the folks who hankered for houseplants but didn’t know where to start, and for all the people who picked up the wrong houseplant and thought its hasty demise was their fault, this book is for you.”
The Idestructible Houseplant is both a good reference book and a fun read. (Yes, books can be both.) If you’re looking for a book on houseplants and you want to look up just one plant, hit the index in the back and it will tell you where to turn. Or hit the table of contents for her list of 200 plants and go from there.
But if you’re looking for a fun read, start at the very beginning. Tovah Martin is an entertaining writer. Her snappy style and entertaining storytelling will get you hooked. She’ll tell you the story of how she got hooked on houseplants, how the idea for this book came to be, what her home is like and how she tested plants to come up with her 200 surviving “indestructibles.”
The 200+ page “Gallery of Indestructibles” lists her choices in alphabetical order. Each new plant begins with an entertaining page or more describing the plant, a beautiful color photograph, and half-page table listing the plants features: it’s common name(s), Latin name, a rating (easy or easiest), size range, foliage description, other attributes, desired light exposure, water requirements, optimum night time temperature, rate or growth, soil type, fertilizing, issues and ideal companions.
The last 40 pages take you through what she calls “The Details” – choosing a plant; general cautions about plant toxicity; light, humidity and temperature considerations; choosing and preparing a container. The list of sources are mainly in Connecticut, but all have websites.
There is one thing I was surprised by. The groupings called “Ferns” and “Ivy” are examples of when the author groups plants into a family. The information is general rather than specific to any of the individual types found in the index. Not that the information isn’t good, but it might not be appropriate to ALL the different plants in either family.
This is a great gardening book, and I’m definitely adding it to my wish-list."
"Winters are long in Iowa. By the time the middle of February comes around, Mother Nature begins to tease us with bright sunny days. But look at a calendar and you’ll see that we are still more than a month away from Spring.
If you’re itching to get your hands in the garden there is something you can do now that might make it feel like spring – get a new houseplant! Tovah Martin’s new book “The Indestructible Houseplant – 200 beautiful plants that everyone can grow is “for all the windowsill-gardener wannabes… For all the folks who hankered for houseplants but didn’t know where to start, and for all the people who picked up the wrong houseplant and thought its hasty demise was their fault, this book is for you.”
The Idestructible Houseplant is both a good reference book and a fun read. (Yes, books can be both.) If you’re looking for a book on houseplants and you want to look up just one plant, hit the index in the back and it will tell you where to turn. Or hit the table of contents for her list of 200 plants and go from there.
But if you’re looking for a fun read, start at the very beginning. Tovah Martin is an entertaining writer. Her snappy style and entertaining storytelling will get you hooked. She’ll tell you the story of how she got hooked on houseplants, how the idea for this book came to be, what her home is like and how she tested plants to come up with her 200 surviving “indestructibles.”
The 200+ page “Gallery of Indestructibles” lists her choices in alphabetical order. Each new plant begins with an entertaining page or more describing the plant, a beautiful color photograph, and half-page table listing the plants features: it’s common name(s), Latin name, a rating (easy or easiest), size range, foliage description, other attributes, desired light exposure, water requirements, optimum night time temperature, rate or growth, soil type, fertilizing, issues and ideal companions.
The last 40 pages take you through what she calls “The Details” – choosing a plant; general cautions about plant toxicity; light, humidity and temperature considerations; choosing and preparing a container. The list of sources are mainly in Connecticut, but all have websites.
There is one thing I was surprised by. The groupings called “Ferns” and “Ivy” are examples of when the author groups plants into a family. The information is general rather than specific to any of the individual types found in the index. Not that the information isn’t good, but it might not be appropriate to ALL the different plants in either family.
This is a great gardening book, and I’m definitely adding it to my wish-list."
December 15, 2015
This wasn't a *bad* book, but it would have been more compelling if I hadn't already killed several of the "indestructible" houseplants that she promotes. As for the remaining plants, about a third of them are butt-ugly. Even so, I came up with a decent list of more victims, I mean plants, to try to sustain. Time will tell.
December 17, 2016
While I loved my four-legged children more than anything in the world, after losing the ones that ate all houseplants/flowers/produce, I decided it was time to get some houseplants. This was really helpful, gave a lot of good options and advice, and was very down-to-earth. I'm not as scared of the process at this point and I'm off to find my first houseplant!
November 20, 2017
Such an inspiration
This is the book I've been looking for! I have terrible lighting in my home and Tovah helped me select several beautiful hearty plants to liven up my space. Every section gives favorite varieties, display suggestions, and specific requirements; all while being a really entertaining read. Highly recommend
This is the book I've been looking for! I have terrible lighting in my home and Tovah helped me select several beautiful hearty plants to liven up my space. Every section gives favorite varieties, display suggestions, and specific requirements; all while being a really entertaining read. Highly recommend
October 1, 2015
Great book. I cannot keep a plant alive and always envied my step mom's plants in her house. This book has helped me figure out what the best plants for me are and how to care for them. This is a perfect book for a non green thumb person who wants flowers and plants to live in their space.
January 23, 2016
I love all Tovah Martin's books but I have managed to destroy a number of these plants. Several of them several times.
April 21, 2024
This is good reference to have on hand. It isn’t a complete guide, but the charts are helpful for plant parents.
January 19, 2018
For every gardener with a case of the midwinter blues, Tovah Martin has a cure. In this case, The Indestructible Houseplant, her compilation of trued and true plants that thrive indoors no matter what the weather. Or how little time the gardener may have to devote to them. Ease of maintenance is a priority.
But these are not just the dreary dusty basics many of us remember all too well. The 25-year-veteran of Logee’s Greenhouses won’t settle for dreary plants, and she doesn’t expect her readers to either. Much as we long for, in her words, “an intimate relationship with something that photosynthesizes,” nobody wants to devote time and window space to anything ugly.
This doesn’t mean Martin neglects some of the well-known basics: aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), ferns, peace lily, pothos, or sansevieria. Rather, she tells (and shows, through the books glorious pictures of photographer Kindra Clineff) how to elevate such basics with thoughtful containers and companion plants.
The 40-something chapters in the volume’s body, “Gallery of Indestructibles”, are in alphabetic order, from African violet to ZZ plant, allowing us to locate our favorites easily. Most chapters include several varieties, species, even multiple genera, within a single designation, easily bringing the plant total to the 200 promised in the book’s subtitle.
Love African violets? Consider adding their relatives, the chiritas. Geranium fans can choose between zonals, ivy-leafed, or scented-leafed varieties. Martin’s section on tradescantias includes delightfully-named bridal veil and Moses in a boat, and so on.
Adventurous – maybe even not so adventurous – indoor gardeners will rejoice at being introduced to lesser known plants: medinilla (aka Malaysian grapes) with its “posh plump clusters of peach-pink blossoms”; slipper orchid; snow rose; and more.
Each chapter in The Indestructible Houseplant opens with a mouth-watering photo, and includes plant descriptions, Martin’s experience with them (including suggestions for containers), and a quick guide to its care (exposure, water requirements, optimum temperatures, soil, water, fertilization and suggested companion plans).
Martin also includes sections on how to include indestructible houseplants into a home’s décor, how to plant, and a brief calendar on what to do when, all written in clear language with more than a dash of humor.
But these are not just the dreary dusty basics many of us remember all too well. The 25-year-veteran of Logee’s Greenhouses won’t settle for dreary plants, and she doesn’t expect her readers to either. Much as we long for, in her words, “an intimate relationship with something that photosynthesizes,” nobody wants to devote time and window space to anything ugly.
This doesn’t mean Martin neglects some of the well-known basics: aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), ferns, peace lily, pothos, or sansevieria. Rather, she tells (and shows, through the books glorious pictures of photographer Kindra Clineff) how to elevate such basics with thoughtful containers and companion plants.
The 40-something chapters in the volume’s body, “Gallery of Indestructibles”, are in alphabetic order, from African violet to ZZ plant, allowing us to locate our favorites easily. Most chapters include several varieties, species, even multiple genera, within a single designation, easily bringing the plant total to the 200 promised in the book’s subtitle.
Love African violets? Consider adding their relatives, the chiritas. Geranium fans can choose between zonals, ivy-leafed, or scented-leafed varieties. Martin’s section on tradescantias includes delightfully-named bridal veil and Moses in a boat, and so on.
Adventurous – maybe even not so adventurous – indoor gardeners will rejoice at being introduced to lesser known plants: medinilla (aka Malaysian grapes) with its “posh plump clusters of peach-pink blossoms”; slipper orchid; snow rose; and more.
Each chapter in The Indestructible Houseplant opens with a mouth-watering photo, and includes plant descriptions, Martin’s experience with them (including suggestions for containers), and a quick guide to its care (exposure, water requirements, optimum temperatures, soil, water, fertilization and suggested companion plans).
Martin also includes sections on how to include indestructible houseplants into a home’s décor, how to plant, and a brief calendar on what to do when, all written in clear language with more than a dash of humor.
September 19, 2020
I would have loved Martin's way of writing, if this book were a novel. She's really good in describing something ordinary in an exquisite way. I see that aside of growing plants, Martin has the talent for growing words.
Let me put it this way. I love coffee, and I love milk, too. Sometimes I drink latte, sometimes just a glass of fresh milk, and sometimes Americano. However, when I dine in a restaurant and put "coffee" on my order for drinks, I would expect to taste more, if not entirely, coffee than milk or anything else. Therefore, when I put "The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 beautiful bla bla bla..." on my order, I expected to be educated about houseplants rather than to be entertained. This book feels more like a compilation of blog posts about the author, her cat, her nephew, and her houseplants.
Dracaena. There are lots of Dracaena species which don't all share same behavior. Nevertheless, the author told a lengthy story about her "Lemon Lime" in the whole chapter of Dracaena. In the middle part of the chapter, I thought she was already talking about Dracaena in general. But suddenly in the middle of the paragraph, she wrote "As far as light goes, ‘Lemon Lime’ shows good color at a respectful distance from an east- or west-facing window; there is no need to give it the best seat in the house." I was like: "Oh no. So is this still about Lemon Lime??"
As vocabularies and expressions flower over the pages, it would be quite a task, I assume, to count all the plants recommended by the author in this book. About Dracaena, one. About Haworthia, one. About Euphorbia? Not only one, but how many? Some species mentioned are the failed ones. So the ones recommended? Ah. To find out if there are really "200" or not, it would be like trying to draw a story plot from a novel (of many sequels).
I'm not saying that I have gotten nothing at all from this book. It's just not as I had expected, not even close. I'm shedding tears over the $9.99 on the Kindle version of this title. Now I have my homework pulling out the information from this kinky story.
Let me put it this way. I love coffee, and I love milk, too. Sometimes I drink latte, sometimes just a glass of fresh milk, and sometimes Americano. However, when I dine in a restaurant and put "coffee" on my order for drinks, I would expect to taste more, if not entirely, coffee than milk or anything else. Therefore, when I put "The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 beautiful bla bla bla..." on my order, I expected to be educated about houseplants rather than to be entertained. This book feels more like a compilation of blog posts about the author, her cat, her nephew, and her houseplants.
Dracaena. There are lots of Dracaena species which don't all share same behavior. Nevertheless, the author told a lengthy story about her "Lemon Lime" in the whole chapter of Dracaena. In the middle part of the chapter, I thought she was already talking about Dracaena in general. But suddenly in the middle of the paragraph, she wrote "As far as light goes, ‘Lemon Lime’ shows good color at a respectful distance from an east- or west-facing window; there is no need to give it the best seat in the house." I was like: "Oh no. So is this still about Lemon Lime??"
As vocabularies and expressions flower over the pages, it would be quite a task, I assume, to count all the plants recommended by the author in this book. About Dracaena, one. About Haworthia, one. About Euphorbia? Not only one, but how many? Some species mentioned are the failed ones. So the ones recommended? Ah. To find out if there are really "200" or not, it would be like trying to draw a story plot from a novel (of many sequels).
I'm not saying that I have gotten nothing at all from this book. It's just not as I had expected, not even close. I'm shedding tears over the $9.99 on the Kindle version of this title. Now I have my homework pulling out the information from this kinky story.
May 1, 2018
Likes: There was a huge variety of plants to choose from! I enjoyed learning the names of and being exposed to a number of plants. Each plant has a general information table, much like you would see on the tags stuck in grow pots. Seeing photos and gaining general information inspired my to search for information that was more in depth about plants that looked interesting to me. It was nice that for each species, she named some other varieties which I looked up also. Plants aside, I enjoyed
Martin's superb writing voice!
Dislikes: I wished There was more information about each plant provided in the book. The information provided was fairly general. I could gather the same information from the tag stuck in the grow pot.
Martin's superb writing voice!
Dislikes: I wished There was more information about each plant provided in the book. The information provided was fairly general. I could gather the same information from the tag stuck in the grow pot.
January 4, 2021
This book has some neat plants listed among the 200 in this book. But I personally have had a few of these die, and some that are not listed that are absolutely thriving. I suppose that is the beauty and frustration of plants; what your neighbour is growing may not even send out a root for you.
There was something about this book that read more as a love letter to plants then a book on how to grow plants... which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was inspired by the pictures of her plants and specifically the containers that she used to grow them. I do believe I will go to some local thrift stores to find unique plant containers and then a stop at a local plant nursery for a few new friends.
There was something about this book that read more as a love letter to plants then a book on how to grow plants... which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was inspired by the pictures of her plants and specifically the containers that she used to grow them. I do believe I will go to some local thrift stores to find unique plant containers and then a stop at a local plant nursery for a few new friends.
July 2, 2018
Like so many plant and gardening books, this one should have a sub-subtitle: "200 beautiful plants that everyone can grow - depending on where you live. Living in the desert, I have found that many houseplants people in other parts of the country take for granted can't really survive here. Not enough humidity. So much for "indestructible."
It was nice that she had the little chart for each plant, but it would have been good if info on how to propagate had been a part of that. And light preference would have been more helpful than "exposure."
But this is a handy book, especially if you tend to pick up half-dead specimens on clearance and don't always even know what they are.(!)
It was nice that she had the little chart for each plant, but it would have been good if info on how to propagate had been a part of that. And light preference would have been more helpful than "exposure."
But this is a handy book, especially if you tend to pick up half-dead specimens on clearance and don't always even know what they are.(!)
March 5, 2019
Another one I obviously haven't read cover to cover, but the information is very helpful. A philodendron needs a touch of water once a week? I can do that. I disagree with her about which plants are actually indestructible. I have killed three of the plants listed in this book...
I found the stuff about choosing which (decorative style of) pot kind of unnecessary. While "How Not to Kill..." focuses on what could be wrong with the plant, this focuses on the plant itself and its needs. The two books complement each other well, as neither gives quite enough information about individual plants.
I found the stuff about choosing which (decorative style of) pot kind of unnecessary. While "How Not to Kill..." focuses on what could be wrong with the plant, this focuses on the plant itself and its needs. The two books complement each other well, as neither gives quite enough information about individual plants.
November 18, 2025
What an Inspirational Book!
Wonderful book!!! I always thought I had a black thumb when I was much younger, but this book has given me hope that I can have houseplants. I needed specific guidelines & tips. They were there. The pics were great. I loved the use of nontraditional planters, & am ready to hit the thrift stores, yard sales, weekend markets at the fair grounds, etc to see what original finds are available. I'm now inspired & ready to try again. Keep your fingers crossed that now at 75 I can brighten up my home with living, breathing indestructible houseplants. Thank you Tovah!
Wonderful book!!! I always thought I had a black thumb when I was much younger, but this book has given me hope that I can have houseplants. I needed specific guidelines & tips. They were there. The pics were great. I loved the use of nontraditional planters, & am ready to hit the thrift stores, yard sales, weekend markets at the fair grounds, etc to see what original finds are available. I'm now inspired & ready to try again. Keep your fingers crossed that now at 75 I can brighten up my home with living, breathing indestructible houseplants. Thank you Tovah!
June 19, 2019
This book is an incredibly thorough into to SO MANY PLANTS. I borrowed it from the library to learn more about how to take care of the plants I already own. Three of my plants were in it, and after reading their entries, I went back through and learned about dozens of other plants that have all gone on my wishlist. <3
Tovah is an expert and is contagiously passionate. The photos are gorgeous. I loved this book and plan to buy my own copy. I rated it four instead of five because a lot of the personal anecdotes rubbed me the wrong way, but I just skipped those paragraphs, no big deal.
Tovah is an expert and is contagiously passionate. The photos are gorgeous. I loved this book and plan to buy my own copy. I rated it four instead of five because a lot of the personal anecdotes rubbed me the wrong way, but I just skipped those paragraphs, no big deal.
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