9 Best Houseplant Books for Indoor Gardening Beginners
Can you think of anything more satisfying than a flourishing indoor garden? Houseplants add life to your home by bringing the joy of nature indoors.
If you’re new to the world of indoor gardening, though, the prospect of taking care of a plant can be daunting. With so many different species of plants out there, it’s hard to know where to start.
One way to ease into being a houseplant parent is by reading up on the subject. There are tons of great books out there that can teach you everything you need to know about taking care of houseplants.
To help you get started, I’ve rounded up nine of the best houseplant books for beginners.
Trust me: after reading one (or all) of these books, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful plant parent in no time.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link. For more information, see my full disclosure here.
Houseplants for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Helping Your Plants Thrive
by Rebecca De La Paz
This is my top pick for new indoor gardeners because it has so many common houseplant profiles included. That makes it super-easy for you to look up individual plants as needed.
- has all the information you’ll need to successfully care for your plants and help them thrive
- choose the best location in your home for your plants
- 120 houseplant profiles grouped from low maintenance to high maintenance
Pros:
- very detailed colored pictures
- easy to read
- you can write on the pages if you want to add your own notes
- most of the plants in the book are categorized as “easy to grow,” which is helpful for beginners
- it tells you if a plant is pet-friendly – plus for pet lovers!
Cons:
- The information included is basic. If you aren’t a beginner, this is probably not the book for you.
- Doesn’t include information on how to solve specific plant problems
Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants
by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf
- 125+ profiles of the most popular indoor plants
- One-page profiles on how to care for each type of plant from watering to propagation
- Plants are organized by ease of care so that you can choose plants that are easy to grow
- Select plants that are appropriate for your space and conditions
Pros:
- Easy to understand
- Well organized; includes a plant index in the back
- Thorough; includes detailed, accurate information
- Beautiful photos
- Practical advice on how to care for indoor plants
Cons:
- The plant photos are small, so this may not be the best choice if you are looking for a book to identify your plants.
- Doesn’t provide information on troubleshooting plant problems
Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to Houseplants
by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan
- With 416 pages, this book is a comprehensive guide to a wide range of houseplants
- Gorgeous photography makes it a great coffee table book
- Covers 130+ plants
- A great beginner’s guide to houseplants
- Encyclopedia-style: gives brief info on each plant with care tips
Pros:
- Includes difficulty ratings for each plant
- Information is easily digestible
- Each plant page includes information on where to place the plant, how often to water, etc.
- Well organized
Cons:
- Expensive (compared to other houseplant books)
- Doesn’t go in-depth on any plants
New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family
by Darryl Cheng
- Covers all the basics of growing healthy house plants
- You’ll get a good understanding of how to better care for house plants
- Focuses on the three most essential elements in plant care: light, water, and nutrients
- Includes personal stories from the author
- Includes in-depth care tips for certain plants
Pros:
- Easy to understand
- Covers everything a beginner needs to know, from light requirements to pest control
Cons:
- The text font is small, so it may be difficult to read
- Doesn’t include many visuals
The Houseplants Book for Beginners: The Best Plants to Grow Indoors for Plant Lovers and Aspiring Green Thumbers
by Christo Sullivan
- A complete guide to the best low-maintenance houseplants
- Covers 39 easy-to-grow plants
- Each plant profile contains a photograph and description of the ideal growing scenario for that particular type of plant.
- Includes the 5 best super-low maintenance succulents
- Includes a detailed step-by-step guide to repot your plants efficiently
Pros:
- Includes tips for watering, soil, fertilizer, temperature, and sunlight
- Care instructions for a variety of plants, including succulents
- Discusses decorating with houseplants
Cons:
- There is a black-and-white version of the book. If ordering, make sure the listing says “Color Edition.”
Houseplant Handbook: Basic Growing Techniques and a Directory of 300 Everyday Houseplants
by David Squire
- Every phase of indoor gardening is thoroughly covered in this easy-to-use handbook.
- Hundreds of color photos of a wide variety of plants
- Instructions for choosing, watering, feeding, repotting, propagation, pest control, and more are provided in a step-by-step format.
- A complete plant directory of more than 300 types with color pictures, botanical and common names, and vital information.
Pros:
- Tons of information
- Offers good, basic houseplant care
- Includes foliage houseplants, flowering houseplants, succulents, cacti, palms, bulbs, bromeliads, air plants, and ferns
Cons:
- While it covers a lot of plants, the descriptions for each are brief.
- Because it includes so many different plant types, it doesn’t have depth within each category.
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged
by Veronica Peerless
- Over 50 different varieties of houseplants are covered in this book.
- Summarizes the kind of care your plants need (or don’t need)
- Helpful survival tips and easy ways to avoid killing your plants
- Learn to spot the danger signs of unhealthy plants and what to do to rescue them
- Jam-packed with handy tips, pictures, and information panels
Pros:
- Easy and fun to read
- Colorful and informative
- Covers common pests and problems and how to deal with them
- Includes a photo index of all the featured plants at the beginning of the book
- Each plant page has a section that highlights other plants with similar care requirements
Cons:
- It’s hard to access info on the Kindle version. I suggest buying the hardback for easier reference.
How to Houseplant: A Beginner’s Guide to Making and Keeping Plant Friends
by Heather Rodino
- An entertaining, colorfully illustrated guide to caring for your indoor garden
- Covers 50 of the most popular houseplants, from the Boston fern and the fiddle-leaf fig to the moth orchid
- Each plant profile outlines care requirements, including everything you need to know from potting soil, watering, common pests, and more
- Includes common plant problems like pests and diseases
- Names the top 5 plants for frequent travelers
Pros:
- Easy to read and understand
- Well organized
- The information supplied is straightforward, practical, and useful.
- Beautiful photographs
- Well written
Cons:
- Covers fewer specific plants than some of the other books
Essential Succulents: The Beginner’s Guide
by Ken Shelf
Succulents are such beautiful plants and some of my favorites! So I couldn’t resist including this book dedicated to succulents.
- 50 easy-to-grow succulents that can thrive in a variety of environments
- Includes care guides and arrangement tips for each
- Each plant profile outlines care requirements, including everything you need to know from potting soil, watering, common pests, and more
- Covers growing indoor succulents in containers plus creating outdoor succulent gardens
- Included step-by-step DIY projects like creating decorative wreaths and mason jar terrariums with succulents
Pros:
- Great for beginners to succulent gardening – all the basic information you need
- Includes a photo index with a picture of each plant and the page where it can be found
- Descriptions of each plant are clear and concise
- Includes a troubleshooting guide
Cons:
- Some of the images aren’t the best quality
- Covers a limited variety of succulents
Wrapping Up
Indoor gardening is such a joy, but it can be mysterious for beginners.
One of these nine books is a great place to start if you’re a new indoor plant enthusiast. They all offer clear and concise information about successfully growing a wide variety of plants, from succulents to ferns.
While each houseplant book has its own strengths and weaknesses, any of them can help you avoid common mistakes and keep your plants healthy.
And no matter which book you choose, you’re sure to understand better how to take care of houseplants.
A book about houseplants will help you:
- Understand the basics of houseplant care
- Tackle common problems like pests and disease
- Find out which plants are best for your home
- Get step-by-step instructions for growing popular houseplants
- Create beautiful indoor gardens with ease.
FAQs
To successfully care for houseplants, you’ll need to understand their basic needs like potting soil, watering, common pests, and more. You can find this information in any of the books about houseplants reviewed above.
There are a few different ways to approach this question. If you’re looking for plants that are easy to care for, succulents are a great option. On the other hand, if you want plants that are best suited for specific rooms or areas in your home, check out the books about houseplants reviewed above for more guidance.
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