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The Propagation Handbook: A Guide to Propagating Houseplants
In The Propagation Handbook , plant stylist Hilton Carter reveals how to grow and increase your own plant family by propagating existing plants.
Not only a plant lover, Hilton is passionate about propagation, the process of growing a brand new healthy and happy plant from part of an existing one. In this, his fifth book, Hilton talks us through the process of propagation and explains all the necessary techniques, from the very simplest to more complex methods, such as air layering and grafting. He describes exactly which method to use for different types of plant, and lists the tools essential for the process. In Hilton's own “You hear so much about plant ‘parenthood’, but knowing how to propagate and then watching as your little plant takes shape and develops into a full-grown plant is the very definition of this.”
Not only a plant lover, Hilton is passionate about propagation, the process of growing a brand new healthy and happy plant from part of an existing one. In this, his fifth book, Hilton talks us through the process of propagation and explains all the necessary techniques, from the very simplest to more complex methods, such as air layering and grafting. He describes exactly which method to use for different types of plant, and lists the tools essential for the process. In Hilton's own “You hear so much about plant ‘parenthood’, but knowing how to propagate and then watching as your little plant takes shape and develops into a full-grown plant is the very definition of this.”
- GenresNonfictionNaturePlants
160 pages, Hardcover
Published April 2, 2024
13 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 26, 2025
There are practical ideas on propagating plants and how to propagate different plants. Loved reading this book which will expand my hobby of propagating plants.
April 7, 2025
This book is actually pretty handy, unlike some other books of plants I have read recently.
The Propagation Handbook ACTUALLY explains how to propagate a variety of plants and thereby gives you to ability to propagate similar plants. The directions are quite clear and concise. It covers water, moss, air layer, grafting, etc. This part of the book is handy. The last half about various containers you can use is...less so.
I ended up skimming the vase and other container part of the book. Everybody knows all you basically need is a container that can hold water for long periods of time, like a small glass, test tube, shot glass, whatever. If it holds water you can use it. And for moss, if it seals pretty well, you nailed it. Look I summed up an entire chapter in two sentences guys! lol
The Propagation Handbook ACTUALLY explains how to propagate a variety of plants and thereby gives you to ability to propagate similar plants. The directions are quite clear and concise. It covers water, moss, air layer, grafting, etc. This part of the book is handy. The last half about various containers you can use is...less so.
I ended up skimming the vase and other container part of the book. Everybody knows all you basically need is a container that can hold water for long periods of time, like a small glass, test tube, shot glass, whatever. If it holds water you can use it. And for moss, if it seals pretty well, you nailed it. Look I summed up an entire chapter in two sentences guys! lol
May 21, 2024
Note:
This is the cover of the hardback book I have. My copy is not a Kindle Edition.
Very glad I purchased this book. It is colorful, inspirational, and seems to be full of great knowledge.
I'll have to check out a few of his other plant books!
This is the cover of the hardback book I have. My copy is not a Kindle Edition.
Very glad I purchased this book. It is colorful, inspirational, and seems to be full of great knowledge.
I'll have to check out a few of his other plant books!
January 1, 2025
I always enjoy Hilton Carter's books. The pictures, the styling and vibe are always on point! Recommend for plant lovers and those interested in propagating their collections and not knowing where to start.
April 5, 2024
Anything Hilton Carter puts together is thoughtful and cohesive. Another excellent care and styling guide!
Read
May 10, 2025was hoping that the techniques here would more obviously Translate to bushes and trees
June 22, 2024
This is the type of book I typically buy and then put on a shelf to gather dust. An aspirational read... a how-to of something that I'll probably just google instead, a book purchased for its pretty pictures. HOWEVER, I actually cracked the cover of this one and was very glad I did. It started a trend of me going through other similar picture-oriented how-to or aspirational books I've collected and actually reading them cover to cover (see: 'Living with Less' and 'The New Plant Parent,' both of which I was ultimately less keen on than this one which was better written and had better pictures.)
I'd seen Hilton Carter's garden accessories collections at Target and even own a beautiful propagation station that he did in a collab with the brand a few years back. So I guess I was already a 'fan'. I think he's also Insta-famous, but I don't follow him. Anyway, he's got an excellent aesthetic for styling house plants, so much so that he calls himself a 'plant stylist' by trade, and that makes for a very pretty book.
More than just pretty pictures, though, I actually learned a thing or two about my new hobby growing tropical houseplants (it feels like cheating since I live in the tropics, they practically grow themselves). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of the things I just started doing because they seemed intuitive were actually recommended as advice by this plant expert. Will be keeping this one around for reference as it breaks down by type of plant in the latter half the best methods of propagating. And what's better than having cool houseplants? Turning them into more cool houseplants. The end.
I'd seen Hilton Carter's garden accessories collections at Target and even own a beautiful propagation station that he did in a collab with the brand a few years back. So I guess I was already a 'fan'. I think he's also Insta-famous, but I don't follow him. Anyway, he's got an excellent aesthetic for styling house plants, so much so that he calls himself a 'plant stylist' by trade, and that makes for a very pretty book.
More than just pretty pictures, though, I actually learned a thing or two about my new hobby growing tropical houseplants (it feels like cheating since I live in the tropics, they practically grow themselves). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of the things I just started doing because they seemed intuitive were actually recommended as advice by this plant expert. Will be keeping this one around for reference as it breaks down by type of plant in the latter half the best methods of propagating. And what's better than having cool houseplants? Turning them into more cool houseplants. The end.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews