Timber Press Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias Paperback – Illustrated, 30 September 2014

I was hoping for in-depth information on air plants, especially on individual species and their growing requirements. This book only took about half an hour to read, and it didn't contain any information that isn't freely available on the internet. I didn't learn anything new from it, despite being new to air plants (I only bought my first ones 3 days ago). The book is mostly photos, and especially photos of things that you can sit your air plants on or in, most of which I found uninspiring (a few of them were ok, but I don't want to pay to see 12 pages of plants sitting in different shallow bowls, 4 pages of plants sitting in leather pots, etc...) and you can certainly get a lot more ideas from a quick search on Pinterest.Despite the book being called "Air Plants" the author tells us that she doesn't like to call them air plants and calls them Tillandsias throughout the book. She is American and there are references to things like a "dime-sized" this or a "nickel-sized" that, brand name products that you can't buy in the UK and lots of references to the nursery in California where she works.She tells us that air plants need good ventilation and terrariums provide poor ventilation, but then spends 24 pages telling us how to make terrariums. She does say that the terrariums should be dismantled after a short while, so that the plants can be put in a well-ventilated place, but who wants to dismantle something beautiful that they lovingly created? And one of the attractions of air plants is that they are relatively low maintenance.I've looked at a lot of dedicated air plant websites that say if you want to mount the plants on wood you should put the glue on the wood, not the plant, then attach the plant keeping the root area away from the glue. The author of this book tells us to put the glue directly onto the plant's roots. She tells us that we should only water the plant and not the wood that it is mounted onto, illustrated by her soaking a piece of wood under a tap.Really disappointing. I recommend that you do an internet search on air plants and use the money you save to buy a few air plants.

One reviewer comments that there is more information on the Internet. That's as may be but the bloggers and YouTubers contradict each other and give wrong advice as often as correct. This book on the other hand is stuffed with beautiful photographs to assist you in making your plant choices but more importantly, it has sections on understanding and caring for the plants you may already have.The author speaks directly to you and expresses her opinions like a friend guiding you through the subject, which I like in this instance.My own tillandsia live in goldfish bowls but this book is encouraging me to consider more artistic designs for them, however temporary (on a ring or necklace?). The fabulous monster on the cover, tillandsia xerographic, may well be my next choice.There are very few books on air plants in print and any would be of help but this is 200+ pages of well illustrated information for about a tenner. I cannot recommend it too highly.

Great book for anyone wanting to start getting into air plants, lots of information and pictures.Also lots of good ideas for future projects

As a newcomer to air plants I was hoping for information about growing them. I chose the wrong book as this has limited and basic guidance and is mostly about how to display the little guys in, frankly, rather tacky ways.

Bought as a gift and the person is enjoying reading it. Has nice clear pictures as well as good information.