Houseplants are often a spontaneous purchase at the garden center, big box, or grocery store. It’s hard to resist a lush palm, flowering orchid, or fragrant gardenia. Houseplants are certainly a quick way to brighten up the interior of your house, but once you get them home, they may suffer due to pests and improper lighting, humidity, and watering. What’s needed is a friendly, easy-to-read, how-to resource to help you successfully care for your plants. A book just like The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual (Storey Publishing, 2005; $24.95), by Barbara Pleasant.

This beautifully designed book takes the mystery out of growing houseplants. It features growing information for 160 common houseplants, with many color photos and illustrations. For each houseplant there’s a helpful troubleshooting guide to walk you through common problems that may arise. The care information is quickly accessible for each plant, making it a manual you’ll want to keep handy. Pleasant also has an extensive chapter on general houseplant care that includes information on plant propagation, types of indoor lighting, container options, and pest control techniques.

For more information on The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual, go to: Storey Publishing.