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Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants
Grow in the Dark puts the spotlight on 50 of the best houseplants you can grow in your dim or dark apartment. Author Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf, known as the Houseplant Guru, shares the knowledge she’s gained tending to her own personal jungle of over 1,000 houseplants.
Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants.
Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets.
Whether you live in a shady top-floor apartment or a dungeon-y garden level, this book will help you grow your plant collection to its healthiest for its Instagram debut.
Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants.
Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets.
Whether you live in a shady top-floor apartment or a dungeon-y garden level, this book will help you grow your plant collection to its healthiest for its Instagram debut.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 26, 2023
When I was reading this book it screamed at me 1970’s stylization. It reminded me of the plant books I looked at and read when I was little.
Don’t let my description in the first paragraph deter you. It is a good introduction to low light indoor plants and it reflects all of the improvements that have been made in lighting and growing since the 1970’s.
What I enjoyed about this book is that it listed many of the different cultivars that have come about over the years. And I learned something new. A few years ago I was given a spider plant cultivar. The person who gifted it to me just called it the curly spider. This book had the proper name for it, “Bonnie”. After reading that, I made a tag for the plant.
So take this book with you when you go plant shopping so you can get an idea as to what goes where.
Get ready to increase your indoor jungle.
Don’t let my description in the first paragraph deter you. It is a good introduction to low light indoor plants and it reflects all of the improvements that have been made in lighting and growing since the 1970’s.
What I enjoyed about this book is that it listed many of the different cultivars that have come about over the years. And I learned something new. A few years ago I was given a spider plant cultivar. The person who gifted it to me just called it the curly spider. This book had the proper name for it, “Bonnie”. After reading that, I made a tag for the plant.
So take this book with you when you go plant shopping so you can get an idea as to what goes where.
Get ready to increase your indoor jungle.
May 8, 2019
This is a great book for those of us who want to grow plants in low-light. This book has the usual tips on watering light, nutrients, pest control and re-potting. What sets it apart are the clever tips to make the most of low-light settings, such as using mirrors to reflect light and keeping reflective surfaces and windows clean. I appreciated the large list of plant profiles and descriptions that tolerate low-light settings. Five stars.
May 16, 2019
Not everyone has the luck to have a plethora of light in their home giving them the ability to grow any plants they want. For some, it's geographical location limiting the light; for others, it's a lack of windows or poor window placement hampering great light. This book is a perfect resource for those wanting to still enhance their homes with plant life while lacking ideal growing conditions. Along with offering up good examples of plants that will thrive with minimal light, Steinkopf covers methods for enhancing existing light with additional light sources and mirrors. While I'm lucky to have ample light in my current home, the discussion of light coming from the north-, east-, south- and west-facing windows (and also from skylights) was helpful. There are a lot of books about houseplants available, but this one has a nice twist focusing on low-light conditions.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2019
Grow In the Dark by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf is a book about choosing and growing the best plants for a low-light environment.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
This plant guide provides detailed information on lighting, watering, fertilizing, and temperature considerations as well as maintenance issues like re-potting and pest control, before even looking at the many different houseplants suitable for low and medium lighting conditions.
When the actual plants appear in the book, each one shows the common, botanical and cultivar names, as well as light and watering requirements, propagation techniques, and whether they are safe for pets.
My Opinions:
Really good information for the novice and experienced plant lover.
For all of us who have at least some areas where we could use a low-light loving plant, this is a really good guide. I love how the index allows you to search for either the common or the botanical name.
The pictures are beautiful, and this would make an excellent gift.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 1, 2019
I loved reading this book and enjoyed it so much. It is around 100 pages and the first half is about the basics about everything with pictures to further explain their point. The few books I read usually don't add pictures for every point but this book does for most of them. The second half has information about some plants that can live in a medium and low light apartment (since that's the focus of this book). The plants chosen were very pretty and I loved them. Definitely would recommend this to people who want plants but don't have much light coming through the window at home/apartment.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
December 31, 2019
Excellent low-light houseplant guide. The information is laid out in an easy to read format, and the accompanying pictures are very helpful. I work at a greenhouse, and I will definitely use this as a resource for my customers.
June 29, 2020
Helpful guide.
Practical advice.
Practical advice.
July 3, 2019
This is a gorgeous, helpful book to teach you all you need to know to grow houseplants even in low light conditions. The author is very knowledgeable and it's full of fantastic photos for inspiration. The book goes into details about how different facing windows give different light to plants, how to use things like mirrors and light walls to increase the light a plant gets, and things you might not think of like trimming bushes and trees outside, using skylights, and washing down leaves and windows to the plants are able to get more of the light they're exposed to.
There are sections on plant maintenance, watering, buying your plants, fertilizing and more. The final section is in-depth information on several dozen plants that work in medium to low light, with color photos of each and information on how much to water them, where they'll be happiest, if they are toxic to pets and so on.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
I read a digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.
There are sections on plant maintenance, watering, buying your plants, fertilizing and more. The final section is in-depth information on several dozen plants that work in medium to low light, with color photos of each and information on how much to water them, where they'll be happiest, if they are toxic to pets and so on.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
I read a digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.
March 18, 2022
The title of this book is obviously deceiving, as most of the plants in this book require either low to medium light and medium light plants would not thrive in a "dark" environment.
That being said the rest of the book was pretty much what you would expect. The photography was beautiful, which is always a plus.
Not important, but there was a page in this book that made me feel so much second-hand embarrassment. The entitlement in this piece of advice just made me laugh so hard:
"When you see you neighbors outside with paint swatches, discussing the color they are going to paint their house, make sure you put your two cents in and vote for white or some other light color."
Are you serious? Your neighbours are renovating their house. You don't get a "vote" because your houseplants would prefer a different colour.
I can't.
That being said the rest of the book was pretty much what you would expect. The photography was beautiful, which is always a plus.
Not important, but there was a page in this book that made me feel so much second-hand embarrassment. The entitlement in this piece of advice just made me laugh so hard:
"When you see you neighbors outside with paint swatches, discussing the color they are going to paint their house, make sure you put your two cents in and vote for white or some other light color."
Are you serious? Your neighbours are renovating their house. You don't get a "vote" because your houseplants would prefer a different colour.
I can't.
February 14, 2023
The information for plant care in itself was useful, but I would argue that not many of these plants are suitable for lower light conditions. Because of that, I felt like the book was a tad misleading.
May 4, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Grow in the Dark is a tutorial for maximizing the use of plants in the home whilst helping them to thrive at less than ideal light levels. There are a number of classic and popular houseplants which can tolerate low lighting. Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf is a horticulture blogger and plant expert who has turned her authorial attentions to choosing and maintaining low light plants suited to the home.
Due out 7th May 2019 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover format. The book's introduction covers definitions and moves into a discussion of siting and light levels. There's a clever list of ways to maximize the usefulness of available light and redirect it toward your plants (reflective surfaces such as mirrors), keeping windows clean, etc. There are some really good tips included which I hadn't thought about.
The second and third chapters cover plant nutrients and diseases. The photography throughout the book is good, the troubleshooting photos especially showing different diseases and nutrient deficiencies were very clear and explanatory.
The last section of the book is an alphabetical list of specific plant profiles. The profiles are listed by common name with thumbnails, however the Latin names are included in each listing to avoid confusion. There's a cross-referenced index at the end of the book (with Latin names included) to make specific plants easier to find. The listings are comprehensive and include a color photograph, icons for light and water needs as well as a very useful toxicity listing (for pets/small humans), along with a description of propagation techniques, mature plant size, and other info.
The book is mostly slanted to the urban indoor gardener. For people looking to expand their houseplant horizon past spider plants (Chlorophytum sp.) and snake plants (Sansevieria sp.), this book includes a number of lesser known but worthy plants from which to choose.
It's unclear from the pre-publication information available whether the book will be available in electronic format, but the eARC which was provided for review includes a handy interactive table of contents.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Grow in the Dark is a tutorial for maximizing the use of plants in the home whilst helping them to thrive at less than ideal light levels. There are a number of classic and popular houseplants which can tolerate low lighting. Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf is a horticulture blogger and plant expert who has turned her authorial attentions to choosing and maintaining low light plants suited to the home.
Due out 7th May 2019 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover format. The book's introduction covers definitions and moves into a discussion of siting and light levels. There's a clever list of ways to maximize the usefulness of available light and redirect it toward your plants (reflective surfaces such as mirrors), keeping windows clean, etc. There are some really good tips included which I hadn't thought about.
The second and third chapters cover plant nutrients and diseases. The photography throughout the book is good, the troubleshooting photos especially showing different diseases and nutrient deficiencies were very clear and explanatory.
The last section of the book is an alphabetical list of specific plant profiles. The profiles are listed by common name with thumbnails, however the Latin names are included in each listing to avoid confusion. There's a cross-referenced index at the end of the book (with Latin names included) to make specific plants easier to find. The listings are comprehensive and include a color photograph, icons for light and water needs as well as a very useful toxicity listing (for pets/small humans), along with a description of propagation techniques, mature plant size, and other info.
The book is mostly slanted to the urban indoor gardener. For people looking to expand their houseplant horizon past spider plants (Chlorophytum sp.) and snake plants (Sansevieria sp.), this book includes a number of lesser known but worthy plants from which to choose.
It's unclear from the pre-publication information available whether the book will be available in electronic format, but the eARC which was provided for review includes a handy interactive table of contents.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
May 7, 2019
Recently, I’ve been exploring the amazing ability of plants to purify the air and absorb humidity. Bringing plants indoors has been a habit I have resisted believing it to be a huge effort to keep them healthy. However, the need to prevent damp and remove allergens has made it worth investigating. Light is crucial and spots which are damp aren’t often equally light and so Grow in the Dark by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf seemed to be the logical book to read!
Beginning with the principles of indoor plant benefits and care, the book progresses through accessing the area in which the plants will be living and onto the plants which will best suit the environment. Lisa celebrates the good news that “one houseplant placed every 100 square feet will remove [paint, furniture, carpeting and electronic] chemicals” as well as “if there is enough light in your room to read a book, you have enough to sustain a low-light plant.” She shares how to identify from the deceptive plant label which plants are low-light ones as well as which direction of sun is best for each and watering options.
The book ends with 50 plants that are suited to indoor, low-light living and highlights the level of moisture required as well as if the plant is pet friendly. None of them are floral, they are leafy and that perhaps was my only disappointment in the book. I had hoped for more than greenness indoors and, fortunately, living in medium rather than low light, I should get away with a few flowers indoors!
Practical and easy-to-follow, it is a four out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale! If you are considering indoor plants, this is one to read!
Beginning with the principles of indoor plant benefits and care, the book progresses through accessing the area in which the plants will be living and onto the plants which will best suit the environment. Lisa celebrates the good news that “one houseplant placed every 100 square feet will remove [paint, furniture, carpeting and electronic] chemicals” as well as “if there is enough light in your room to read a book, you have enough to sustain a low-light plant.” She shares how to identify from the deceptive plant label which plants are low-light ones as well as which direction of sun is best for each and watering options.
The book ends with 50 plants that are suited to indoor, low-light living and highlights the level of moisture required as well as if the plant is pet friendly. None of them are floral, they are leafy and that perhaps was my only disappointment in the book. I had hoped for more than greenness indoors and, fortunately, living in medium rather than low light, I should get away with a few flowers indoors!
Practical and easy-to-follow, it is a four out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale! If you are considering indoor plants, this is one to read!
July 24, 2019
A great book for those wishing to introduce plants into their households. I remember growing up having a spider plant at home and my nan having an African violet. In my adult years I've got nothing more than a plastic flower, much to my shame!
The book is split into four main chapters after starting with an Introduction. The first chapter Illumination explains the natural light that comes in through each house facing and unnatural light that plants can use. Hydration and Vitamins chapter covers watering and nutrition for your plant plus what to look for when its over or under watered.
The Maintenance chapter provides you with the knowledge of what to look for when choosing a plant plus how to pot it on and how to battle pests.
Finally the last chapter provides fifty-two plant ideas, including what light type it is, whether its safe for animals, its botanical name, when to water and the size it grows to. After each description is a colour photograph of the plant in question.I
This book has certainly given me the knowledge and confidence to go to the local garden centre and get a 'living' plant for my home.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
The book is split into four main chapters after starting with an Introduction. The first chapter Illumination explains the natural light that comes in through each house facing and unnatural light that plants can use. Hydration and Vitamins chapter covers watering and nutrition for your plant plus what to look for when its over or under watered.
The Maintenance chapter provides you with the knowledge of what to look for when choosing a plant plus how to pot it on and how to battle pests.
Finally the last chapter provides fifty-two plant ideas, including what light type it is, whether its safe for animals, its botanical name, when to water and the size it grows to. After each description is a colour photograph of the plant in question.I
This book has certainly given me the knowledge and confidence to go to the local garden centre and get a 'living' plant for my home.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
June 18, 2019
WOW. When I saw this title and what it was about I was really keen on reading the book. I have a darker hall and want to have some plants there.
The book is called Grow in the Dark but it is so much more. It has so many helpful hints and tips for all houseplant growing and all told in a friendly manner. The chapters are Illumination, Hydration and Vitamins, Maintenance and finally plant profiles which help you decide which plants will grow under which lighting.
I have come away learning so much more about how to look after all my houseplants and now know which to buy for the darker areas. Definately a book I will use over and over for resources.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group for letting me read and review this title. ( All views are my own)
The book is called Grow in the Dark but it is so much more. It has so many helpful hints and tips for all houseplant growing and all told in a friendly manner. The chapters are Illumination, Hydration and Vitamins, Maintenance and finally plant profiles which help you decide which plants will grow under which lighting.
I have come away learning so much more about how to look after all my houseplants and now know which to buy for the darker areas. Definately a book I will use over and over for resources.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group for letting me read and review this title. ( All views are my own)
November 11, 2021
Well written and detailed, Grow in the Dark is a book I highly recommend.
Synopsis:
Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants.
Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets.
Synopsis:
Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants.
Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets.
August 21, 2019
A comprehensive, easy to read book for growing plants that don't require a lot of light, perfect for anyone from beginners to expert green thumbs. There's a lot of helpful information packed in this book, from tips on how to improve your light to which plants are/aren't toxic to pets. At the end there's a list of 50 plants that will do well with less light- I can personally vouch for the pothos; I have one that's at least 25 years old, living happily in a northern facing window with indirect sunlight! A very good reference for anyone wanting to brighten their living space with happy plants!
#GrowInTheDark #NetGalley
#GrowInTheDark #NetGalley
December 5, 2021
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while because of the cover and title of the book. I know to not judge a book by its cover but it really drew me in honestly and I’m happy that I took the time to read it and take notes. The one thing that I learned is that I didn’t understand how plants worked. And most of the people I asked didn’t know how to explain how they cared for plants; they just… did it. Im excited to say that after reading this book I want to try my hand at a plant and put my new found knowledge to test. I recommend this book to any beginner!
June 2, 2022
I saw this book at work and was very intrigued because we have a lot of north-facing windows in our house and these windows don't get as much light as our other windows. My bedroom happens to be on that side of the house so I was curious how readily I could grow plants in that space. I really liked this book and found the information easy to follow. I'll definitely be using it for reference as I continue my plant parenting journey.
December 21, 2022
Very informative and accurate. Many of the recommended plants need high humidity, though.
Either you invest some money in a humidifier or you'd better leave those plants at th garden center.
I am struggling with Calathea, Syngonium, epipremnum, scindapsus, dieffenbachia spp. I have between 45% and 55% rel. humidity indoor (even with radiators on) which is not too bad but these species seem to be very picky about it.
Either you invest some money in a humidifier or you'd better leave those plants at th garden center.
I am struggling with Calathea, Syngonium, epipremnum, scindapsus, dieffenbachia spp. I have between 45% and 55% rel. humidity indoor (even with radiators on) which is not too bad but these species seem to be very picky about it.
June 12, 2019
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Growing plants in low light is always a challenge, and this charming book gives many tips and suggestions for doing so. Especially valuable is the list of plants that will tolerate a low light situation. Relevant and useful, this is a book for many gardeners and plant lovers alike.
Growing plants in low light is always a challenge, and this charming book gives many tips and suggestions for doing so. Especially valuable is the list of plants that will tolerate a low light situation. Relevant and useful, this is a book for many gardeners and plant lovers alike.
July 12, 2020
Would totally recommend if you are looking to get yourself some houseplants but you don’t have a balcony/garden and are new to the world of plants. This book has detailed info on where to place them, how to take care of them properly and which one to chose depending on the lightning in your home. Plus I love the graphic design!
November 20, 2020
This was just what I was looking for! My motivation has been restored: if you live in a darker living space, don't lose hope - you can still grow beautiful plants!!! This is beautiful book with a modern aesthetic, aimed towards beginners. I already bought two new houseplants with its guidance, and have added a bunch more to my wish list. Happy plant shopping!
March 28, 2022
Full of info and roughly 50 plants that do well in a variety of light settings (mostly indirect to low). The book covers other info such as watering, lighting, fertilization, temperature considerations, re-potting, pest control, etc.
I have only one south facing window so I used this to research what plants would do best in the other windows in my place. Found this book quite helpful.
I have only one south facing window so I used this to research what plants would do best in the other windows in my place. Found this book quite helpful.
June 19, 2019
An interesting book full of useful information and advice. I liked how the book is organized and the pictures.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
July 11, 2019
As a beginner plant grower this was a great book to read. Informative and interesting. Living in a basement apartment with few windows, this helped me find the right plants for me. Love the pictures.
April 7, 2020
I really liked the detailed plant care guide. It came just as I had to deal with pests on my plants -- still dealing with it actually. I also want to add a quarter amount of fertilizer to my water, as suggested in this book.
July 21, 2023
Titre racoleur !
On parle principalement de plantes qui préfèrent une lumière moyenne à une faible…
Quelques chapitres intéressant sinon principalement sur la lumière et l’arrosage.
Sommes toute, une location plus qu’un achat.
On parle principalement de plantes qui préfèrent une lumière moyenne à une faible…
Quelques chapitres intéressant sinon principalement sur la lumière et l’arrosage.
Sommes toute, une location plus qu’un achat.
January 13, 2024
This one has LOTS of really great advice if you have a home with less than ideal natural light for growing plants.
The photographs are really beautiful too.
I’d recommend this to a friend for sure! But I don’t think I’d buy as a reference book to keep on hand for myself.
The photographs are really beautiful too.
I’d recommend this to a friend for sure! But I don’t think I’d buy as a reference book to keep on hand for myself.
May 9, 2019
A good look at houseplants and how best to keep them happy and healthy. Lots of big, beautiful images and I even got some good ideas from it!
February 16, 2020
Well-researched and informative while written in clear, concise language. I do wish it had contained more variety of low-light loving plants.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews