BOOKreviews having to leave behind the first plant he bought after moving to New Jersey and his friend watering a plastic fern that also bring humor and sincerity to what is seemingly a simple introduction to houseplants. Sabharwal’s book is full of personality while also being informative about how to start taking care of plants. There is so much love for plants in the author’s advice that this would make a wonderful read for both beginners and people who are somewhat experienced with indoor gardening. o
Happy Plant: A Beginner’s Guide to Cultivating Healthy Plant Care Habits Author: Puneet Sabharwal Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press List Price: $24.95 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3pe1ERh and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781648960611 Reviewer: Dorvall Bedford House plants are more than just decoration for Puneet Sabharwal. To him, they are living beings worth the same care and attention as a pet. He describes this in Happy Plant, a quick guide to becoming a plant parent. Sabharwal’s book covers many topics in only four short chapters. The first two are all about the relationship between people and plants, including the evolution of plants, the history of gardening, and what it takes to be the “parent” of houseplants. The third and fourth chapters provide advice about houseplant care, suggesting five plants for beginning plant parents and giving brief descriptions of soil, repotting, pests, and other important information. At the end of the book there is a long list of common houseplants for both novices and intermediate plant parents. This book doesn’t go into great detail about all the topics it covers, but what makes it great is that it is beginner-friendly. Sabharwal goes to great lengths to humanize plants and convey that they are living beings just like us. In the first two chapters, about the science and history of plants, Sabharwal compares plant biology to our own and discusses the evolving relationship between humans and plants. He provides anecdotes about 20
WASHINGTON GARDENER
FEBRUARY 2022
Dorvall Bedford is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. He is a native of Frederick, MD.
Succulents for Beginners: A YearRound Growing Guide for Healthy and Beautiful Plants Author: Misa Matsuyama Publisher: Tuttle Publishing List Price: $15.99 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3gNA3l1 and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780804854603 Reviewer: Hojung Ryu Succulents have a unique appearance that is a feature of their distinct attractiveness. These are very beginnerfriendly plants for gardeners because of their vitality. In Succulents for Beginners, Misa Matsuyama educates readers about succulents, including different types, appearances, cultivations, and ways to incorporate them into our daily lives. The first chapter of the book is a comprehensive, yet self-explanatory, guide to the types, styles, and characteristics of succulents. A pageful of pictures makes the content easy to follow and helps even beginners accurately identify each plant. Along with the basic information, Matsuyama provides a helpful tool about the suitable seasons to grow each succulent and how to prepare them as the seasons approach. This naturally leads the readers to the second chapter: the cultivation of the succulents. This diagram and image-heavy chapter walk each reader through every delicate step of cultivating succulents. From positioning, fertilizing, and more, the book goes into depth and details about each
plant. “Much depends on their variety and type, so observe them carefully as you cultivate them,” Matsuyama writes before explaining how proper cultivation and cutting can help succulents flourish. The next chapter answers common questions while growing succulents with vital advice about how to detect signs of their health. Matsuyama represents specific plant parts, including Sphagnum moss and Haworthia roots. The fourth chapter guides readers to incorporate greenery into interior design and everyday lives. Matsuyama introduces these creations in the living space as a “home that is alive.” The use of images provides great examples of how to achieve attractive looks and aesthetics. The last chapter gathers the best looks of uniquely beautiful succulents. The gallery Matsuyama puts together expands the reader’s mind on succulents beyond their easy maintenance and appearances. This beginner-friendly book is perfect for those who are in the starter stage of succulent gardening. Matsuyama is a Japan-based author, so readers should keep in mind that certain plants described in this book may not be available locally. o Hojung Ryu is a junior journalism and criminal justice double major at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener and is from Mahwah, NJ.
