Member’s Book Reviews

Book Reviewed by Simsbury Garden Club members. 

Saving Container Plants

(Storey publishing – “Books for Self-Reliance” series) Alice and Brian McGowan, 2014. Reviewed by Jan M.

A small (5″x7″, 194 pages) reference for “Overwintering Techniques for Keeping Tender Plants Alive Year after Year” per its subtitle  A great little resource that has more info than I expected – pretty much a reorganized and “condensed” version of “Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill” (2008) – which has been one of my favorite books, and one I’ve relied on for several years to save plants.

Saving Container Plants is broken down into concise sections on determining what to save, how to save it, potential problems (with solutions), basic propagation, and how to transition in/out in fall and spring.  Four main overwintering methods are described (“sunny and warm”, “cool and bright”, “dark and damp”, and “dark and dry”).  The “Preventing Pests and Diseases” chapter addresses common problems (with drawings).  Another chapter briefly describes propagation methods (cuttings, seeds, corns/tubers). The “Plant by Plant” chapter lists many common “tender perennials” by Latin name and has 3 bullets for each: Overwintering (“method”), Propagating, and Common Pest Problems.  Page numbers refer back to the appropriate section earlier in the book.  Some plants have additional comments from their growing experience.  

If I didn’t already own Bulbs in the Basement, and Geraniums on the Windowsill, I would purchase this book as a handy reference.

What’s Wrong With My Houseplant? Save Your Indoor Plants with 100% Organic Solutions

By David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth (2016) Reviewed by Jan M.

This is an easy, entertaining read and “flip-through”. I learned a great deal about my houseplants (including the unknowns I inherited) and how I could be treating them better – especially which plants are sensitive to tap water, which ones need more humidity than I’ve been providing and suggestions on getting rid of scale and aphids.  I discovered a few new plants I’d like to acquire.

The introduction, “Prepare for Success”, gives general information and describes the conditions used in the plant portraits – light, temperature, watering, humidity, potting media, fertilizer, containers and propagation methods. “Plant Portraits” is organized by type -palms, trees and shrubs, perennials, vines, ferns, orchids and bromeliads, cacti and succulents, and culinary herbs. Plants are listed alphabetically by common name and provide a description including botanical name and common varieties, optimum growing conditions, and common problems.  “Organic Solutions to Common Problems” lists common problems with photos, descriptions, and methods of treatment.