Contents

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Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-how for Keeping (Not Killing) More than 160 Indoor Plants

The House Plant Expert (Expert Garden Series)

House Plants

Small Garden

New Complete Home Landscaping

Ready, set, grow.

Not everyone is born with a green thumb. But with time and patience, anyone can cultivate a talent for nurturing healthy, hearty houseplants. Bring the outdoors inside by learning to:

Choose a plant that suits you and your home
Provide the proper light, moisture, and temperature conditions for your plant
Prevent and eradicate common houseplant diseases and pests

Houseplant Basics

A houseplant is any of the hundreds of plant varieties that, with proper care, can grow and thrive indoors.

The Three Types of Houseplants

All houseplants break down into three main types:

Flowering: Plants prized for their flowers. The flowers may bloom for days or months, depending on the species. Examples include orchids and irises (for more, see Flowering Plants in the Houseplants Directory).
Succulent: Plants that originate from dry climates and therefore have thick leaves used to store water. Examples include aloe and cacti (for more, see Succulents in the Houseplants Directory).
Foliage: Plants marked by attractive leaves (but no flowers). Foliage plants also tend to be long-lived. Examples include ferns and ivy (for more, see Foliage Plants in the Houseplants Directory).

What Houseplants Need to Grow

All houseplants require specific growing conditions to survive and flourish. The most important factors in growing healthy houseplants are light, water, fertilizer, temperature, humidity, and air circulation.

Each type of plant has its own specific needs, though plants from each of the main houseplant groups (flowering, foliage, and succulent) tend to be similar in their requirements. The key to growing healthy houseplants is to know what each of your plants requires. The Houseplants Directory will help familiarize you with your plants’ basic needs.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer