A New Look on Houseplants

By George Graine, Fairfax Master Gardeners
“When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.”
—Minnie Aumonier
Let’s set the record straight because a new book “Houseplant Party: Fun Projects & Growing Tips for Epic Indoor Plants” by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf (Cool Springs Press, 2020) is not an encyclopedia of houseplants. The keyword in the title is “party,” and this will lead you down a path of discovery where 15 houseplant projects and crafts await you. With Covid-19 upon us, coupled with an apparent renewed interest in houseplants, this book is sort of like a game changer. If you are still in stay-at-home mode, then houseplant guru Steinkopf is sure to help ease the continuing drama of coping with the new normal brought on by this virus. Because you are staying at home more than usual, perhaps it is time to take a positive and fresh eye to your collection of old and maybe newly purchased houseplants. In just over 100 pages, the author shines a light on how to look at your collection of houseplants in an exciting and amazing way that perhaps you had not considered. Now that you have been forced into a “staycation,” take a break from overdue house and yard chores and instead go on a trip with an indoor houseplant party author. You will never regret time spent so enjoyably and productively.

To be sure and as stated above, “Houseplant Party” is not an encyclopedia of houseplants. In fact, only 15 plants are described as “The Best Plants for Your Living Space.” Many of these popular plants are readily available at full service garden centers and home and garden box stores. All of these plants include appropriate plant care descriptions and superb color photos. Following this section is an excellent 10 page discussion on the general care of “Taking Care of Your Houseplants.” Here you will find definitive help on light, temperature, water and fertilizer plus five important tips regarding quick tips for houseplant care. These include: how to improve your light, how to raise humidity, how to improve flowering, how to groom plants and for many folks how not to improve drainage by adding gravel or pot shards to the bottom of a pot.

The piece de resistance and emphasis for this book are the “15 Houseplant Projects and Crafts” plus a section on how to propagate plants by air layering and how to take leaf and stem cuttings in order to enhance your houseplant collection. All of these projects include step-by-step instructions for decorating living art for your available space. You will be surprised at how easy it is to achieve such beauty and at low cost. The point of this book is not simply how to maintain your houseplants but to have fun with nature. You will enhance your home and perhaps your office with a new creative artistic appearance.