How Not to Kill Your Houseplant is just what it sounds like--a gorgeously illustrated guide to not killing houseplants. This is something I need, and I know I'm not alone in that.
Veronica Peerless and DK Publishing have put together a beautiful, amazingly helpful primer on houseplants. From knowing which plants to buy to how to feed and water them to how to love them and help them thrive, this book includes so much information to help you get started that you'll be able to go straight to the nursery (the one for plants, not for infants) and pick out the best houseplants for your living space.
Peerless took 119 of the most popular houseplants and showed illustrations of how they will look both healthy and ill, and if it's not healthy, she helps you diagnose just what's wrong and guides you through how best to save your plant. Each page includes care tips, the height and spread of the plant, and what diseases or bugs to watch for. And for many plants, she also includes "Share the Care," a couple of other houseplants that require the same care and ideal living conditions, making it easy to design a trio of plants that will make your space feel warm and comforting.
Apparently most houseplants die from overwatering (yup, that's my hand in the air--I have done that way too many times), and there are lots of tips on how to prevent that, along with a host of other information to help your plants live their best lives. Use a paint brush to keep dust from gathering on feathery leaves. Your plants may not need as much food in the winter. Watch the humidity level--some plants are sensitive to air that's too dry. And hundreds more gems just like those.
I love how there are specific illustrations to help you know what your plant is if you don't know its name or to help you pick out new plants that you want to add to your collection. There are also lists of the 5 best plants for offices, for living rooms, for low light, for the bathroom, and for sunny areas. Also included are detailed pages on the biggest pests and most frequent diseases to watch for and how to take care of any plants that are suffering from them.
One thing that I was looking for in this but couldn't find is a list of which plants are dangerous to pets. We have a cat who loves to eat plants, and I wouldn't want to bring home anything that would be poisonous to him. I was hoping to find that information on the plant pages, but sadly, I'll have to look somewhere else for that.
Other than that, I love this book. It's a brilliant guide for starting out with houseplants, with lots of helpful illustrations and so much information. It would make an amazing gift for that friend of yours who wants to develop a green thumb or who is just starting out in a new home. How Not to Kill Your Houseplant is an invaluable tool for picking the perfect plants for your space and keeping them healthy.
Galleys for How Not to Kill Your Houseplant were provided by DK through Netgalley.com, with many thanks.