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For Him / Her / Kids
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant by Veronica Peerless — the survival guide for new plant owners
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant (New Edition) by Veronica Peerless
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- New plant owners
- Pairs with a plant gift
- Quick reference
- Under $20
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Price: $11.28
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant is a compact DK guide by Veronica Peerless, a trained horticulturalist and garden designer. The new edition, published in December 2023, covers 119 indoor plants - their light, water, feeding, temperature and humidity needs - and helps readers diagnose problems such as yellow or drooping leaves. It also suggests plants for particular spots, such as bathrooms, dim corners and sunny windowsills. It is a 144-page hardcover.
Most people are given a houseplant long before they learn how to care for one. This short, practical book is the natural companion to a plant gift, and it suits anyone who has lost a plant and does not know why.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- Someone who just got their first plants
- A friend who keeps losing plants
- Pairing with a planter or a watering can
Think twice if
- They are an experienced collector
- They want deep profiles of rare plants
The catch
It is aimed at beginners, so experienced collectors may find it basic, and each plant gets a short entry rather than a deep profile.
Skip for a seasoned collector who already knows their plants well.
Key specs
| Author | Veronica Peerless |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DK, December 2023 (new edition) |
| Format | Hardcover, 144 pages |
| Size | 5-7/8 x 7-11/16 in |
| Coverage | 119 indoor plants |
| ISBN | 0744087880 / 9780744087888 |
Worth knowing before you buy
- The older 2017 edition and the UK edition are separate listings.
- Veronica Peerless is a trained horticulturalist.
Why we like it
- Covers 119 common houseplants
- Helps diagnose problems
- Suggests plants for each spot
- Small and inexpensive
What to look for in a houseplant book
- Their level. Beginner guides focus on survival; collector books go deep on rare plants.
- Problem solving. A diagnosis section helps when leaves yellow or droop.
- Edition. Newer editions cover more of today's popular plants.
Questions people ask
119 indoor plants.
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