Jade Murry - Beginners Houseplant Garden: Top 40 Choices for Houseplant Success & Happiness

Begonia maculata (polka dot begonia)

Calathea lancifolia (rattlesnake plant), Calathea Medallion; Calathea makoyana (peacock plant)

To my three children, Jayden, Kamil, and Aurora-Mary,
who have been my driving force throughout life.

If Jayden were a plant, he would be a jade plant. If Kamil were
a plant, he would be a string of dolphins. And if Aurora-Mary
were a plant, she would be a Philodendron Pink Princess.

Copyright 2023 Jade Murray and Creative Homeowner

This book may not be reproduced, either in part or in its entirety, in any form, by any means, without written permission from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts for purposes of radio, television, or published review. All rights, including the right of translation, are reserved. Note: Be sure to familiarize yourself with manufacturers instructions for tools, equipment, and materials before beginning a project. Although all possible measures have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material presented, neither the author nor the publisher is liable in case of misinterpretation of directions, misapplication, or typographical error.

Creative Homeowner is a registered trademark of New Design Originals Corporation.

Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2022 as The Indoor Garden

Copyright Pimpernel Press Ltd 2022

Text copyright Jade Murray 2022

Illustrations copyright Jade Murray 2022

Beginners Houseplant Garden

Managing Editor: Gretchen Bacon

Copy Editor: Christa Oestreich

Designer: Wendy Reynolds

Images used from Shutterstock.com: Rawpixel.com (front cover), Cheng Wei (82 inset).

Print ISBN 978-1-58011-593-3
ISBN 978-1-63741-219-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022946001

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to .

Creative Homeowner, www.creativehomeowner.com, is an imprint of New Design Originals Corporation and distributed exclusively in North America by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 800-457-9112, 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552, and in the United Kingdom by Grantham Book Service, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ.

My Golden Rules for Starting
an Indoor Garden

Photographing Plants for
Social Media

Taking Care of Your Indoor Garden
during the Winter Months

Dracaena trifasciata (snake plant)

With a little bit of time, care, and attention, I believe we can all reap the benefits of what indoor plants have to offer. Plant care is self-care as they contribute to our peace of mind.

I might have grown up in the city, but I have always been a nature girl at heartappreciating the forever-changing sky, the leaves on trees blowing in the wind creating beautiful bursts of color. What I didnt know was that my love for plants and nature was going to follow me through to adulthood.

Living in a small house with a limited garden, I set out to try and work with nature in my home by starting my own indoor plant collection. I began with just three: Scindapsus pictus (satin silver pothos), Dischidia nummularia (string of nickels), and the gorgeous Aeschynanthus japhrolepsis (lipstick plant). These plants set me on my indoor plant journey.

I very quickly learned that, given the right conditions, it is indeed possible to grow and nurture just about any type of plant indoors. My passion and fascination continued to grow and quite quickly three plants had turned into fifty-five, with each and every one thriving, growing, and giving back in so many glorious ways. My indoor garden oasis was born. I had created a little pocket of plant heaven and brought the outside in, and somehow encapsulated the feel, smell, and essence of a tropical rain forest in my very own living space.

With limited room I found that having some of my plants hanging, clustered on shelving, or on a ladder shelfthereby creating a vertical gardenwould allow me to save space and expand my collection. On top of this, I started using spotlights and mirrors to reflect more light around my plants so they had 360 degrees of even light. Adding the mirrors also created an illusion of having an extra windowanother light source coming into the room.

We all should incorporate nature into our lives in one way or another, and what better way to start than by inviting nature into our indoor spaces? We all have green fingerswe just need to tap into them! With my user-friendly and practical book, you can easily navigate your way through indoor plant care and successfully achieve a thriving indoor garden, bringing calm and tranquillity into your life.

Two prayer plants and a Chinese evergreen (clockwise from top): Calathea, Aglaonema, Maranta.

When I first went plant shopping I was overwhelmed by the whole experience. I realized that I had not really thought about how plants were going to fit into my house. Just going out and randomly coming home with a plant you fancy does not work. So here I have compiled some rules to help you.