Vintage Indoor Gardening Boxed Set (4 Books) — Popular Library Gardening Series (1970s) — Elvin McDonald + Barbara Joan Grubman + H. Peter Loewer | Terrariums, Grow Lights, Hydroponics, Indoor Gardening

A shelf-ready vintage indoor gardening boxed set from the Popular Library Gardening Series—four practical little paperbacks that cover terrariums, water gardening (hydroculture), growing under lights, and classic houseplant care.

It’s pure 1970s “make your apartment a jungle” energy, with diagrams, how-tos, and plant problem-solving you can still use today. The slipcase-style book box makes it giftable and easy to store.

Photo-verified set and ready for your plant shelf.

Quick Specs

Item Type: Boxed set of 4 paperback books (with book box)

  1. Size: Book box: 7 × 4 × 2 in (photo + provided info)
  1. The World Book of House Plants: 7 × 4 × 1 in (provided)
  2. The Complete Book of Gardening Under Lights: 7 × 4 × 0.25 in (provided)
  3. The Indoor Water Gardener’s How-To Handbook: 7 × 4 × 0.25 in (provided)
  4. Introduction to Terrariums: 113 pages (provided)

Material: Paperbacks + printed cardboard book box

Color: Green slipcase/box; mixed cover art (plants/terrariums)

Origin or Maker: Popular Library • New York (photo-shown)

Year or Era: 1970s (Popular Library editions shown: Sept 1976; other dates vary by title)

GENRE: Indoor Gardening / Houseplants / Horticulture Reference

Language / Pages: English

  1. House Plants: 320 pages  
  2. Gardening Under Lights: 221 pages  
  3. Indoor Water Gardener: 125 pages  
  4. Terrariums: 113 pages  

Identifiers: ISBN 0-445-03014-3 (Gardening Under Lights — photo-shown)

Edition & Features

  • Condition/Printing: Popular Library editions (photo-shown); exact printings beyond edition month not provided
  • Dust Jacket: Not provided (paperbacks; housed in a book box)
  • Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Line drawings + photographs (photo-shown credits; some titles include photo sections)
  • Extras: Matching slipcase/book box with series title on the spine (photo-shown)

Condition Grade: Good

Notes: Light-to-moderate shelf wear consistent with age; page toning/yellowing visible; box shows edge/corner wear and scuffs (photo-shown). Pages shown look readable and intact.

  • 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.

If your plants had a “starter pack,” it would look a lot like this—four little guides that punch above their size.

Disclaimer

All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description. 

While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.

Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.

Good to Know Before You Buy

Yes. Every photo on this page is the actual item you will receive. Not a stock photo, not a similar copy. What you see is what ships.

Honestly. This is vintage, so expect some age. When I find wear, writing, stains, loose pages, chips, or missing pieces, I note them and show them in the photos. Some marks add character. Some are just flaws. I tell you which is which so you can decide if this is the right one for you.

With care. Old books and fragile pieces are wrapped and boxed so they arrive the way they left me. Careful packing is one of the things buyers mention most in their reviews. Orders of $35 or more ship free.

Probably not. Everything here is one of a kind, and I rarely find the same item twice. Once it sells, it is gone. Vintage does not restock neatly.