The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing House Plants

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has cultivated plants for more than 250 years. Today, Kew’s horticulturists grow over 19,000 species of plants in the gardens – the most diverse collection in the world.

Kay Maguire lives in Richmond, Surrey, UK

Contents INTRODUCTION to the book: Why have houseplants (good for mental health, phsychologically, for beauty, health, clean air. Finding a plant for your home and finding a home for your plant, using the book to ensure success. DISPLAY, staging, modern use: solo, sequence, habitat, negative space, feature, vertical, stands, hanging, privacy. Considering shape, texture, form, size, scale. WHAT can we grow and WHERE: What are houseplants? EIGHT GROUPS. Where they come from, how to look after them, the rooms where you can display them. Native habitat dictates our care. Eight groups are: Ferns; Palms; Cactus; Succulents; Bromeliads including Air plants; Flowering house plants (possibly shorter or longer); Foliage; Carnivorous. HOW TO GROW in general: consider situation, right plant right place, temperature, light, humidity including: Kit and bit on containers to grow them in. This practical section includes the key care points: watering; heating; choosing compost; changing humidity; feeding; repotting; cleaning; holiday care. MAKING MORE PLANTS Propagating in five ways: leaf cuttings using begonia or sanseveria; bulbil babies using sedum; division of palm roots; suckers/offshoots and runners using chlorophytum; adventitious roots using hoya HOUSE PLANT PORTRAITS PROJECTS 12 projects including Kokedama; Plant leaf in a clear glass frame; A series of Sanseveria pots on a windowsill for privacy; Cactus grafting for impressive results; Macrame hanging planter; Air plant mobile; Desert Plant stand; Tray of succulents with strong pattern and landscape feel; Air fresheners collection; Touch me, touch me not. PROBLEMS: trouble shooting, preventative and curative  endmatter (index and acknowledgments)