37 Houseplants Even You Can't Kill

by Mary Kate Hogan

Some would-be gardeners simply have the opposite of a green everything they touch seems to wilt. But perhaps the problem lies not with the person but with the plant! These 37 varieties of flowers, foliage, and cacti will hold their own in the face of minimal TLC?which is absolutely perfect for anyone who wants lush greenery but hasn’t the time to spare. Best of all, there’s no need to sacrifice the selection includes the delicate Baby’s Tears, a Chinese Evergreen, a Lacy-Tree Philodendron, African Violets, a Peace Lily, and Christmas Cactus. In addition to an easy-to-follow basics section, the entries include photos, information on caring for each plant, and tips for growing them like a pro.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Reference, Plants

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conversationally written, cute little book with clear pictures of plants separated out by how novices think: plants, flowering plants, cacti, etc.

There’s a good section at the beginning about the care and feeding of plants.

This book is exceptional in that it’s just enough information to choose, water, feed, prune, and repot plants as needed.

On the individual plant descriptions it’s a large photo accompanied by about the same ,amount of text. She knows the lanes well and puts in whatever picky little habit, tip, or trick you can use to ensure your plant flourishes.

Highly recommended.

Checked this out from the public library.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a brown-thumbed person, I needed to learn how to care for a plant and then find the ones that could thrive despite my lack of skill. I appreciate that it begins with The Basics: light, water, and fertilizer needs. Following the next worries of the common plant problems.
The body of the book gives a single-page, quick description of plants grouping them as foliage, by far, the largest section, flowering, and cacti, features two flowering variety-- each entry offers a description of the plant, Basic Care, and a Grow-Like-A-Pro Tip that tells a unique point to better care for that specific plant, at the bottom of the page.
I do have a Pothos Ivy and I love its hardiness. Now I know how to treat it even better-- although it looks very fine and happy as it is.

I like the close photography for the detail, however as there is only one picture per page, I would like a shot further for what I might see at a shop, to more easily identify it.

[Firstpersonnarrator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this if you don't have the patience, time, or windows to become a real green-thumb person. Even I couldn't kill these in the past, but they certainly didn't look healthy. I wish I'd had this book then. Instead of looking sad and sparse, I could have been raising enthusiastic plants in my little shadowy cave of an apartment. No technical speak. Only good info, written in bite-sized chunks, with a solid hold-it-in-your-dirty-hands binding.

[theresa]

the plant i have that i thought was a philodendron might actually be a pothos! love plant books! 🌱 (also i would not classify a christmas cactus as an easy to take care of plant. at least in my own personal trials with christmas cacti care lol)

[Emilie]

Noting that I looked at the table of contents and saw at least ten houseplants on the list that I had indeed managed to kill. There are other houseplants that I've kept alive for some years, though.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good quick reference book. I read it cover to cover in 2 days. I was looking for what kinds of plants I want to put in our new house and it gave me a really good quick overview. It pointed out general rules for house plants like to never water with cold water. I never knew that! There is even a small "flowering plant" and "cactus" section. I will be borrowing this book again when I purchase my plants and probably again when they start to look sick!

[Heather White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must have for someone who loves to see things grow! I rushed out to the nearest nursery with high hopes of getting and keeping some houseplants. It is very straight forward and a little vague at times, but all in all it heads you in the right direction.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book. I actually do well and have grown many plants for years. But this book helped me decide on some plants I wasn't sure about care for, especially if my house lighting would work for. Great book for a beginner to start with or for a gardener for a quick reference guide.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

plants still alive!!

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

In memoriam for that lovely jade plant that ended up looking like I'd put it in the microwave.

[Margaret Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only killed one plant in the last few months. I use this book all the tiem

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely true. I've managed to kill a couple of her "unkillable" suggestions.

[Katlin Seagraves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want basically all of these now.

[Grillables · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief but useful. Now I know what plants to look for...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

09/08: Love it! Includes a list of plants which clean the air!

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful! There are a couple of plants in here that I would like to get for my office. I guess that even someone with a "black" thumb like me can find a plant that will thrive!