The Indestructible Houseplant

Starred review from June 1, 2015
The green-thumb-challenged will give Martin a standing ovation for this much-needed book created for windowsill-gardener wannabees desiring plants to survive tough love and transform lives. New England-based Martin appreciates interest in an indoor gardening approach requiring minimal time investment. She tells readers that her own houseplants face many obstacles, for her home provides a less-than-ideal environment. She is no plant snob, and most of her plants are found locally. Martin offers suggestions for incorporating houseplants as artistic creations in interior decor by coupling ground covers with woody-stemmed plants that would otherwise leave soil exposed and using eye-catching containers. As the subtitle promises, 200 lovely, easy-to-care-for plants are profiled in the Gallery of Indestructibles, an A-to-Z catalog that includes such popular favorites as African violets (water away from the leaves), ficus, geraniums, Norfolk Island pines, slipper orchids, and the truly hardy ZZ plants, or Zamioculs zamiifolia, which can be highly architectural. Full-color photos, boxed summaries throughout, and substantial back matter complete this comprehensive, appealing, and inspiring guide.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)