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Houseplants For All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants

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"A guide to selecting and growing plants for your home, including a plant profile quiz"--

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2020

79 people are currently reading
282 people want to read

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Danae Horst

2 books2 followers

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5 stars
119 (33%)
4 stars
165 (46%)
3 stars
68 (18%)
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6 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive).
2,497 reviews57 followers
May 31, 2020
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

During the last couple of months of quarantine I have been buying houseplants, so that there would be at least some living creatures in my apartment besides myself. And I really want to keep them alive, so when I saw this ARC claiming that Houseplants are for All, I wanted to screen it for some tips.

Let me start by saying I really liked the plant pictures, it looked really nice, the rooms also looked great. However, sometimes I did wonder if someone could actually live in between all those plants. Especially a picture of a bathtub surrounded by many many plants comes to mind.

Besides the pictures, there are explanations of light and water conditions, as well as potting and certain other things you will run in with your plants. These were explained well I think, but I haven't had the chance yet to test all of them. The idea of the pebble tray was something I really liked and plan to build for some of my plants.

Beautiful to look at and probably also useful.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Alicia Bayer.
Author 10 books250 followers
May 26, 2020
This is a full color, informative book on basics of houseplants. It features lots of great illustrations and plant profiles, and goes into things like light levels, humidity, pests, etc. It will work well for someone new to houseplants or someone who just wants to find good ones to go buy.

I've read a handful of good houseplant books in the past couple of years and this one doesn't offer as much as some others. I also wish there was more diversity in the plants. For instance, I grow a lot of unconventional houseplants -- geraniums that live inside and bloom for months after I bring them in when frost is coming outside, herbs on sunny windowsills, plants that we grow for fun from avocado pits and produce seeds and scraps, etc. The ones in this book are all the standard buy-it-from-the-expensive-plant-store types. It does not go into other areas that I really like, like the list of which ones are best for cleaning indoor air, how to easily propagate them, etc. It's nice and will meet basic needs quite well though.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
Profile Image for Vanya Prodanova.
830 reviews25 followers
May 28, 2021
Много красива книга и почти се навих да си купя копие, докато не стигнах частта с болестите и буболечките по стайните растения и се отказах. По-плашещо и гнусничко от кокали и кръв.

Колкото нова информация научих, толкова и тотално се сдухах, защото се оказа, че трите succelents, които имам, оцеляват ВЪПРЕКИ моите грижи. Горките. Нищо чудно, че избих толкова растения до момента. Истината настрана, най-значимото, което си взех от книгата е, че не ти избираш растенията, а средата ти е тази, която трябва да ги избира. Може да е очевидно, но за пълен лаик в гледането на растения, това си беше Аха-момент. :)

Книгата е много малка и на места има повтаряне на информацията, буквално повтаряне, не перифразиране, което напряга. Отделно се усеща, че книгата е написана от човек, който се занимава с гледане на растения от поне няколко века (толкова е добра) и което е до някаква степен негатив, тъй като не може да ти предаде информацията, така както би била най-полезна за един тотален идиот в гледането на стайни растения като мен.

Обаче! Дава ти храна за размисъл и идея какво да проучиш и потърсиш като повече информация, така че да има шанс растенията ти да живеят една идея по-добре. :)
Profile Image for Kacy.
301 reviews8 followers
February 2, 2021
*Essential guide to houseplants*

Back to plants. House in the Sky was slightly traumatic, so I needed some fluff. This is the best plant book I've read so far. It's engaging and informative. I'll be buying a copy, but for now I took photos of the pages relevant to my current plants.
Profile Image for Laurel Jones.
129 reviews3 followers
January 16, 2023
Cute and informative. I loved the parts on light particularly.
Profile Image for Aiden.
308 reviews4 followers
August 16, 2021
I picked this up from the library for some eye candy, and was pretty impressed, not just with the pictures but with the info. It seems like someone who's new to caring for houseplants would have a better chance at success after reading - a person can use the info in this book to figure out what kind of plants will do well in their home and then use this as a care guide. I like that the plants are organized by environment type (bright & sunny, lower light, humid, etc) and that the first section is all about how to figure out what type of space is in your home. I wish more low-light plants were included, and that the photos and diagrams in section 1 were labeled for clarity, but other than that it's a good resource.
Profile Image for Brittney // brittysbooks .
478 reviews9 followers
May 24, 2020
As someone who loves indoor plants, I get a lot of questions from family and friends about what’s wrong with their plants. This is a great resource for people who know a lot and people who are new to having plants. There’s multiple chapters and topics they talk about. For me, I have issues with bugs and she gave FABULOUS tips on identifying and how to tackle them. I absolutely loved this book and recommend to anyone who has or wants indoor plants.
Profile Image for Samantha.
55 reviews
July 25, 2022
"Unfortunately, enjoying plants and keeping them happy do not always have a direct correlation..."

Ain't it the truth?

"When I continued to choose plants based on what they needed rather than just how I wanted my home to look, I found my plants seemed healthier and happier."

Amen!


I'm in search of the ultimate house plant book to add to my book collection. I have read several in the past year or two and have not yet found "the one" but this is so far my favorite. Descriptions on lighting, humidity, etc. are most descriptive and the book is balanced in a way that is informative and also stylish.
Profile Image for Samantha Martin.
308 reviews53 followers
January 21, 2021
This is a great & aesthetically pleasing tool to have on hand for houseplants. An easy guide to learn about several popular species of plants, their light, water and fertilizing needs. It also includes a handy section for identifying what’s going wrong with your plants—burned looking leaves, stunted growth, etc.
Profile Image for Candace.
395 reviews
April 28, 2022
One of the better books I’ve read about houseplants. Enough detail and pictures that you appreciate it over internet research.
Profile Image for Megan Moss.
360 reviews4 followers
March 28, 2021
I’ve recently become a houseplant enthusiast and checked this book out from the library. I enjoyed it a lot. Absolutely gorgeous pictures and very helpful, thorough explanations of how to access what type of plants may be best for your space. The author also gives great tips on watering, planter type, fertilizer, repotting, styling, etc. I learned a lot!
This is the best plant book I’ve read so far. I would have loved more individual plant profiles, but she gives other book recommendations in the back that may have what I am looking for.
Profile Image for Lydia.
45 reviews
June 3, 2022
A lot of this information I already knew, but I did pick up some good tips. This is a great beginner's guide to houseplant care. I loved the beautiful photos, and now I have lots of ideas for my own plant collection!
Profile Image for Annie.
4,719 reviews85 followers
July 26, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Houseplants for All is a tutorial and culture guide to indoor houseplants by Danae Horst. Due out 11th Aug 2020 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The first thing that struck me about this book is how positive and upbeat and encouraging the author's voice is. It's a really happy book full of healthy vibrant plants. There's a 'you can do it' vibe. The second thing I noticed is how much information is packed into the pages. It's a really information dense book but so well arranged that it doesn't feel like a huge info-dump; the info is accessible and understandable.

The layout is easy to read and follow as well as graphically appealing. The book's well illustrated with lots of relevant color photos. The author covers choosing and siting plants to fit decor needs as well as the culture needs of the plants themselves. There are good illustrations of each of the concepts she introduces (what _is_ indirect light, how can plants be situated to make the most of light without getting burned by having too much of it, what's humidity, how much is enough, what's too much, etc). There are some simple worksheets to help readers figure out in practical terms what they have to work with. The provided room profiles provide some more definite criteria to consider when choosing and siting plants. There is a plant primer with specific species including their botanical and common names, color photos of each plant, culture requirements and habits.

The author has included a good overview of tools and supplies also: choosing pots, drainage, materials, soils (one of the best treatments I've seen in a home/hobby book), potting tutorials, watering, pruning, fertilizing, cleaning, propagation, and troubleshooting problems.

Well written and factual. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Profile Image for April Gray.
1,389 reviews9 followers
November 5, 2020
This is a very good, all-around houseplant book. While any houseplant parent will find it useful, it's especially good for newbies, or those who are having trouble with some/all of their plants, or fear they have a brown thumb. The text is engaging and easy to follow, and is informative without talking down to the reader. Horst puts a lot of stress on the need for understanding what kind of light your home has before choosing plants, and this would've saved me heartache and money in the past if I'd put more thought into that myself! Humidity levels can be important as well, which is something I hadn't really considered, and she offers useful tips on how to adjust humidity if needed. Maintenance is of course covered, with lots of helpful info on types of pots, soil and watering needs, pruning, fertilizing/feeding, and propagation, plus a chapter on how to recognize and treat problems, and one on pets and plants. The book is filled with gorgeous photographs, either instructional or inspirational, and lists of recommended plants, arranged by their needs (light, humidity, placement, etc). Definitely recommended!

#HouseplantsforAll #NetGalley
Profile Image for Andrea.
378 reviews32 followers
April 23, 2020
*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*

As a relative beginner to the plant world this book was a wonderful look into all things houseplants from potting, to watering, to light, and everything else you would ever need. The pictures and layout of the book were absolutely beautiful and I really liked how the book was laid out as it seemed to take you on a journey through taking care of your plants.

There are interactive quizzes to help you figure out the light levels and humidity of different rooms of your home and thus what plants would be best suited to live there. Then there are descriptions of the various plants that would work well in those places and how best to take care of them.

This book would be good for people just getting into houseplants, but also for people who want a book with all the information in one place that is also beautiful to display and look at.
Profile Image for Sandie.
222 reviews19 followers
May 25, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book before its publication! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I do own another book by another author on this topic, and I also enjoy that one. I just love houseplants and in that case, having books about it, just makes me happy, just as my plants do! I'm only a beginner, and I feel like this book will definitely help you out if you're not sure how to take care of your plants, and where to place them in your house for the best light, humidity and such. I think I would definitely buy this book if I saw it in store, just to own it, as the pictures are inspiring and very beautiful too!
I've definitely learned something, and why I didn't give this one 5 stars is just because I have seen multiple of these books around, and this isn't really a new topic to write about. But it's good, and the layout is really pretty! Recommended for sure!
Profile Image for Jenn.
666 reviews33 followers
June 7, 2020
This time of year I am obsessed with houseplants and just plants in general. Houseplants for All: A Guide to Becoming a Perfect Plant Parent gives great information on how to best maintain your in-house lovelies to their fullest potential.

The photography in this book is so beautiful and gives a lot of ideas for the spacial placement of suggested plants. I have had some question as to light and humidity regarding some plants and there are a lot of ideas given here to try to utilize you space to your plant needs.

Not only do you get talked through the light requirements and the best plants for them but how to garner more humidity and what to look for as well as how to capitalize on shifting light sources.

I honestly could not recommend this book more for those looking to capitalize their space with some beautiful live space-enhancers known as indoor plants!

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* 
Profile Image for Shannon Rochester.
753 reviews41 followers
May 31, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because as I get older, I am finding myself interested in things I never was before...I couldn't have cared less about plants or how they look but lately, since these posts have gotten so popular on Instagram, I have started noticing that I actually LIKE plants...and the more I read about them, the more I see how good for you they can be. While I did not give this book four stars or above(just because I don't really give many nonfiction books four stars), I really did enjoy it much more than I thought I was going to. The pictures were amazing and I even had to screenshot some of them so I can remember what I want my future plants and pots to look like. There was SO much information included in the book that I can't really see anything that wasn't covered. I can't wait to start looking for plants and pots that speak to me. :)
Profile Image for Karren Hodgkins.
395 reviews20 followers
June 6, 2020
There are lots of really great tips in this book.

The author is adamant there are ‘No black thumbs’, but I came away with the impression that to get it right will require a dedicated focus and lots of energy. It is easy to understand and very logical and detailed explanations, making it easy to understand the impact of light conditions, fertiliser, plant type etc. I'm sure it will help many people on their journey to thriving house plants.

It certainly helped me understand why my focus is rather my 2000 sqm of garden (based in the Southern Hemisphere.) In this environment, many of the plants described as ideal house plants thrive in my garden!

With thanks to #NetGalley, Houghton Mifflen Harcourts and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.
Profile Image for Kristi Kinasz.
69 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2020
This book is such a handy guide for anyone who loves houseplants. It's great for a beginner who wants to know the best plant for them or perhaps why they keep killing their plants. And I think it would be good for someone a bit more advanced to keep as a guide for whenever they add more plants for their collection. The book covers the environment preferences of many plants, tips for watering and pruning, and advice for a variety of plant ailments. The author goes very into depth on all of these topics so I think the reader could use it as a reference book for a long time. Some of the information could be redundant if you're reading it straight through, but if you use it for its purpose as a reference you'll miss that con.
I was given this ARC copy in advance by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review 🖤
Profile Image for Sue.the.very.busy.reader.
1,459 reviews12 followers
August 11, 2020
I love plants but keeping them alive is another story. I am slowly learning which plants do better in my house. When I saw this book I thought it would be good for me to read a book about houseplants. I have spent so much money on houseplants that do not survive a little knowledge could not hurt. I have never had a “green thumb” but I am always browsing the plant section of our local grocery enjoying all the plants.

The book, Houseplants For All has a lot of useful information for properly caring for plants, for example plants need more than just, light and water to survive. The author, @danaerolynhorst of the book outlines how important humidity, the soil and even the pot you use are to the success of the plant. The photos of the book are wonderful. This book is for beginners and anyones who loves plants and needs a little guidance to grow a plant successfully.
Profile Image for Tove R..
621 reviews17 followers
September 8, 2020
Awesome read with drop dead gorgeous pictures. I am not good with plants, but I love them. This book gives so many helpful tips about planting, watering, light etc. It has all the essentials to keep your plants happy and healthy. I intend to use the information in this book to the fullest.

I like that the book is divided into clear sections, and the one about how light and plants work together is very useful. I have not read a book with better information about light than this. This book is great for everyone who wasn’t born with the magic green thumb that makes everything look fabulous without any efforts, or so it seems. With this book everyone else’s thumb can get a bit greener.
539 reviews
September 15, 2020
Filled with beautiful pictures, this book will inspire any plant lover. Danae Horst provides useful and interesting information on how to work out which plants will be happy in your home. She also gives advice on how to include plants in each room in your house. She includes lots of pictures of the plants with details of how to take care of them in well set-out lists. For example, she tells you what kind of light the plant likes and how often it needs to be watered.
I haven't got a green thumb at all, but I feel like buying indoor plants already after reading this book! I also like the author's blog.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
443 reviews
November 17, 2020
Beautiful photos, and lots of information for those new to indoor gardening. I wish the section about keeping your plants and pets safe from each other was a little longer but everything else was just right. I especially liked the troubleshooting sections that break down common problems from pests to signs of over-watering to bleaching. I also enjoyed the way the author addressed common misconceptions throughout the book.

All this to say, I loved this guide! As a previously self-described "black thumb" I really felt like I learned a lot about what I was missing before! I am ready to have my own little plant nursery and brighten up my space.
Profile Image for Jo-Anne.
1,756 reviews38 followers
June 4, 2021
This is a good houseplant book. It is informative and easy to understand. I really liked the plant pictures. For the most part, I found them motivational. What a difference plants can make to a room. But some of them looked so perfect that I doubted I could grow that nice of a plant.

Besides the pictures, there were sections to help decide the kind of light your home has, before choosing plants. Humidity levels can be important as well. Maintenance is of course covered, with lots of helpful info on types of pots, soil and watering needs, pruning, fertilizing/feeding, and propagation, plus a chapter on how to recognize and treat problems.
Profile Image for Sarah.
255 reviews29 followers
May 26, 2020
As a self proclaimed plant mom, this book is awesome! There are tips on how to measure light level in areas in your home as well as the best plants for those areas. Plant profiles are available that provide details on care, such as light, soil, water, and styling tips. There is also an extensive section on care that expands on how to properly care and fertilize your plants. The final sections discuss plant problems, like pests, and a section on plants and pets. This is a great book for any plant lover!
Profile Image for Denai Piscopo.
103 reviews
May 30, 2020
I loved this book. I read it from cover to cover the day that I received my ARC from NetGalley.
I am one of those people that kill ALL indoor plants, maybe because I just buy them for their pretty looks and not consider at all where I am putting them or what they need. Some skills already learned from this book have saved a couple looking a bit dire already. And I am now full of confidence in going to the garden centre and picking he right plants for the right corners of my house, and I cant wait. My plants and I say thank you.
Profile Image for Valerie.
130 reviews
June 4, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a fantastic, informative, beautiful read for anyone interested in indoor gardening. It's chock-full of information on all the most popular types of houseplants, and is organized in such a readable format. I especially enjoyed the section discussing different types of indoor light and how the light present in your home can affect your plants.

I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this book to keep on my coffee table. A smart and beautiful book for any plant lover!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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