The House Plant Expert

The Expert Series

by D.G. Hessayon

A guide to choosing and caring for indoor plants. This aims to present information on a variety of plants in an easy-to-follow format.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Plants, Nature, Horticulture, Collections

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

David Gerald Hessayon was a British author and botanist of Cypriot descent who is known for a best-selling series of paperback gardening manuals known as the "Expert Guides" under his title Dr. D. G. Hessayon. The series started in 1958 with Be Your Own Gardening Expert and in 2008 it celebrated its 50th anniversary and the 50 millionth copy in print. They have become the best selling gardening books in history.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weeding my gardening books. Another excellent book in Hessayon’s Expert Gardening series. I have four of the books in this series, and as I’ve been reviewing all of my gardening books to decide which to keep, I’ve been impressed with this series. Each plant profile includes a color photo and annotated color illustration. In addition to a brief description, the profile includes temperature, light, water, humidity, repotting, and propogation information. Additional information, like illustrations showing leaf variations, are included. There’s also general information on things like different containers, ideas on placements (with some very 1970s photos), and an impressive decision chart to help identify a plant. The book is colorful and exceptionally well designed.

Verdict: definite keeper.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very useful details here, esp. when attempting to identify a houseplant. Other good basics on flower forms, etc. I do wish there was a bit more in-depth coverage for most plants. This book could easily be 1,000 pages long, and all the richer for it.

[George Ilsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had this book for years. It’s a great reference. Every plant question I’ve had I found an answer for in this book. There are so many plants!

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used to be my houseplant bible for my myriad of plants, now I have a single orchid on my windowsill!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it and wouldn't recommend it. Honestly, I was disappointed given its prominence in the houseplant community. The reason this book falls flat for me is that it tries to cover too much content in too little space. As such, most plants are lumped into broad taxonomic categories with 100-150 words devoted to their care. Personally, I think it would have worked better if the "house plants" and "pot plants" had been split into separate books (with more attention devoted to each). Though the book has some good information for people who are exceptionally new to house plants (pot selection, repotting, identifying pests, etc.), I'm not sure this book really has a place in the home of the modern indoor gardener.

[Dyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty good book for overall information on houseplants. I wish it covered more houseplants but it's still good. Has a key or guide if you will, on how to identify a houseplant. Very nice pictures. Good information on the various needs of plants. Makes a good reference book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best house plant book available! I bought it for my dad as a child, on one of our many trips to the garden centre. Now I’ve taken a big interest in tropical house plants my dad bought one for me. It is for sure the best book I have read on house plants! Super! Will read it again and again!

[Bernard S Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent way to look after house plants. Its a manual with tips about growing, pests, soil watering and so forth. An excellent guide to a fantastic pastime. My copy is a little on the old side so helpfully there is now an expanded second version.

[Robyn Obermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like opening up a letter from an old friend!Great pictures and information. I enjoyed the book so much was like a living scrapbook! Its always good to brush up on plant life! I feel much happier to have read this book, I can not believe I never read this book before!

[Rick Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

has great layout, pictures, helpful tidbits, easy to read. Of course this is not a book you read from front to back, but I've read what's relevant for my plants,and will check it out again as my garden grows.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best general house plant book ever! Everyone interested in house plants should have this book, it covers EVERYTHING you could ever imagine and has an impressive library of plants!

[Dobby [on hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference for indoor plants, with full-color photos and drawings of plants, pests, and what happens when things go wrong.

[Yan Sham-Shackleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sum up a book in one sentence challenge: I too could grow things.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense, but good all-around houseplant manual. As usual, much of the content is a plant glossary. I was surprised by the helpful arrangement tips at the beginning.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book with lots of interesting ideas and information.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime I have a specific question about a houseplant, this is the first book I crack open. A timeless classic.

[Blecy Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we go forward in life, it is good that we have rediscovering some of the easy things that benefit our health without charging an arm and leg for it. I agree that those plants can capture us by their natural beauty, through their colors and wonderful aroma that they manufacture. The book provides the common name and also the family of every plant, its profit to you and your home and some concepts of the sort of care it wants. It’s really not that tough to stay houseplants happy, however you are doing got to concentrate to their basic wants and beware of any cuss issues directly. This book provides some suggestions to assist you to have a green thumb indoors as well as out! I really love your book, as it helps me in choosing the right plants to care of.

[Shriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lately been trying to find a new hobby, the Internet has literally been booming with houseplants whether real or faux. I'm the type of person that has always loved gardening especially flowers but never thought let's have a house plant. In recent times of restriction this book has definitely turned situation into positive!

As of today I will be permanently keeping this book on my bedside table.

I would highly recommend this 90s classic since its thorough, no jargon, very simple to comprehend, excellent photos of the plants that are trending. Buy this book as a stepping stone then look at modernised books!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy to use book with all the info you really need to learn how to care of your indoor plants. If you only wanted one book on indoor plants, this is what I'd recommend. Also, you can find them used all over the place.

[Yuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great all-purpose indoor gardening reference. (Going on 50 plants in the apt). I was surprised to find most of Katie's native Australian flora are grown indoors here. If you come across a Grevillea bush, let me know!

[Suzy Espersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have come across for identifying plants. Layout is very good, and the book contains useful and easily accessible information about plant care. The fact that I'm not a house plant expert is not the book's fault.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

bets resource ever. and quippy writing makes i just plain old fun to read. not just as a reference.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to know what you're plants are telling you.

[Susan Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very clearly laid out book with lots of useful information. Unfortunately I do not have the green fingers needed to put the theory into practice.

[Castalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable general resource for houseplants. Nicely organized.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly advice for how to decorate with plants. Some general plant care tips. Then a catalogue of a bunch of plants with a brief description and a few tips about each plant's specific needs.

[Abcdarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got tired of making copious notes & just bought the thing!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much help. After reading several books that went in more depth then I was ready for this laid it all out and now one of my plants I thought I was
Going to kill is a live and happy!

[Alexandra Karr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift store and decided to get it because it had good pictures. I think this book contains a lot of simple, yet really helpful information.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 Second Review:

Been on my Mum's bookshelf longer than I've been alive. Have now stolen it to feed my plant addiction. Constantly near by and well used as my plants are ridiculous drama queens!