Terrain: The Houseplant Book
An Insider's Guide to Cultivating and Collecting the Most Sought-After Specimens
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
“An informative and inspiring guide to collecting and growing plants at home.”
—Gardenista
“This book is a must-have!”
—Hilton Carter, author of Wild at Home, Wild Interiors, and Wild Creations
Secrets of the Houseplant Hunters
Terrain’s plant experts travel the world in search of the most unusual and interesting houseplants. In this inspiring and practical guide, they share their favorite specimens: exotic and eclectic ferns, like the skeleton fork, a primitive (and unfussy) predecessor to the family; new aroids to feed that monstera obsession; and adventurous trailing plants like dischidia, which is found cascading from tree branches in its native Thailand; plus succulents and cacti, indoor trees, the best low-care plants, and “rule breakers” like bamboo muhly grass that can make an unexpected move indoors.
Along the way, Terrain introduces their favorite independent growers—passionate plant lovers who are creating new hybrids and bringing back old-school specimens to the market. And readers learn Terrain’s way of styling and overarching philosophy on care: the most important thing we can give our plants is our presence.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lowrie, merchandise manager for the garden brand Terrain, joins with the company's "plant team" for this comprehensive guide to houseplants. After covering plant care 101, Lowrie shares tips for repotting (which "not all plants appreciate or recover quickly from"), propagation, and dealing with diseases. Then come plant profiles, which are broken into nine sections, among them "pop art," which features colorful, patterned plants such as calathea and cane begonia; "small wonders" including African violets and false shamrock; "unfussy friends" like pothos and snake plants; and viney succulent "ramblers." Each profile includes notes for watering, light, and soil; especially helpful are the shopping notes: for monstera, one should "buy a more established plant to get the iconic leaf shape right away," while oxalis "will never grow more than a few inches higher than its container," so it's best to "buy close to the size you want to display." Lowrie covers all the bases, and delivers a survey that's encyclopedic but not overwhelming: "the most important thing you can give your plants," she writes, "is your presence." Seasoned and new plant collectors alike will find this worth returning to.
