Bring your indoor jungle to life with this classic Sunset guide. In clear steps, it covers light, water, soil, and troubleshooting for today’s most-loved houseplants.
Because it includes projects (terrariums, miniature gardens, kid activities) and a year-round planner, it’s as useful now as it was in the ’70s. Clean, photo-verified, and ready for your shelf.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Book (softcover)
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Size: 11 x 9 inches
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Material: Paper wraps; paper pages
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Color: Warm golden-yellow cover with green interior-garden photo; cream pages
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Origin or Maker: Lane Books (Sunset), Menlo Park, California
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Year or Era: 1968 copyright; 18th printing June 1974
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Genre: Gardening, Houseplants, Indoor Gardening
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Language / Pages: English, 96 pages
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Identifiers: LCCN 68-23238 (per copyright page)
Edition & Features
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Illustrations/Layouts: Black-and-white photos, diagrams, and step-by-step features; index included
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Topics Covered: Basics; foliage & blossom plants; African violets; indoor-outdoor plants; succulents & cactus; bromeliads; orchids; pests & diseases; fluorescent-light gardening; year-round guide
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Extras: Projects for kids; bottle gardens; miniature gardens; terrariums; “what to do when a new plant arrives”
Condition
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Grade: Good vintage condition
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Notes: Light edge and corner wear to wraps; small dark mark near upper left front; mild spine rub; interior pages clean with gentle age toning; binding sound.
- See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
Provenance & Notes
From an estate collection in Michigan. Classic Sunset style pairs well with modern plant décor.
About the Author / Maker
Created by the Sunset Editorial Staff (ed. Barbara Pesch). Sunset/Lane Books produced practical, photo-rich home and garden guides trusted by generations of readers.
Ready to use as an everyday plant manual—or to style your coffee table—add this retro-reliable guide to your cart before another plant lover grabs it.
Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide. While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
About Reading Vintage
At Reading Vintage, I curate one-of-a-kind treasures for book lovers, decorators, and collectors—including vintage books, retro bookends, and charming collectible pieces.
