How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Read online

  HOW NOT TO

  KILL YOUR

  HOUSEPLANT

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  HOW NOT TO

  KILL YOUR

  HOUSEPLANT

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  Editor Toby Mann

  First published in

  Great Britain in 2017 by

  Senior Art Editor Alison Gardner

  Dorling Kindersley Limited,

  Designers Rehan Abdul, Karen Constanti 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL

  Editorial assistance

  Copyright © 2017

  Alice Horne, Tia Sarkar

  Dorling Kindersley Limited

  Jacket Designer Steven Marsden

  A Penguin Random House Company

  Jacket Co-ordinator Laura Bithell

  2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

  001–305974–Mar/17

  Pre-production Producer Robert Dunn

  All rights reserved.

  Print Producer Ché Creasey

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, Creative Technical Support

  or transmitted, in any form, or by any means

  Sonia Charbonnier

  (electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

  recording, or otherwise) without the prior

  Managing Editor Dawn Henderson

  written permission of the copyright owners.

  Managing Art Editor

  A CIP catalogue record for this book

  Marianne Markham

  is available from the British Library.

  Art Director Maxine Pedliham

  ISBN: 978-0-2413-0217-0

  Publishing Director Mary-Clare Jerram Printed and bound in China

  A WORLD OF IDEAS:

  SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW

  Illustrations Debbie Maizels

  www.dk.com

  Photography Will Heap

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  HOW NOT TO

  KILL YOUR

  HOUSEPLANT

  Survival tips

  for the

  HORTICULTURALLY

  CHALLENGED

  Veronica Peerless

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  CONTENTS

  FIND

  Find your plant

  4

  YOUR

  PLANT

  THE BASICS

  12

  URN PLANT

  Aechmea fasciata

  pp.34–35

  Buy it

  14

  Pot it & place it

  16

  Water it 18

  Feed it & love it 20

  Repot it

  22

  Plant pests

  24

  Plant diseases

  28

  MAIDENHAIR FERN

  FLAMING SWORD

  Adiantum raddianum

  Vriesea splendens

  pp.32–33

  p.35

  THE HOUSEPLANTS

  30

  With specific care details for 119 different plants, this section provides all the

  information you need to treasure your

  houseplant and troubleshoot any problems.

  Top 5 plants for:

  CRETAN BRAKE FERN

  GUZMANIA

  Your desk pp.46–47 • Sunny spots pp.66–67

  Pteris cretica

  Guzmania lingulata

  p.33

  p.35

  • Your bathroom pp.86–87 • Low light

  pp.106–107 • Your living room pp.126–127

  Index

  142

  Author & acknowledgments

  144

  Toxicity

  144

  HARE'S FOOT FERN

  ELEPHANT’S EAR

  Davillia canariensis

  Alocasia x amazonica

  p.33

  pp.36–37

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  ALOE VERA

  EMERALD FERN

  ELIATOR HYBRIDS

  BLUSHING BROMELIAD

  Aloe vera

  Asparagus densiflorus

  Begonia Eliator Group

  Neoregelia carolinae

  pp.38–39

  Sprengeri Group

  p.45

  f. tricolor

  pp.42–43

  p.49

  AGAVE

  ASPARAGUS FERN

  TUBEROUS BEGONIAS

  PEACOCK PLANT

  Agave

  Asparagus setaceus

  Begonia spp.

  Calathea

  p.39

  p.43

  p.45

  pp.50–51

  HAWORTHIA

  SHAMROCK PLANT

  QUEEN’S TEARS

  PRAYER PLANT

  Haworthia

  Oxalis triangularis

  Billbergia nutans

  Maranta

  p.39

  p.43

  pp.48–49

  p.51

  FLAMINGO FLOWER

  PAINTED-LEAF BEGONIA

  PINK QUILL

  STROMANTHE

  Anthurium

  Begonia rex

  Tillandsia cyanea

  Stromanthe

  pp.40–41

  pp.44–45

  p.49

  p.51

  continued

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  SPIDER PLANT

  MINIATURE ROSES

  STRING OF BEADS

  DUMB CANE

  Chlorophytum comosum

  Rosa

  Senecio rowleyanus

  Dieffenbachia

  pp.52–53

  p.55

  p.59

  pp.62–63

  POTHOS

  PRIMROSE

  HEARTS ON A STRING

  HEART-LEAF

  Epipremnum

  Primula vulgaris

  Ceropegia woodii

  PHILODENDRON

  p.53

  p.55

  p.59

  Philodendron scandens

  p.63

  ARROWHEAD PLANT

  NATAL LILY

  FLORISTS’ CYCLAMEN

  BLUSHING

  Syngonium podophyllum

  Clivia miniata

  Cyclamen persicum

  PHILODENDRON

  p.53

  pp.56–57

  pp.60–61

  Philodendron erubescens

  p.63

  POT MUM

  MONEY PLANT

  INDIAN AZALEA

  VENUS FLY TRAP

  Chrysanthemum

  Crassula ovata

  Rhododendron simsii

  Dionaea muscipula

  pp.54–55

  pp.58–59

  p.61

  pp.64–65

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  PITCHER PLANT

  SONG OF INDIA

  TIGER JAWS

  RUBBER PLANT

  Sarracenia

  Dracaena reflexa

  Faucaria

  Ficus elastica

  p.65

  p.69

  p.73

  p.77

  MONKEY CUPS

  LUCKY BAMBOO

  POINSETTIA

  NERVE PLANT

  Nepenthes

  Dracaena sanderiana

  Euphorbia pulcherrima

  Fittonia

  p.65

  pp.70–71

  pp.74–75

/>   pp.78–79

  DRAGON TREE

  HEN & CHICKS

  FIDDLE-LEAF FIG

  VELVET PLANT

  Dracaena fragrans

  Echeveria

  Ficus lyrata

  Gynura aurantiaca

  pp.68–69

  p.72–73

  pp.76–77

  p.79

  MADAGASCAR

  AEONIUM

  WEEPING FIG

  POLKA DOT PLANT

  DRAGON TREE

  Aeonium

  Ficus benjamina

  Hypoestes

  Dracaena marginata

  p.73

  p.77

  p.79

  p.69

  continued

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  ENGLISH IVY

  KENTIA PALM

  MINIATURE WAX PLANT

  SWISS CHEESE PLANT

  Hedera helix

  Howea fosteriana

  Hoya bella

  Monstera deliciosa

  pp.80–81

  pp.84–85

  p.89

  pp.94-95

  SPOTTED LAUREL

  PARLOUR PALM

  FLAMING KATY

  HORSEHEAD

  Aucuba japonica

  Chamaedorea elegans

  Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

  PHILODENDRON

  p.81

  p.85

  pp.90–91

  Philodendron

  bipinnatifidum

  p.95

  JAPANESE ARALIA

  BUTTERFLY PALM

  CALANDIVA

  SWISS CHEESE VINE

  Fatsia japonica

  Dypsis lutescens

  Kalanchoe

  Monstera obliqua

  p.81

  p.85

  Calandiva ® Series

  p.95

  p.91

  AMARYLLIS

  INDIAN ROPE PLANT

  SENSITIVE PLANT

  BOSTON FERN

  Hippeastrum

  Hoya carnosa

  Mimosa pudica

  Nephrolepis exaltata

  pp.82–83

  pp.88–89

  pp.92–93

  ‘Bostoniensis’

  pp.96–97

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  BIRD’S NEST FERN

  CROWN CACTUS

  MOTH ORCHID

  MISSIONARY PLANT

  Asplenium nidus

  Rebutia

  Phalaenopsis

  Pilea peperomioides

  p.97

  p.99

  pp.102–103

  pp.108–109

  SILVER LADY

  RADIATOR PLANT

  PYGMY DATE PALM

  FRIENDSHIP PLANT

  Blechnum gibbum

  Peperomia metallica

  Phoenix roebelenii

  Pilea involucrata

  p.97

  pp.100–101

  pp.104–105

  ‘Moon Valley’

  p.109

  DESERT CACTI

  CREEPING BUTTONS

  LADY PALM

  ALUMINIUM PLANT

  Opuntia

  Peperomia rotundifolia

  Rhapsis excelsa

  Pilea cadierei

  pp.98-99

  p.101

  p.105

  p.109

  MONK'S HOOD

  BABY RUBBER PLANT

  DWARF FAN PALM

  STAGHORN FERN

  Astrophytum ornatum

  Peperomia obtusifolia

  Chamaerops humilis

  Platycerium bifurcatum

  p.99

  p.101

  p.105

  pp.110–111

  continued

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  REGAL ELKHORN FERN

  AFRICAN MILK BUSH

  CROTON

  MISTLETOE CACTUS

  Platycerium grande

  Euphorbia trigona

  Codiaeum variegatum

  Rhipsalis baccifera

  p.111

  p.115

  p.119

  p.121

  AFRICAN VIOLET

  CREEPING SAXIFRAGE

  ZEBRA PLANT

  BABY’S TEARS

  Saintpaulia

  Saxifraga stolonifera

  Aphelandra squarrosa

  Soleirolia soleirolii

  pp.112–113

  pp.116–117

  p.119

  pp.122–123

  SNAKE PLANT

  SWEDISH IVY

  CHRISTMAS CACTUS

  PIGGYBACK PLANT

  Sansevieria trifasciata

  Schlumbergera buckleyi

  Tolmiea menziesii

  Plectranthus

  pp.114–115

  pp.120–121

  p.123

  p.117

  AFRICAN SPEAR

  UMBRELLA TREE

  EASTER CACTUS

  BEAD PLANT

  Sansevieria cylindrica

  Schefflera arboricola

  Schlumbergera gaetneri

  Nertera granadensis

  p.115

  pp.118–119

  p.121

  p.123

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  PEACE LILY

  CAPE PRIMROSE

  FLAME NETTLE

  ZZ PLANT

  Spathiphyllum

  Streptocarpus

  Solenostemon

  Zamioculcas zamiifolia

  pp.124–125

  pp.130–131

  p.135

  pp.138–139

  CHINESE EVERGREEN

  GLOXINIA

  YUCCA

  SAGO PALM

  Aglaonema

  Sinningia speciosa

  Yucca elephantipes

  Cycas revoluta

  p.125

  p.131

  pp.136–137

  p.139

  CAST IRON PLANT

  AIR PLANTS

  CABBAGE PALM

  GUINEA CHESTNUT

  Aspidistra eliator

  Tillandsia

  Cordyline australis

  Pachira aquatica

  p.125

  pp.132–133

  p.137

  p.139

  BIRD OF PARADISE

  INCH PLANT

  PONYTAIL PALM

  INDOOR BONSAI

  Strelitzia reginae

  Tradescantia zebrina

  Beaucarnea recurvata

  Various

  pp.128–129

  pp.134–135

  p.137

  pp.140–142

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  THE BASICS

  What every

  houseplant needs

  to stay alive

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  14

  BUY IT

  If possible, buy your houseplant from a nursery or The Basics

  garden centre, where it will have been properly cared for. Here are a few things

  to consider when choosing

  a houseplant, including

  how to get it home

  without killing it!

  SHAPE

  Ensure that the plant has a good

  shape. Look for bushy plants,

  Dumb cane

  and avoid those that are leggy

  (pp.62–63)

  or spindly.

  COMPOST

  Test the compost to see if it’s moist.

  It shouldn't be soggy or very dry, as

  these are signs that the plant may not

  have been watered properly.

  ROOTS

  If there are lots of roots visible on top of the compost and underneath the bottom of the pot,
the plant is pot-bound (or root-bound). Avoid these plants as they will have been struggling to thrive and so won't be in peak condition.

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  FLOWERING PLANTS

  When choosing a flowering plant,

  make sure it has both flowers and

  buds. Plants with buds will last

  longer as these buds will open and

  replace older, fading flowers. Avoid

  plants with only tightly closed buds,

  as these may not open when you get

  the plant home.

  Pot mum (pp.54–55)

  WRAP IT UP

  Spring or summer is the best time to buy

  a houseplant, as the weather is often

  milder and the plant won’t be too

  “shocked” by the sudden change in

  temperature and location. If you are

  buying a plant in winter when it is cold,

  be sure to wrap it up when taking it

  home, as the sudden change in

  temperature can cause the buds or leaves

  to fall off some plants, or even kill

  others. Poinsettias are particularly

  CONDITION

  vulnerable to the cold.

  Check that the

  leaves are fresh

  and have a good

  colour, with no

  signs of browning

  or yellowing.

  PESTS & DISEASES

  Look for signs of pests or

  diseases, making sure to check

  the undersides of the leaves

  (see Plant pests, pp.24–27, and

  Plant diseases, pp.28–29).

  Poinsettia (pp.74–75)

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  16

  POT IT & PLACE IT

  Once you get your houseplant home, you'll need to check The Basics

  your plant is in a pot with drainage holes, and find a suitable location for it. Doing these two things will go a long way towards helping you keep it healthy.

  HOW TO POT IT...

  Most houseplants come in plastic pots with

  drainage holes in the bottom. You can put

  these inside more ornamental pots.

  Some plants are sold in ornamental pots

  with no drainage holes. This makes it

  difficult to judge whether water is

  Dumb cane

  gathering at the bottom

  (pp.62–63)

  of the pot and rotting

  the roots. It’s best to

  repot these plants

  into a plastic pot

  with drainage holes

  Ensure the

  – this could be a

  plastic pot

  plastic pot that you

  fits into the

  hide within a more

  pot you

  attractive one.

  want to use

  Drainage

  holes

  PLANTS SOLD IN

  PLASTIC POTS

  REPOTTING INTO A PLASTIC POT

  Check to see if your plant

  If your plant is sold in only an ornamental pot, is in a pot with drainage

  repot it into a plastic pot with drainage holes holes at the bottom.