Plant by Numbers: 50 Houseplant Combinations to Decorate Your Space
Many indoor gardeners familiar with the old paint-by-numbers kits will use Asbell’s guide to houseplant combinations with great success. Positioning itself as nothing less than “a new language of exotic species and striking designs,” this how-to provides 50 houseplant combinations and plenty of encouragement, citing fear of failure as the main reason more people do not attempt making arrangements of living plants. Following introductory plant and design terms, Asbell provides tips on fertilizing, grooming, problem-solving, and more, before reaching the actual “recipes” that tell readers all they will need concerning light, moisture, and humidity. He also provides a detailed shopping list for each recipe and offers  ideas on swaps and replacements for different looks. In “Jungle Glow,” for example, a durable black philodendron  can be substituted for the fussier waffle plant. Full-color photos throughout excite the imagination, while a list of resources and an index enhance this guide’s user-friendliness. --Whitney Scott