[.ca] The Houseplant Encyclopedia (ISBN 1554071402)

Good, but not GREAT!!:
Although the book is comprehensive and has many tips on house plants, I only found 3 out of 25 plants in my house in this book. The photo section of this book is lovely, but it is titled "The most beautiful plants from A to Z" and does nothing for people like me with mostly all green house plants. Most of these plants they reference are blooming and floral. Make sure you know what you're looking for before you purchase this book!!

Excellent--"plain speak" good advice:
I have a huge assortment of plant/gardening books, and often do alot of cross-referencing w/my hobby. This book is one of the first that I always pick up. It's "plain speak" approach (i.e. author will say, "I have always found..." etc.) is just terrific; I often find myself wondering how "Ingrid can help me with this?!" The tips are a wonderful "sidebar" feature, both highly informative, and just interesting! The descriptions the author provides of each plant is a true DESCRIPTION....detailed, and geared to educate the reader. They're not just a bullet-point listing of a few of the essentials on the plant, with questions left unanswered. I went to my library over and over again, consulting this book on a number of plants questions and issues, until finally, I got my own precious copy!! 100% worth the investment of time and money for your gardening needs, both indoors and (gosh, what a bonus!) outdoors as well.

Very comprehensive!!:
This is a wonderful book. Having only recently discovered the joys of houseplants, I was looking for a thorough and comprehensive book that would help me identify my plants, and properly take care of them. This book does both and more. There is a section devoted to the conditions and care required for a wide range of houseplant species, plus great sections on diseases, pests, and common mistakes. After each in depth section is an "at a glance section" for quick reference. Another very important and often overlooked feature is that it has a list of poisonous plants, so that we can make sure we place plants that can be dangerous out of reach of our pets and children (or better yet, avoid buying them all together). I am also a big fan of its construction. Sturdy hard cover binding and glossy pages make it easy to wipe off all of the potting soil that gets dropped on it. :-) Great book! Worthy investment!

Pet Owners Need This Book:
The one indispensible item this book provides that I have not found elsewhere, is a listing of which plants are poinsonous to pets and people, and which are not. I always review this book when I am considering bringing a new plant into my house. If it says they're not poisonous to my pets, I bring it on home. If it is poisonous, I avoid it. I have not found as comprehensive a list any place else.

Love It:
I just love this book it tells you all you need to know