There are so many books on houseplants out there, and not all of them are created equal. Throughout the years, I’ve browsed through many of them, choosing 6 favorites to share with you.
These books cover topics such as:
- There are a variety of specific plants that require general houseplant care.
- Plant propagation
- How to troubleshoot your houseplants
The following are a few of the best books available on caring for houseplants.
1. The House Plant Expert
The book is old, but is one of the best books on house plants ever written!
House Plant Expert by Dr. D.G. Hessayon is a classic. This book not only provides a look at numerous houseplants, common and uncommon, but it will also show you how troubleshoot issues with your plants.
There are numerous diagrams and photos used as illustrations in the book.
There is a lot of info about common problems common to many types of houseplants in this book that I really appreciate. When your plant has problems, you can use this guide to find out what to look for and the best way to fix it.
It is one of the go-to books for troubleshooting plant problems, but it also covers a wide variety of houseplants, which makes it a great book if you’re looking to expand your houseplant collection!
2. The American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation
There is a gold standard for propagating a huge variety of plants in the American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation book. There are a variety of plants available, whether they are indoor houseplants, outdoor annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
If you are wondering how to propagate ANYTHING, this book is for you! It has dozens of beautiful illustration and step-by-step instructions on a multitude of propagation methods.
This book goes into detail on some of the best propagation techniques, supplies you need, and even some common problems as they relate to propagation.
The book offers a wealth of information whether you’re looking for tips on seed sowing, cuttings, air layering, dividing or even grafting plants.
These excellent reference guides cover practically every propagation technique imaginable. The book contains chapters that cover propagation techniques as well as sections on specific plants.
Looking for a plant propagation bible? Look no further than The American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation book!
3. Success With Succulents
These days, succulents are all the rage. The wide variety of succulents to choose from, along with their ease of culture and propagation, makes them a pleasure to grow and share with others!
On the other hand, there are many myths and misleading information online about succulent care.
You will find solid information on growing succulents at Success With Succulents.
A captivating aspect of this book is that it describes what succulents are and how they differ from cacti. Additionally, 100 species of cacti and succulents can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
This is a huge topic of confusion, and reading this book will give the reader valuable insight into how to properly water succulent plants.
Look no further for a comprehensive guide to succulent care. Success With Succulents also discusses pest problems and propagation methods.
4. House Plants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants
Many houseplant books seem antiquated and offer too much generic information to be useful. Check out House Plants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf for a modern and practical guide on houseplants.
The book has many reasons to appeal to me. This book provides in-depth insight on a range of basic topics for the beginning houseplant grower, including watering, fertilizing, grooming of plants, propagation, troubleshooting, and a wide variety of houseplants.
The book House Plants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants categorizes houseplant varieties into those that are easy to grow, those that are moderately easy to grow, and those that require a lot of care.
Growing a houseplant has never been easier, especially for the beginner.
5. Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias
There’s a huge craze right now for air plants, the Tilandsia genus. These unusual plants can be very versatile due to the unique way in which they grow, and allow for a wide variety of creative ways to display them indoors.
An air plant book with a whole bunch of information about both air plant care and creative methods to display your air plants, Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias is a great place to start.
It’s such a wonderful book and there’s so much helpful information on growing air plants in here. It describes Tillandsias in great detail, including their natural habitat, as well as their watering, fertilizing, and temperature requirements.
There is a section on decorating with Tillandsias in this book that is especially delightful. Because these plants do not grow in soil, you have lots of creative freedom in how you arrange them!
If you’re an air plant fanatic, you won’t want to miss Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias.
6. Learn Moth Orchid Mastery: How to Grow Moth Orchids in One Hour
Finally, I am pleased to present a book I wrote about Phalaenopsis, commonly called moth orchids. There is currently an e-book version available on Amazon and a paperback version is in the works.
In my experience, growing Phalaenopsis orchids has provided me with extensive knowledge on how to care for these beautiful plants.
Phalaenopsis, or the moth orchid, is sometimes called the “throwaway” plant after it stops blooming. That’s a shame because once you get a handle on the basics, they’re fascinating to learn!
Essential Houseplant Mastery: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing and Propagating the 12 Easiest Houseplants
I have received an enthusiastic response from many people concerning this book, so take a look at it. You will certainly NOT regret it!
I speak from personal experience of owning all the houseplants in Essential Houseplant Mastery. Many houseplant books do not include or explain very valuable information such as this.
My book breaks everything down into its simplest form so that everyone can understand it. For the following plants, I share my experiences, tips on care and propagation:
- Pothos
- Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
- Monstera deliciosa
- ZZ Plant
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
- Parlor Palm
- Cast Iron Plant
- Peace Lily
- Christmas Cactus
- Lucky Bamboo
- Air Plants (Tillandsia)
- African Violet
Comment below if there are any other houseplant books you enjoy!
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