My House Plant Changed My Life

144 Pages·2021·61.429 MB·English

by  DK

Project Editor Holly Kyte First American Edition, 2021
Published in the United States by
Project Art Editor Louise Brigenshaw
DK Publishing
Senior Editor Alastair Laing 1450 Broadway, Suite 801,
Art Editor Tessa Bindloss New York, NY 10018
US Editor Jennette ElNaggar Text copyright © 2021 David Domoney
Copyright © 2021 Dorling Kindersley
Editorial Assistant Kiron Gill
Limited
Managing Editor Dawn Henderson DK, a Division of Penguin Random
House LLC
Managing Art Editor 21 22 23 24 25 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Marianne Markham 001–320989–Mar/2021
Production Editor David Almond David Domoney has asserted his right to be
identified as the author of this work.
Production Controller Luca Bazzoli
Jacket Designer Louise Brigenshaw All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under the copyright
Jacket Coordinator Lucy Philpott reserved above, no part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
Art Director Maxine Pedliham system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
Publishing Director Katie Cowan or otherwise), without the prior written permission
of the copyright owner.
Illustrations Federica Gargiulo, Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley
Mark Clifton Limited.
Photography Ruth Jenkinson
A catalog record for this book is available from the
Library of Congress.
DK Delhi ISBN 978-0-7440-2679-5
Senior Art Editors Vikas Sachdeva,
Printed and bound in China
Vinita Venogopal

Assistant Art Editors
Adhithi Priya, Ankita Das www.dk.com
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Pre-production Manager Sunil Sharma www.dk.com/our-green-pledge
US_002-003_Imprint_Title.indd 2 14/09/20 5:19 PM
My
house
plant
changed
my life
Green well-being
for the great indoors
David Domoney
US_002-003_Imprint_Title.indd 3 14/09/2020 14:45
CONTENTS
Author’s Preface 8
LET HOUSEPLANTS Maidenhair Fern
INTO YOUR LIFE 10 Adiantum Raddianum
pp.34–35
Houseplants and Modern Living 12
Houseplants and Mental Well-Being 14
Houseplants and Air Quality 18
Engaging Kids with Houseplants 20
Mood-Enhancing Plant Colors 22
Buying Houseplants 24 Urn Plant
Where to Position Your Plants 26 Aechmea Fasciata
pp.36–37
Cultivating Houseplants 28
HOUSEPLANT HEROES 32
Get to know and love the 50 most
life-changing houseplants, with all the
care advice and expert tips you need
Barbados Aloe
to successfully grow your collection. Aloe Vera
pp.38–39

Top Five …
Plants to Calm and Relax p.50 • Plants to
Energize and Enthuse p.72 • Plants to Cheer
You Up p.94 • Plants to Spark Creativity p.122

Index 142 Tiger Aloe
Aloe Variegata
pp.40–41
About the Author 144
Acknowledgments 144
Flamingo Flower
Anthurium Andraeanum
pp.42–43
US_004-007_Contents.indd 4 14/09/20 3:05 PM
Bird’s Nest Fern Spider Plant Dendrobium
Asplenium Nidus Chlorophytum Comosum Dendrobium Orchid
pp.44–45 pp.56–57 pp.66–67
King Begonias Natal Lily
Begonia Rex Cultivars Clivia Miniata Dumb Cane
pp.46–47 pp.58–59 Dieffenbachia
pp.68–69
Zebra Plant Joseph’s Coat Venus Flytrap
Calathea Zebrina Codiaeum Variegatum Hybrids Dionaea Muscipula
pp.48–49 pp.60–61 pp.70–71
Jade Plant Corn Plant
String of Hearts Crassula ovata, Draceana Fragrans
Ceropegia Woodii syn. C. argentea pp.74–75
pp.52–53 pp.62–63
Parlor Palm String of Pearls Dragon Rree
Chamaedorea Elegans Curio Rowleyanus, Dracaena Marginata
pp.54–55 pp.64–65 pp.76–77
continued
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Areca Palm Guzmania Kalanchoe
Dypsis Lutescens Guzmania Cultivars Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana
pp.78–79 pp.88–89 pp.100–101
Poinsettia Velvet Plant Living Stones
Euphorbia Pulcherrima Gynura Aurantiaca Lithops Spp.
pp.80–81 pp.90–91 pp.102–103
Weeping Fig Amaryllis
Ficus Benjamina Hippeastrum Cultivars Prayer Plant
pp.82–83 pp.92–93 Maranta Leuconeura
pp.104–105
Rubber Plant Polka Dot Plant Sensitive Plant
Ficus Elastica Hypoestes Phyllostachya Mimosa Pudica
pp.84–85 pp.96–97 pp.106–107
Cape Jasmine Mexican Hat Plant Swiss Cheese Plant
Gardenia Jasminoides Kalanchoe Daigremontiana Monstera Deliciosa
pp.86–87 pp.98–99 pp.108–109
US_004-007_Contents.indd 6 14/09/20 3:05 PM
Sword Fern Snake Plant Pink Quill
Nephrolepis Exaltata Sansevieria Trifasciata Tillandsia Cyanea
pp.110–111 pp.120–121 pp.132–133
Moth Orchid Sky Plant
Phalaenopsis Dwarf Umbrella Tree Tillandsia Ionantha
pp.112–113 Schefflera Arboricola pp.134–135
pp.124–125
Heartleaf Philodendron Peace Lily Wandering Jew
Philodendron Cordatum Spathiphyllum Tradescantia Zebrina
pp.114–115 pp.126–127 pp.136–137
Blue Torch Cactus Madagascar Jasmine Flaming Sword
Pilosocereus Azureus Stephanotis Floribunda Vriesea Splendens
pp.116–117 pp.128–129 pp.138–139
African Violet Cape Primrose Spineless Yucca
Saintpaulia Hybrids Streptocarpus Cultivars Yucca Elephantipes
pp.118–119 pp.130–131 pp.140–141
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008
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AUTHOR’S PREFACE
I have no doubt that introducing indoor when you’re surrounded by nature. Plants
plants to your home will improve your life. make us feel human and can have a significant
I also believe there is a houseplant that is impact on our physical and mental well-being.
just right for you and your home. In this I want you to feel a passion for bringing
book, there are plants that can survive nature into your home and to experience the
neglect, plants that love pampering, plants fun of nurturing and collecting houseplants.
that flower like clockwork every season, and Because it’s not just about caring for them;
plants that look amazing every day of the it’s about appreciating the little things, like the
year—and each one has a unique ability to beauty of a fresh new leaf or when they burst
improve your life as well as its own individual into flower, the amazement of your friends
personality that makes it special. and family at what you have achieved, and the
When we visit rooms that have no plants sheer enjoyment of the sensory experience
in them, they feel lifeless. A hotel room, a whenever you find yourself marveling at your
basement, a windowless office—with no plants’ beauty. You’ll be amazed at all the
greenery, they seem to suck the life out of us. special benefits indoor plants can offer, and
Then think of a garden, with its lawn, its trees, very soon these wondrous living organisms
its flowers, and how restored it makes you feel will become part of your family.
David Domoney
C Hort. FCI Hort.
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