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saintrobot's review against another edition
4.0
Even if you don't want to grow carnivorous plants, you should read this book. Fair warning: you will want to grow carnivorous plants after you read this book.
There are lovely pictures throughout and, by nature of information, this book wonderfully demystifies CPs so that you will want to start your own bog. I love that the author gives very practical advice and where some plants are just not suitable for an environment, he offers alternatives. I've read this book a few times over the span of a couple of days. I would really like to read Natch Greyes' book on the same subject because I hear it's close second, if not just as good.
There are lovely pictures throughout and, by nature of information, this book wonderfully demystifies CPs so that you will want to start your own bog. I love that the author gives very practical advice and where some plants are just not suitable for an environment, he offers alternatives. I've read this book a few times over the span of a couple of days. I would really like to read Natch Greyes' book on the same subject because I hear it's close second, if not just as good.
hotwheels47125's review against another edition
5.0
I have brought 10 different species of Carnivorous Plants from Northern & Tropical Pitchers, Venus Fly Traps, 3 varieties of Butterworts and 4 varieties of Sundews to a happy healthy state of flowering (the vft I didn't allow to flower) thanks to the brilliant advice, layout, and text of this magnificent book!
keegan53's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A wonderful introduction to carnivorous plants! I didn’t read the whole book, as it covers many different carnivorous plants, and I was only looking for info on Venus Flytraps. The author really knows what he’s talking about. However, he does sound really pretentious at times. If you can get past that, this book is full of wonderful info. Note that it is a bit outdated and lacking in info in the section on artificial lighting for carnivorous plants. Understandable, the book was published in 2013 so there’s lots more to learn now!
jsilber42's review against another edition
5.0
This is basically the Bible of carnivorous plants. The beginning section talks in general about how to grow and care for them. The bulk of the volume is a reference tome on the main genuses of carnivorous plants (sundews, venus flytraps, American pitcher plants, Asian pitcher plants, and a few others). Each type of plant is discussed in a general sense, followed by amazingly detailed listings of subtypes with descriptions and photos (and noting if anything about caring for that particular subspecies stands out from the norm), and finishing with a detailed care guide for the genus, including propagation methods.
The book isn't perfect. I'd have liked more detail on plant care and troubleshooting both in a general sense and for some of the more particular plants. Some of the species descriptions lack pictures to go with them (although the book has an absurd wealth of photos, honestly).
Some of this information is available online (most nurseries that sell online have at least some basic care information), and if you are just interested in, say, growing a single Venus flytrap, you don't necessarily need this book. But if you are interested in collecting and growing a variety of carnivorous plants, or just want to learn about the wide variety of species, this is a book you should own.
The book isn't perfect. I'd have liked more detail on plant care and troubleshooting both in a general sense and for some of the more particular plants. Some of the species descriptions lack pictures to go with them (although the book has an absurd wealth of photos, honestly).
Some of this information is available online (most nurseries that sell online have at least some basic care information), and if you are just interested in, say, growing a single Venus flytrap, you don't necessarily need this book. But if you are interested in collecting and growing a variety of carnivorous plants, or just want to learn about the wide variety of species, this is a book you should own.
roary47's review against another edition
3.0
Very informative with all types of carnivorous plants. Broken up well and should be used as a reference to start cultivation or to be informed of the differences in species.
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