Houseplant Handbook
CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.
Project Team
Editorial Director: Christopher Reggio
Editor: Colleen Dorsey
Copy Editor: Laura Taylor
Design: Mary Ann Kahn
Index: Jay Kreider
Copyright © 2017 by IMM Lifestyle Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Squire, David, 1938- author.
Title: Houseplant handbook / David Squire.
Description: Mount Joy, PA : CompanionHouse Books, [2017] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017032127 | ISBN 9781620082324 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: House plants--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Classification: LCC SB419 .S642 2017 | DDC 635.9/65--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017032127
This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein.
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Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.
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Part One
Looking After Houseplants
Know The Basics
Each year, the popularity of houseplants increases and few people can resist having some flowering or foliage plants to transform their house into a home. Apart from creating color and vibrancy, houseplants have a therapeutic quality: they are alive and need regular, careful attention, generating rapport with people throughout the year.
Given the fast pace of life today, and the pressure it creates in our lives, the restful atmosphere that can be engendered by houseplants is essential. The range of houseplants is wide, including flowering and foliage types, as well as indoor ferns, bromeliads, cacti and other succulents, palms and cycads, bulbs, and insectivorous plants. All have different needs, and whether your home is a bungalow or a high-rise apartment, there are plants that will thrive in it. Some are native to tropical and subtropical regions, while others are hardy enough to grow outdoors in temperate zones but can also be grown indoors when young and in a pot.
In the directory of houseplants in Part Two, you will find detailed information about each plant’s needs, from warmth and light throughout the year, to watering and feeding, as well as how to increase plants.
Growing plants indoors is an all-embracing hobby. While some plants happily thrive on windowsills, others develop into large, eye-catching features that live for so long they become as much a part of a home as a dog or cat. Indeed, it is not unknown for long-lived plants to be given pet names!
Looking after houseplants requires skill and dedication because they are such a disparate group, ranging from plants native to deserts to those with a jungle heritage. Some have a limited life span, while others continue their display throughout the year.
Buying Houseplants
Choosing and buying plants for the home needs care if they are to create spectacular displays that last a long time. There are several sources of houseplants, including garden centers, plant nurseries, florists, and main-street shops. Each has advantages, but whatever the source, it is essential to inspect the plant before buying it.
Always check for signs of a healthy plant before you buy from a nursery or garden center.
10 Tips for Buying Houseplants
1 Always buy from a reputable source. A cheap purchase may prove expensive if the plant dies a few weeks later.
2 Never buy a houseplant that is displayed outside a shop; in winter, such plants become chilled, while in summer they are exposed to direct, often intense sunlight. Flowering plants suffer most from excessive cold or heat.
3 Avoid buying plants that show signs of pests and diseases. They are never a success and may infect houseplants already in your home. Check above and under leaves, as well as on flowers and stems.
4 Never buy a plant with masses of roots growing out of drainage holes in the pot’s base. This indicates that the plant has been neglected and needs repotting. Additionally, growth may have been retarded.
5 When buying flowering plants, ensure there are plenty of flower buds waiting to open. Avoid plants that are in full flower—their display will be short-lived.
6 Do not buy plants that are wilting; this indicates neglect from which the plant may not recover.
7 Check that the compost is evenly moist. Plants can wilt through excessive watering as well as from being kept dry.
8 Avoid buying plants with green mold on the compost’s surface; it indicates neglect and excessive watering.
9 Only buy clearly labeled plants, as this indicates a reputable source.
10 Do not buy large plants that are growing in very small pots, or small plants growing in very large pots. Apart from an imbalance of size and a lack of stability, large plants in small pots need frequent watering, while it is difficult to keep the moisture content of the compost of small plants in large pots even and not too wet.
This plant needs to be repotted.
Moldy compost indicates excessive watering.
The size of plants and their pots should be in balance.
Getting Your Plant Home
The first stage in ensuring a good display is to get your plant home safely. Here are some hints.
Either make buying a plant a separate occasion, or the last stop on a shopping expedition.
In winter, do not put plants in a cold car boot or trunk. Also avoid these