Plant Books

Author: Caro Langton and Rose Ray of Ro Co.

Blurb: Life with a potted plant is undeniably better.  Better yet is the ability to multiply and share new houseplants without ever having to visit a garden centre again.

Root Nurture Grow shows you how to take cuttings, cultivate runners and offsets, divide plants at the roots and even grow brand new root systems in the air.  You'll discover propagating methods to suit every houseplant, organic rooting compost recipes, clever pruning methods, and practical projects to help you better nurture and display your expanding plant family.

Review: This is a relatively new book for me and it has quickly become a favourite.  It focuses on the various propagation techniques, not the plants as so many other books do.  It then has a comprehensive list of plants and the best method to use for each.  We love the importance of recycling reflected in this book too!

Tip: Keep those old jars and use them for propagation.  A line of glassware filled with cuttings along a windowsill is just divine.

Author: Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

Jane Perrone from On the Ledge interviewed the author of this book, Lisa Steinkopf, after the release of another of her books, Grow in the Dark (which we don't yet own - but I'd love to get a hold of!).  Check out On the Ledge Podcast Episode 99: Houseplants for Low Light.

Blurb: As beautiful as houseplants are when you bring them home, everyone knows how quickly they can turn from lush and green to frail and sickly.  In Houseplants, the new indoor plant primer from expert grower Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, you will learn how to make your home into a verdant retreat by: Making smart selections, Savvy siting, Taking care and Becoming an educated owner.

Review: This is a great book and I love the practical aspects of Lisa's grooming tips like giving your plants a shower a few times a year and pruning browned tips of leaves to the shape of a healthy leaf.  Both of which we do!

The plant profiles selected, of which there are more than 125, are of a good cross section for general gardeners and actually introduced me to some common plant names that I hadn't heard of.  The best bit though is that they are arranged into three categories: Easy to grow, Moderately easy to grow and Challenging to grow; each with their own visual index to a page.  So anyone can get a list of suggested plants perfect for their care preferences to get their plant collection going.

Tip: Prune browned tips of leaves to the shape of a healthy leaf and your plant will not only look better but you can keep an eye on any further damage or changes more easily.