1 comments about Easy Orchids: The Fail-Safe Guide to Growing Orchids Indoors.

1. My mother really likes orchids and grows them. I wanted to get her an orchid book that had great photos, good recommendations and ideas, had different thing that she could look at. She loved it and raved about it!! There are a lot of orchid books but I guess I found a good one for her :)

5 comments about Growing Carnivorous Plants.

1. 
   I got this book because ever since I was a boy I have had a fascination with the Venus Fly Trap. As plentiful as they are nowadays in garden centres everywhere, they were virtually impossible to find in those days and if you did find one it was bound to be expensive. Nowadays they are usually no more expensive than any other plant.
   
   This book opened up a wonderland of carnivorous plants that I did not even know existed. The humble Venus Fly Trap or to give it it's proper name Dionaea muscipula is now bred in a range of colours from green through to red and must be the most popular of the carnivorous plants. There are lots of sundews in the America's and we even have one of our own that grows in boggy parts of moorland. The beautiful pitcher plants are also shown. The names of the plants are many and varied. Here are some of them: Monkey Cups, Butterworts, Bladderworts, Trumpet Pitchers, Cobra Lily. Fascinating names for fascinating plants.
   
   The photographs in the book are absolutely stunning and show not only plants growing in habitat but also plants grown in cultivation. There are tips on how to keep these plants successfully, for instance the Venus Fly trap does not exist solely on the insects it can eat, in fact its main source of nutrient comes from the soil in which it lives. Having said that, you fertilise these plants at our peril. I believe that the nurseries that grow these plants do fertilise them, but with very accurate minute quantities and if you tried to feed your own plant at home the chances are you would kill it, perhaps not immediately, but sooner or later it would succumb,



2. Excellent book, rich in beautiful photos, precise and direct texts, lists of organized species for likeness, cultivation tips



3. I agree that this book is an excellent general information book about carnivorous plants. The pictures are a big bonus - they are truly beautiful. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of detailed growing instructions (the book is called "Growing" Carnivorous Plants after all). Each genus gets a page of cultivation tips but I am used to Peter D'Amato's Savage Garden, in which it seems that each chapter is full of detailed and practical growing instructions specific for each species. The two books definitely complement each other, and I would certainly recommend them both to anyone interested in these amazing plants!



4. If you want to grow carnivorous plants I'd 1st get the "The Savage Garden" by Peter D'Amato, but if you want to know more about the plants, how they work, and all the species this is your book. It contains beautiful pictures and many tips on building a terraria if you want to build a REAL terrarium and even more tips on the author's website. A great book through and through, I'll never reget getting it.



5. I found it very imformative and helpful for taking care of my pet carnivorous plants.

2 comments about Greenhouse Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success (Crowood Gardening Guides).

1. Full of very useful informations. Along with this and other greenhouse books for winter gardening, I hope to grow year round.



2. Given a Greenhouse as a present, I had no idea how to run it. After a lot of searching, I found this book and it answered all my questions. It told me my greenhouse was the perfect size for a beginner, different types of heaters and the advantages and disadvantages of each heater, for the greenhouse, the temperature that should be maintained, and even how to make containers for the plantings. I would reccomend the book very highly to any one interested in having a back yard greenhouse.

5 comments about Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens.

1. Five easy gardens is what you are buying here and is exactly what you get to see. This book is suitable for anyone who wants to see how some other growers do it. Cervantes goes to Europe to interview and photograph growers. He then uses the information they give him to write a book about how they grow. Interesting.



2. 5 different gardens, from small to large, are profiled here. Many great ideas. Highly recommended.



3. I think this book is great for anybody interested in the growth process of marijuana, it is step by step and very easy to follow. For people that smoke weed and never really thought of growing their own, reading this book will deffinately show you that it is an easy way to save money by growin your own weed.



4. This book is an excellent reference guide. It gives the reader great information on the gardens mentioned. If you don't got it pick it up and add to your collection!!!



5. this book doesn't help very much. He offers no variations on the garden plans. Nearly all of the information in here is common knowledge. I do not reccomend this book.

5 comments about The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants.

1. Excellent resource manual. Specific details on the care of individual plants as well as sections pest management with recipes for non-toxic sprays for pests, potting, watering, etc. One probably does not need another resource for houseplants.



2. So many houseplant guides glut the market that it may initially seem difficult to see the need for yet another - but here's something different, offering color photos, a plant ID guide to help those who receive 'mystery houseplants' as gifts, details on low-maintenance plants, and an A-Z of care basics for quick and easy access. Brighter and more detailed than most, THE COMPLETE HOUSEPLANT SURVIVAL GUIDE helps buyers choose the plant which is perfect for environment and care demands.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. Until recently my houseplant experience was limited to two spider plants and a ficus, both of which I managed to kill in about a year. I actually credit the plants for holding on so long, since they got horrible light, no fertilizer, and a little water every other month.
   
   I recently decided to give it another go, but I was fairly nervous because I didn't know anything about how to take care of houseplants in general, let alone the special requirements of the commonly available varieties. I checked out several books before settling on this one, which is a good compromise between encyclopedic coverage of different plants and practical advice about plant care. Each of the 160+ plants in the book has at least one page of information and at least one full-color photo (sometimes more). The entry for each plant gives some basic information, specific requirements and things to watch out for, and a short troubleshooting FAQ. The book is divided into three parts, on flowering houseplants, non-flowering houseplants, and houseplant care. The final section on houseplant care goes into a lot more depth on just about every topic under the sun, including soil, light, water, fertilizer, seasons, training, propagation, leaching, repotting (and potting up, and top-dressing), and has a lot of helpful illustrations to get you through. At the end of the book there is a big list of resources, including plant clubs and sources for more in-depth information.
   
   Right now I have 17 houseplants, all chosen without benefit of this book, just because they looked nice. But they're all in here. The book is NOT comprehensive, though--160 species is a lot but it is hardly exhaustive, and your local garden center or home supply warehouse probably has plants that aren't covered here. Still, almost all the common species and varieties are in here, and it is very nice to have instructions and tips that are specific to each plant. If you have some plants that aren't in here, you might want to pair this with a more taxonomically comprehensive book, such as The House Plant Expert or one of the houseplant encyclopedias.
   
   I should add that the book is very well written, interesting, engaging, and accessible. I find myself picking it up to look up one thing and an hour later I'm still reading.
   
   Oh, and all my new plants are doing great. Mostly thanks to this book.



4. Maybe it's a good reference guide to the most common houseplants, but when I want to look up a new plant I just brought home, it's never in there. I find myself looking them up online more often than the book.



5. Good quick guide for care of many common houseplants. Easy reading but I would have liked more detail.

5 comments about Hydroponic Basics.

1. if your starting a hydroponic garden this is one book you must have. It has everything you need to know on how to start your hydroponic journey.



2. This book is very condensed. It is a small book with short concise paragraphs but is very informative. While the information it contains is very broad, it doesn't go into much depth. It even has some basic information on plant anatomy and some functions. The pictures and diagrams are very good and relate to the paragraphs with corresponding numbers which are easy to follow, just don't confuse the numbers for steps in a procedure. Overall I believe this is a great book for someone who is thinking of beginning hydroponics but I don't think it will be your one source if you're wanting to take hydroponics serious. I give it 5 stars because it lives upto its title "Hydroponic Basics" with basic being very true.



3. Book contains interesting and useful information. However, I expected a full size book (by "full size" I mean bigger than my hand) so I was disappointed to discover the book is more like a tiny glossy brochure. It lacks the detail a good manual should have. Overall, if you're looking for a good book on hydroponics, don't buy this one.



4. I found this book to be scary for a beginner. So much equipment and no real overview of the hydroponics concepts. Certainly not for 3rd World or emerging economy countries where most of these items are not available or too expensive. A nice catalogue though of equipment available.



5. This was really just a pamphlet. It had very basic information that can be obtained for free anywhere on the internet. Not worth the money.

5 comments about Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants.

1. This book has all the information that I need to successfully grow orchids.
   It is the ideal book for all orchid enthusiasts, from the beginner to the experienced orchid grower.



2. This was one of the first orchid books that I purchased when I became interest in growing orchids as a hobby. I still use it as a quick reference. I highly recommend this book if you are new to growing orchids.



3. I have several Orchid books and this is my favorite. It's a great book for the beginner, or even the amature orchid grower. The book breaks down each aspect of orchid care: lighting, humidity, watering, potting & mounting, diseases, and even reproduction. There is also a wonderful listing of common orchid genera and their care requirements. They're listed with ratings of beginner-experienced-expert for their ease of care. The pictures are absolutely stunning. The book is an easy read and I come back to it regularly for reference.



4. This book explains it all. From lighting to the different kind of Orchid. I recommend it highly to someone looking into starting their own Orchid collection or even those with years of experience with these wonderful plants. Has terrific colored illustrations as well.



5. This is a phenomenal book for any one serious about their orchids. If you want to know what orchids work for the home, either on the windowsill or under lights, what potting medium to use, what pots to use, how to pot, how to split plants, when to repot, watering, light, humidity levels (and how to get to the right humidity levels) plus why individual plants need what they need, its in here. If you want to know how to identify pests and diseases plus what to do - its in here. It has a comprehensive list of 75 orchids and their individual requirements. It includes the details a serious hobbyist needs - including simple, yet extremely important, things like having to sterilize your tools and how to do it so that we don't spread infection between plants. All this along with absolutely beautiful pictures of many, many orchids!

2 comments about Don't Throw It, Grow It!: 68 windowsill plants from kitchen scraps.

1. While it's not really a cooking book, this little gem (6 ¼" x 7 ½") is a great resource for anyone--most especially teachers--who want to introduce the world of sprouting seeds and growing them to mature plants to their students. It was originally published as The Don't Throw It, Grow It Book of Houseplants (Random House, 1977), and with the Storey Touch it comes alive. As you read through the directions for each kind of seed and how best to grow it, it's likely you will think of Lois Ehlert's Growing Vegetable Soup as a likely source of seeds to grow and a read-aloud to start with. In addition to the obvious plants a classroom could grow using the author's simple "sphagnum bag" (a zip lock bag with sphagnum moss) method there are simple, encouraging directions for more exotic challenges like mango, ginger, papaya, avocado and persimmon. Why grow just beans when you can get your kids watching sesame seeds, mustard seeds and lentils? I didn't even know peanuts could be sprouted, or that pomegranates actually would grow inside the house. Among the projects to encourage hopeful botany projects you'll find sugar cane, taro, water chestnuts and jicama. Whoda thunkit? The directions are simple and include botanical name, plant type (Annual, perennial, bush, vine, bulb, tuber) and whether it's a quick growth prospect or not, whether you can grow it from seed (almost all of them), and how much light is required. What it looks like is an important section ab out what it grows up to be, but unfortunately, the illustrations are only simple line drawings. The projects that are truly easy have a little 'easy' label. Each seed has a sidebar telling its country of origin, and a small text section on eating it or cooking with it. The introductory text tells how the authors (both New Yorkers) would prowl around ethnic food stores back in the "old days" even before even the invention of the local mega-mart, looking for exotic new possibilities in the food aisles of small groceries. The Pits (an organization of pit-growers and pit-savers of which Deborah Peterson is the founder, newsletter editor and tireless missionary mother) also known as the Rare Pit and Plant Council is acknowledged at the end of the book, which I found reassuring because they did a delightful calendar a couple of years back with detailed instructions on sprouting pits of the most exotic types, to encourage even a black-thumb like me to partake of the magic of seeds and growth. Like the book says on the cover, "It's kitchen magic!" Share that magic with your students.



2. You can't recycle organics, only paper, plastic, and glass -- or can you? "Don't Throw It, Grow It! 68 Windowsill Plants from Kitchen Scraps" is a novel but effective guide to turning ordinary household organic garbage into a thriving personal garden. "Don't Throw It, Grow It!" promotes the ability to take the remains of countless vegetables and nuts such as almonds, celery, kiwis, squash, and others, plant them, and grow them once more into food. The veggies can then be consumed again, repeating the cycle anew. A conservationist's manual of efficiency, "Don't Throw It, Grow It!" is highly recommended for community library gardening collections.

5 comments about How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office.

1. Very clear and concise book that is also interesting to read and nice close-up pictures so you know you are buying the right plant. If you are concerned about your indoor environ and want cleaner air in your home, this should be your bible for choosing your indoor plants. With our dry Arizona indoor air, it's nice to know which plants transpire the most so we don't always have to run our humidifiers.



2. i highly recommend this book. it is easy to understand. the pictures are great and all of the plants are available at your local nursery.



3. When I first read the book I kept wanting more. More plants, more info on each plant - then I had to remind myself the title and objective of the book was to highlight 50 plants and it only has 144 pages. Well worth $12.24.
   
   The pictures are amazing and the information on each plants needs such as water, light, and feeding allowed me to choose which would be suitable for my home.



4. This is a clever book. It is well thought out. It has clear explanations of the plants chosen and where and how they can be grown indoors. I like the variety. Fifty plants is not an overly cumbersome number so it is a manageable read. If someone has allergies some of these plants or their fragrance may be problematic. Matt Cohen MD



5. Not many products both clean the air and are beautiful. How to Grow Fresh Air explains how houseplants do just that. Beautiful book, well written with plenty of information, this book is wonderful.

5 comments about Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace.

1. Actually the title says it all. I wish I had time to read lots of books
   about greenhouse gardening but I don't. An experienced gardener, I'm new to greenhouse gardening and struck gold when I bought this book. It isn't dumbed down and is fast and fun to read.
   
   The book doesn't begin at square one but does explain the important differences between gardening in an outside
   garden and a greenhouse. One example; the reason fans are needed during the day (while photo synthesis is taking place) is to prevent a CO2 deficient envelope from surrounding the leaves. Also, explaination of
   how to pollinate in an environment with no birds or insects is helpful.
   Varieties of vegetables and flowers are discussed and why certain ones are
   better suited. Trouble shooting and "when things go wrong" chapters are
   good. Also, I learned more than I thought was possible about light and the different qualities of light plants need. Again, advice on when a
   less expensive alternative will work was very welcome.
   
   
   I'm so happy I bought this book BEFORE our greenhouse is complete because
   the chapters on design and environment have given me a master plan for the space we have. Also, throughout the book are money saving ideas and
   words of warning from experience. This author knows his subject inside out, is very good at communicating and doesn't use 100 words when 50 will do. Buy the book-you won't be disappointed!



2. I am pouring over this reference. Mr. Smith is not only informative about all things greenhouse, he also provides insight into all aspects of gardening from composting and propagating to seed starting techniques. Further, the book contains 'cheat sheets' as to when to start seeds, transplant, and how best to condition the greenhouse atmosphere. Great sense of humor. A+



3. While this book is useful, I found it a little to general. I expected more detailed guidelines. Also, not as many illustrations and diagrams as I would like.



4. This book is a weath of information - well written and a joy to read. I have visited the solar greenhouse at the Cheyenne WY Botanic Gardens. It was great to see the information from the book in actual use. Now if only I had a greenhouse!



5. I just purchased my first greenhouse and wanted a good reference book. This is it! An excellent resource which is easy to read and use. Love it!