Houseplants For Dummies

"Indoor gardening comes alive under the user–friendly guidance of Houseplants For Dummies." — Matthew Gardener, President, California Interior Plantscape Association Hundreds of houseplant profiles help you pick the right plants Turn your home into a "green" house Make any and every room healthier and more attractive with houseplants! In this indispensable indoor gardener’s companion, you’ll get the dirt on selecting healthy plants and keeping them lush – even if you’re convinced you have a black thumb! This guide is just what you need to transform your home into a leafy green paradise. The Dummies Way Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear–out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun Discover how to: Select plants that are best for you Choose pots and potting soil Give plants the right amount of water and light Fertilize plants and protect them from pests Get plants to propagate

Introduction. PART I: The Root of the Matter: Houseplant Basics. Chapter 1: A Houseplant Primer (Or What Makes a Plant a Houseplant). Chapter 2: Analyzing Your Growth Potential. Chapter 3: A Guide for the Smart Houseplant Shopper. PART II: Houseplant Profiles from A to Z. Chapter 4: (Usually) Green, Leafy, and Built for Beginners: Foliage Plants. Chapter 5: For the Budding Indoor Gardener: Flowering Houseplants. Chapter 6: In the Thick of Things: Cacti and Other Succulents. Chapter 7: A Touch of the Exotic: Specialty Plants. PART III: Growing Essentials. Chapter 8: Lighting Up Your Plant′s Life. Chapter 9: Water, Water Everywhere. Chapter 10: Something in the Air: Humidity and Circulation. Chapter 11: Do Not Feed the Plants: The Rules of Fertilizing. Chapter 12: The Heat Is On: Temperature and Growing Cycles. Chapter 13: The Real Dirt on Mixes and Potting. PART IV: Potted Plant Maintenance. Chapter 14: Preparing Plants for the Domestic Life. Chapter 15: Cleaning, Pruning, and Staking. Chapter 16: Multiplication and Division: Propagating Houseplants. Chapter 17: Conquering Houseplant Pests and Diseases. PART V: Houseplant Settings. Chapter 18: Grow Pots, Cachepots, and Terrariums. Chapter 19: Plant Displays for Every Room in the House. Chapter 20: The Greenhouse Effect: Building Your Own Controlled Climate. PART VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Water Your Plants When You′re Not at Home. Chapter 22: Dispelling Ten Common Myths about Houseplants. Appendix A: Key to Plant Profile Descriptions. Appendix B: Sources for Houseplants and Indoor Gardening Supplies. Index. Book Registration Information.

Larry Hodgson lectures widely, writes for many gardening magazines, and is the author or coauthor of over fifteen gardening books. The National Gardening Association is America’s largest nonprofit gardening organization.