The Green Dumb Guide to Houseplants: 45 Unfussy Plants That Are Easy to Grow and Hard to Kill

Description

For those who want to take care of houseplants but can hardly take care of themselves, The Green Dumb Guide to Houseplants is the perfect handbook for even the most greenery-inept individual.   We all love the idea of houseplants, and maybe you've stood by helplessly as a cactus went all slimy or you've endured the perpetual indoor autumn of an unhappy Ficus. Good news—all of the plants in this book have two things in common: They're easy to find and hard to kill. The benefits of plant ownership are legion. Studies indicate just being around plants creates a relaxing effect on people. And plants make great roommates—no Peace Lily will ever criticize you for quitting your workout video to go finish a box of Triscuits.   Does your bedroom have a mattress on the floor and Christmas lights taped to the wall? Put a Money Tree in the corner. Instant upgrade! Are you a corporate lackey trapped under fluorescent lights and a drop-tile ceiling? A colorful Calathea or a chunky little Aloe could help restore your will to live. The Green Dumb Guide to Houseplants is full of useful advice, crucial dos and don'ts, and realistic inspiration for all budgets and attention spans—ensuring success to even the most risk-averse, commitment-phobic indoor gardeners. THE EASIEST POSSIBLE GUIDE TO LEARNING THE BASICS OF PLANT CARE: No skills needed, except knowing how to read this book. FORTY-FIVE HOUSEPLANT PROFILES: EACH ONE EASY TO FIND AND HARD TO KILL: Divided into difficulty sections ranging from "Practically Plastic," "Chill," "Fussy," or "Master Gardener" (only one of those!), this handy houseplant book ensures you choose the right plant for your level of commitment. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, A BONUS SECTION ON HOW TO CHOOSE PLASTIC PLANTS: Shade doesn't only come from plants! Take your absolutely true advice with a healthy dose of humor. Perfect for: Everyone who has ever tried and failed to grow houseplants DIY decorators Anyone starting out in a new home or apartment A great gift for grads, newlyweds, and hosts or hostesses (along with a plant, of course) Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Why Bother? The Unavoidable Basics Water Light Containers Soil Repotting Toxicity and Safety Bug Basics Common Houseplant Pests Scale and Mealybugs Aphids Spider Mites Pest Prevention Troubleshooting and Treatment Nutrition and Disease Basics What Is Fertilizer? Types of Fertilizers When and How to Fertilize Concerning Colors So You Want More Plants? Easy Propagation Techniques Seeds Cuttings Division Offsets Shopping beyond the Garden Center In Defense of Fake Plants Benefits of Fake Plants How to Select and Display a Good Fake Plant How to Care for Fake Plants Plant Profiles Difficulty Levels Practically Plastic Houseplants Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema spp.) Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) Peace Lilies (Spathiphylum spp.) Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata and Dracaena angolensis) Spineless Yucca (Yucca elephantipes) ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) Chill Houseplants Aloe (Aloe vera) Asparagus Ferns (Asparagus setaceus and Asparagus densiflorus) Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Cilantro and Parsley (Coriandrum sativum and Petroselinum crispum) Dumb Canes (Dieffenbachia spp.) Flamingo Flowers (Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum) Flapjacks and Paddle Plants (Kalanchoe spp.) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Haworthias (Haworthia spp. and Haworthiopsis spp.) Hedgehog Cacti (Echinocereus spp.) Hens and Chicks (Echeveria spp. and Sempervivum spp.) Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) Miniature Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) Philodendrons (Philodendron spp. and Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum) Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Umbrella Trees (Schefflera actinophylla and Schefflera arboricola) Fussy Houseplants Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.) Avocado Tree (Persea americana) Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) Citrus Trees (Citrus spp.) Corn Plant and Dragon Tree (Dracaena fragrans and Dracaena marginata) Donkey Tail (Sedum morganianum) Elephant Ears and Taro (Alocasia spp. and Colocasia esculenta) Holiday Cacti (Schlumbergera spp.) Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) Prayer Plants (Calathea spp. and Maranta spp.) Rubber Fig (Ficus elastica) Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) Strangling Fig (Ficus microcarpa) String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus) Master Gardener Houseplant Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) Glossary Bibliography About the Author