The Savage Garden, Revised: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants

Never had much luck growing carnivorous plants and the information was scarce and sometimes too much academic. I had to import some books from France to understand a little more about this amazing critters, but it was never quite suffice. This is a great and very interesting book with lots of important information. I wish I had found it earlier. - It would had save me lots of money in plants that died under my clumsy care and in boring books filed with scientific jargon that was in most cases useless in a practical manner to keep the plants alive and thriving. Pages and pages of dissertation about the discussion on how to or why to classify this particular species in this particular group. I call this Book a Manual because there are so much important stuff about how to grow, raise, reproduce, maintain, fertilize and feed Carnivorous Plants that is like a consulting book that stays available to know more and how to solve problems when they arrive with dealing with those amazing unusual plants. But don't get me wrong, No one reads manuals like reading a novel but you will read this book from its first page to the last one.Very well written and very interesting practical information with hundreds of pictures that will clarify your concept of Carnivorous Plants. Loved reading the book and the Author even throws some pieces of humor dealing with technical and scientific stuff. If you want to know about Carnivorous Plants, get this book.

I bought this book after I had purchased a Cobra Lily at my local nursery, and it's fantastic! Great photos, and had all the information I needed to know how to care for my plant. Very detailed care instructions on all types of carnivorous plants, and the info on terrariums was great. I couldn't put it down! I was especially interested in the natural history of the plants, and the information is incredibly thorough. Things like breakdown on the soil components and what kind of fertilizer is safe were very helpful too (I was always under the impression that carnivorous plants couldn't take fertilizer, which is a yes and no sort of thing). After I was done reading I was so excited about them I ended up ordering more plants online from the author's nursery. I had no idea so many carnivores were temperate climate plants. Before doing preliminary research I had been under the impression they were all tropical. This book definitely has a permanent spot on my shelf. I've been keeping various reptiles and insects for several years and really appreciate a well written and beautifully laid out care manual that has quality information. Some of it could be found online in bits and pieces, but nothing like what The Savage Garden has to offer. I didn't get to see the original version, but there are notes in the revised edition about what had been missing and what was updated. Five stars absolutely.

An amazing book, full of knowledge

A comprehensive, beautiful book. With this in hand, I'm ready to expand my collection with confidence.

The author did a bang-up job through the research and personal knowledge that went into the creation of this marvelous handbook. Anything and everything that anyone would want to learn about the world of carnivorous plants is here for the taking. From beginning to end, sections are displayed according to specific groups. Well-written and easy to understand, the origins and properties of the individual plants are well-defined. Stunning illustrations and drawings further provided me with a close-up look at the amazing abundance of a unique class of plants found on every corner of our planet. With no hesitation, this book comes recommended to readers of all genres.

I'm a professional horticulturist and i've always thought carnivorous plants were amazing, exotic. When i learned in high school that even my plain jane home state, Ohio, is native habitat for sundews and pitcher plants, I was hooked. I'm finally able to start my CP collection, and this book is an amazing resource, even better than I had hoped. Each genus has an overview, and each species has a very specific outline for its cultivation with things like optimum soil mix and suitability for different types of conditions. The pictures supplementing the text are good, clear, and usually from the author's collections. However, I like the pictures of the in the wild even better -- I will probably never get to see a meadow of Sarracena leucophylla growing wild. The author addresses the 'myth' of carnivorous plants as pest control with the truth (that theyre more often predated upon themselves) an even what pesticides work best for which pests. The authors years of experience are obvious with a casual, informed and easy-to-read book for pros and curious newcomers alike. Buy this book before you buy that pretty pitcher plant and feed it Miracle-Gro!

I learned alot from this second edition. This is by far, the best book out there that I have come across, on the subject of growing carnivorous plants. My only disapointment was that the author spoke to terrarium culture from his own experience - from a grower's perspective - mostly about tanks and grow lights. Terrarium information was not complete, from my experience, and there was some cultural information that I would have liked to have found as well. However, this book covers alot of territory and provides phenominal experience and information for anyone interested in this subject. Author also writes well - clear and concise thoughts. Extremely helpful and entertaining. A very worthy book.

I have the original edition that came out 20 years ago. I debated getting this revised edition (how much new material could it really have?). I am glad I bought it. Yes, much of the book is the same as the original. However, there is new material throughout: new info on fertilizers, advances in lighting and cultivars, even revisions in plant needs. If you don't have the earlier version, then this book is essential when growing CPs. There is a lot of online material available, but this book condenses it in one place. Plus, you can easily reference the material at any time. Very easily laid out. If you have the original version of the book, I would recommend this revised version as well, as it has enough new material to justify the price.