Hello. I'm trying to learn a thing or 20 about the plant world. My wife has a green thumb and I figured I should surprise her and educate myself about her passion for plants. She loves plants and since I love her I was hoping it could bring us closer together if we could do plant stuff together. (I think it would be easier than getting her to go fishing with me)
We live in Florida , she loves house plants mostly I think. We have a garden and fruit trees but mostly she enjoys all the plants in and around our house. I know we have lots of succulents & cactus, Philodendrons,stag horns,a handful monstera, lots of hanging plants and countless jars everywhere of things she is propagating. She has so many plants around that I'm not sure what they even are. What I do know is that most of them are not flowers. So here is my question .
Is there any good recommendations for books or websites for newbies that might help me learn about all these different plants? I've been going to the nurseries in my area and asking them about certain plants but I don't want to keep bugging them. Thanks for your help.

Keith you have found the perfect place for newbie plant people. There are so many people here that can help you learn about the plant.
For starters, here is the forum for people in Florida. https://garden.org/forums/view...
Succulents and Cactus https://garden.org/forums/view...
House plants https://garden.org/forums/view...
And here is a list of all the forums here at NGA https://garden.org/forums/
I think it is wonderful that you want to learn more about what your wife loves.

We have a huge database of plants here. Just do a search for the plant you want to learn more about. https://garden.org/plants/

We all love to help here, so just jump right in. Have fun. And maybe you can show your wife this website?

Welcome, Keith.

Lynn was absolutely right that we love to help plus she made a great list for you.There's one more forum that you might want to look at:
https://garden.org/forums/view...
There are many types of bromeliads and they can be grown indoors or outside. (They also can make babies!)

Have to say that your intro was so touching. Warmed my heart. And maybe, just maybe, you might be able to get your wife to go fishing with you. 😸

tx_flower_child said: you might be able to get your wife to go fishing with you. 😸

And... Here I was thinking about the value of different people having different interests...

Rather than horning in on the wife's hobby... I'd suggest starting a vegetable garden out in the yard.

tallahassee has the kind of climate that would permit year round vegetables of one kind or another...

If you are sincere in wanting to share an activity with your wife, I suggest that you discuss it with her. She may have other ideas. If she agrees to your suggestion, let her be your guide and teacher. Find out how you can best be of help to her. You have to be willing to pay your dues and work from the ground up. Gardening is something that is learned through experience not so much through books and the internet. It also requires lots of patience.

There are a few book titles by Miles Anderson with names like "the complete illustrated guide" or "the ultimate book" of cacti and succulents that I would recommend as a way of widening your horizons. You might be able to find a used copy if you look. The illustrations are awesome and the text is both accessible and informative. There's also a series of relatively affordable books by Jeff Moore with very colorful pictures and helpful descriptions. You might start with "Under the Spell of Succulents" (the first). Also check books by Debra Lee Baldwin, maybe start with the well illustrated "Succulent Container Gardens". All of these books are image-oriented (a plus for engagement) with plenty of surprises, and suitable for shared discovery.

Great choices Baja. And many can be found on Amazon sold as used books, less expensive that way.

By all means save the planet by buying and reusing somebody else's book.

If you prefer a virtual tour of the succulent world, why not browse some of the photos we have in the plant database, including pages for specific genera here: Aeonium, Agave, Aloe, Dudleya, Echeveria, Pachypodium, Sempervivum.

I would also invite you to visit the forums linked above, maybe stop by the succulent chat thread, see what's happening in people's gardens.

The thread "Cactus and succulents chat" in Cactus and Succulents forum

Before you buy any books, check your local library.

I think Will probably has it right - discuss it with your wife.

Welcome Keith,

You can visit your Agricultural Extension and they will be more than happy to recommend books on plants specifically for your Florida area. You can also find lots of information at: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ifas....