1 comments about Gardening Indoors: The Indoor Gardener's Bible.

1. Since this is my first review, I will try and keep it simple and short.
   I have a variety of books about gardeing and farming for both in and outdoors. Gardening Indoors takes what all of them have together and puts it in one book. Do not get me wrong, I have read, and I am sure others have too, books that are as good as this book, but I personally think this guy hits the nail on the head here.
   With chapters covering everything from water to soil to all stages of plant growth and all sorts of pests you will deal with, you have a easy to read, and informative guide for getting yourself a nice garden growing. If you can read, you can read this book and understand it, its that easy.
   I've already recommended this book to others by word of mouth, and now you know!

5 comments about Four-Season Harvest: How to Harvest Fresh Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long.

1. Very complete and clear on growing in the winter. Focuses more on northern climates, but still great for us in the south.



2. This book is really better for those places that have four seasons. Not all of the book is applicable to our warmer California winter climate.



3. This was a great book for people like us who would like to be self-sufficient even in a northern growing zone. I learned a lot and I'm sure I will refer to it often.



4. An interesting and different look at gardening. I plan to test the information I picked up this winter. I didn't really care too much about the travel log, but it did help explain the thought process. Well worth a read.



5. This seems like a very helpful book. We all need to learn to grow year round.

2 comments about Gardening Indoors with Cuttings (Gardening Indoors).

1. The book contains about 88 pages divided into five sections. The sections are Environment, Nutrients, Rooting Medium, Hormones, and Cuttings. The book contains several hand sketches.

   The book is well written and covers many fundamentals about growing plants indoor. Also, it's original information. This book is not just a re-write from Van Patten's other book, "Gardening Indoors with HID Lights". It is completely different information. All new writing.

   This is a solid beginner's guide. Although, the book does make the process sound way too simple. In my first attempt, all my cuttings died. Yes - I did follow the instructions. But it's not as simple as it first looks. It takes several attempts to get good at propagating plants.

   I wish the book had a troubleshooting section. Answering questions like, "why are my little plants turning yellow?"
   It's a small book, but packed with information. A good value.




2. cutting that yellow have too many leaves, and is trying to suck more nitrogen then it has available.

5 comments about Marijuana Grower's Insider's Guide.

1. The book is an excellent read for anyone who smokes marijuana, whether or not you're interested in growing it. The first two chapters provides an excellent history or Cannabis Sativa as well as a detailed account of the U.S. Government's attempts to undermine the drug. The rest of the book provides simple yet scientifically accurate information that is crucial for anyone looking to grow pot.

   It is an excellent book.




2. My uncle used to keep this old grow book in his drawer. This is the oldest of the modern grow guides if my memory serves me correct. I have read a few editions of this since. Not a bad grow manual but a little bit on the old side now.



3. This is one of the finest books I've read on the subject of Cannabis growing. It may be a bit outdated, but man has been cultivating cannabis for 8,000 years, and it's still grown the same way, only with a little technology applied. I've been reading this book & "Marijuana Grower's Insiders's Guide" also by Mel Franks, and between the two books, you won't a more knowledgeble person on the subject of Cannabis growing.



4. "Oldtimer" needs to chill. I am an actual adult, (41 years old, voting in elections and payng taxes.) I have used this book for years, and own other books by Mel Frank; I was recently given a new book my Mel Frank, illustrated by Linda kallan. Mel Frank works for me. He is clear and concise, he is the first word on the subject and is liberally quoted (and ripped off) in almost every other book on marijuana growing. I recommend Mel Frank to anyone interrested in the indoor growng of just about anything. My brother agrees.



5. My brother, a botanist at a large research institution, gave me Mel Frank's book for my birthday. We call it The Bible. It is the first book and still the best book on the subject. It is clear, the pictures are great, follow the directions and you'll grow whatever you want. So far the weed is flourishing, nothing has exploded or turned to toxic sludge. Its way easier than cooking.

4 comments about House Plants (RD Home Handbook Series).

1. This book is an essential guide, just as the title says, for anyone interested in caring for house plants. Good photographs along with excellent tips make this a good starter before buying a plant. I found it particularly useful that it recommended plants according to my own lifestyle, location, as well as advice on what to look for when buying a houseplant.



2. This is an great book for beginners plus it's cute and small and easy to read (this book would be especially appropriate for teenagers and older children). Chapters include: "Choosing Houseplants" including how to match plants to the growing conditions in your home and how to grow bulbs indoors; "Light and Humidity;" "Watering Know-How;" "Feeding Your Plants;" "Pots and Potting On;' "Pruning and Training;" "Propagating Houseplants;" "Tackling Pests and Diseases;" "Favorite Houseplants;" and "Display & Arrangement." The "Favorite Houseplants" chapter includes descriptions and growing requirements for 20 easy-to-grow plants including English Ivy, Philodendrons, Rubber Plants, Boston Ferns, African Violets, Cyclamens, Hyacinths, Poinsettias and Geraniums, etc. "Display & Arrangement" has instructions for container plants, hanging baskets and terrariums. The only reservation I have about this book is that some of the symbols used to designate humidity and amount to water are a bit confusing; in particular, I had a little trouble telling the difference between the medium drop ("water moderately") and the small drop ("water sparingly").



3. I keep this book right next to my watering can and refer to it for helpful hints every time one of my plant leaves turn yellow, or brown or another problem turns up.

   It covers lots of information in few words. The illustrations are quite helpful. Love it, and wouldn't do without it




4. The content of the book was helpful. Would recommend to anyone that is interested in house plants.

5 comments about Tropical Plants for Home and Garden.

1. Neither a good specimen guide nor glamorous coffee table showpiece, this nonetheless fills a gap in my growing library of tropical gardening books. It could be a nice introduction to tropical plants, but anyone who wants to actually garden with tropical specimens would be better served by other books, perhaps best of all, Gardening in the Tropics, ISBN: 0881923095 .

   As one reviewer points out, there are several silly mistakes. It is telling that the publisher is known for style & design books. It needed an editor with a little more botanical savvy.

   The format is clear and attractive, with huge photos and a little, nicely written text for each. The content is somewhat inconsistent. While many photographs are clear and nicely illustrative of the whole plant, some specimens are photographed in a massive mixed border some distance away. Identification, therefore, can be very frustrating. For every delight (there are, indeed, many gorgeous photos), there is a disappointment.

   Nomenclature seemed inconsistent, and local names (Indonesia, Malaysia, etc) could have been supplied by these contributors who spend much of their time in southeast Asia.

   There is no practical advice for a gardener (beyond the occasional note about something tolerating dry conditions or some such), but book doesn't pretend to be a guide book.




2. It's quite a simple formula: if you're looking to include tropical plants into your home or garden, you can't be without this book. Gorgeous color photos by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni pack a display of equally gorgeous plants accompanied by details on growing needs, propagation, cultivars, and use in home or garden environments. From ferns and succulents to gingers and bananas, a wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses to stock.
   
   Diane C. Donovan, Editor
   California Bookwatch



3. Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren is a beautifully done coffee table/reference book on many of the more commonly grown plants in the tropics. The paperback version is my second copy--having purchased the hardback edition a year ago. There is not a lot of cultural information given on the plants--it is a book devoted to plants, not a book on tropical gardening. Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's photographs, however, are vivid and very helpful in identification of the species. I am a writer of garden books, as well as the executive director of a tropical botanical garden, so I am very familiar with the plants in this book. I would recommend "Tropical Plants for Home and Garden" to anyone who gardens in Zones 10-11. Even those who live "up north" would enjoy it as a "tropical getaway".
   
   No one book is perfect, but we have many of William Warren's books on tropical plants/gardens in our reference library, and I have found all of them to be well written and to the point.



4. Great asset for my son who is a gardener!



5. Really a nice quality book. It's difficult to find books that provide good, clear photos. Wonderful coverage for its size. A real pleasure to just browse through and an excellent tool for identification. Shows not just the common plants but a few of the less known.

3 comments about Indoor Bonsai: A Beginner's Step-By-Step Guide (Crowood Gardening Guides).

1. "Forming the shape of a bonsai can be a very individual subject and therefore it is very difficult for me to convey my ideas to you."

   While the author is undoubtedly a talented bonsai gardener, and may well be a good teacher 'at the elbow', his informal jargon may leave the reader puzzled, and his concept of 'dimensional drawings' for tree planning is still unclear, despite numerous example drawings.




2. Photos are uninspiring, if not misleading. All the trees pictured resemble twigs thrown between undefined rocks with no thought to shape, movement, intent or design.

   Content wise, misdirection and vagueness are the only quality offered. The reader will learn very little, and what they may learn isn't correct.

   You will find much better, thorough, and true information online visiting Bonsai Forums.

   Walk away from the monitor. Do NOT buy this book.




3. I expected much more out of this book. I bought '101 Essential Tips: Bonsai' at Border's for $5 and got much more pertinent information for my Juniper.

1 comments about The Pocket House Plant Expert.

1. This is a fine book, easy for reference and packed with information on everything needed for growing and propagating

No comments about Complete Houseplants: Featuring over 200 Easy-Care Favorites.

No comments about Complete Guide to Houseplants (Miracle Gro).