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The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making More Houseplants . . . for Free!
Make more houseplants (for free!) with this comprehensive bible of propagation techniques, featuring clear, step-by-step instructions covering over a dozen methods for over 80 different houseplants.
Accompanied by full-color photographs and beautiful illustrations,The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation offers all the the horticultural know-how you need to make new plants from existing plants. Learn how to successfully take stem, leaf, and petiole cuttings of your favorite houseplants, plus get plenty of insight into air and soil layering, division of offsets, water propagation, and even houseplant seed germination. Whether you are a beginner or advanced houseplant enthusiast, the easy-to-follow format allows you to start propagating right away. This is also the first book to take a deep dive into the pollination and breeding of Anthuriums to create your own unique hybrids, at home!
Author Lindsay Sisti of @alltheplantbabies also introduces the best tools for different propagation techniques and shares the lowdown on various growing mediums to use with each propagation method.
With help from The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation you’ll be able
Take leaf cuttings of your favorite succulentDivide the corms of your Alocasia plantSeparate aerial and underground tubers from a String of Hearts plantMake more Anthuriums through leaf cuttings, divisions, and seed propagationRoot Hoyas and Snake Plants by taking stem cuttingsAir layer your Philodendron or Monstera Propagate your ZZ Plant by dividing the rhizome or rooting leaf cuttings Take petiole cuttings of Pileas, Peperomias, Begonias, and many others
Whether your houseplant collection is focused on tropicals or succulents (or is a combination of both!), level-up your houseplant game by diving into DIY plant propagation. It’s fun and easy—but only with the right guide at your side. This is the comprehensive propagation handbook you have been waiting for.
Accompanied by full-color photographs and beautiful illustrations,The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation offers all the the horticultural know-how you need to make new plants from existing plants. Learn how to successfully take stem, leaf, and petiole cuttings of your favorite houseplants, plus get plenty of insight into air and soil layering, division of offsets, water propagation, and even houseplant seed germination. Whether you are a beginner or advanced houseplant enthusiast, the easy-to-follow format allows you to start propagating right away. This is also the first book to take a deep dive into the pollination and breeding of Anthuriums to create your own unique hybrids, at home!
Author Lindsay Sisti of @alltheplantbabies also introduces the best tools for different propagation techniques and shares the lowdown on various growing mediums to use with each propagation method.
With help from The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation you’ll be able
Take leaf cuttings of your favorite succulentDivide the corms of your Alocasia plantSeparate aerial and underground tubers from a String of Hearts plantMake more Anthuriums through leaf cuttings, divisions, and seed propagationRoot Hoyas and Snake Plants by taking stem cuttingsAir layer your Philodendron or Monstera Propagate your ZZ Plant by dividing the rhizome or rooting leaf cuttings Take petiole cuttings of Pileas, Peperomias, Begonias, and many others
Whether your houseplant collection is focused on tropicals or succulents (or is a combination of both!), level-up your houseplant game by diving into DIY plant propagation. It’s fun and easy—but only with the right guide at your side. This is the comprehensive propagation handbook you have been waiting for.
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Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 10, 2024
This was a great introduction to how to propagate plants. I’m newer to being a plant owner so I am still learning so much about what plants really need. This was a great book for anyone who wants to propagate! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propogation is a comprehensive guide to propogating various indoor plants. Sisti covers a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
"The only thing more rewarding than growing a single houseplant to its fullest potential is propogating it to make many houseplants that you grow to their fullest potential."
As a beginner to houseplants this was everything I needed out of a propogation guide! I've cared for succulents to varying degrees of success, and I've been thinking about creating some plant offspring. Though I had no idea where to start. So when this book came across my screen I grabbed the chance to read it with both hands.
I finished The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propogation in just two days. Sisti's writing just kept me reading. In-depth theoretical information is combined with a dash of humour. Besides this the design of this guide is just gorgeous. From the very cohesive colour scheme and fonts to wonderful illustrations to bright and clean pictures. It is obvious a lot of love and dedication went into the creation of this book.
"Every time I look at a plant, I immediately see the potential for how many new plants it could become or produce."
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propogation is perfect beginners. Besides that it also makes great reference material. There are clear chapters, an extensive index and Sisti references different pages and chapters when needed so you can easily refer back to and read the chapters out of order.
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press and Lindsay Sisti for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
"The only thing more rewarding than growing a single houseplant to its fullest potential is propogating it to make many houseplants that you grow to their fullest potential."
As a beginner to houseplants this was everything I needed out of a propogation guide! I've cared for succulents to varying degrees of success, and I've been thinking about creating some plant offspring. Though I had no idea where to start. So when this book came across my screen I grabbed the chance to read it with both hands.
I finished The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propogation in just two days. Sisti's writing just kept me reading. In-depth theoretical information is combined with a dash of humour. Besides this the design of this guide is just gorgeous. From the very cohesive colour scheme and fonts to wonderful illustrations to bright and clean pictures. It is obvious a lot of love and dedication went into the creation of this book.
"Every time I look at a plant, I immediately see the potential for how many new plants it could become or produce."
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propogation is perfect beginners. Besides that it also makes great reference material. There are clear chapters, an extensive index and Sisti references different pages and chapters when needed so you can easily refer back to and read the chapters out of order.
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press and Lindsay Sisti for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 2, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation is a colorful and accessible guide to propagating some of the more common houseplants written by Lindsay Sisti. Released 31st Dec 2024 by Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The author is active in the aroid community (with some of the big, eye-wateringly expensive showy plants like special varieties of philodendron and alocasia) and she really knows what she's talking about. This book is, interestingly, both a beginner's guide and a much more in-depth intermediate-expert guide. It will suit readers of all levels and will be sufficient to most needs.
She shows the different methods of propagation (leaf cuttings, divisions, air layering, offsets, rhizome and root cuttings, and lots more. The book contains one of the better tutorials on artificial lights and propagation setups (as well as cleanliness and tools) that I've seen. Readers are invited to use as much or as little of the techniques as they wish of course, but her success with a lot of tricky species and varieties is unquestionable.
The author uses proper nomenclature throughout, happily, and the book is beautifully photographed and illustrated clearly and in color.
Five stars. It would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, gardening groups, activity groups, and home reference.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation is a colorful and accessible guide to propagating some of the more common houseplants written by Lindsay Sisti. Released 31st Dec 2024 by Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The author is active in the aroid community (with some of the big, eye-wateringly expensive showy plants like special varieties of philodendron and alocasia) and she really knows what she's talking about. This book is, interestingly, both a beginner's guide and a much more in-depth intermediate-expert guide. It will suit readers of all levels and will be sufficient to most needs.
She shows the different methods of propagation (leaf cuttings, divisions, air layering, offsets, rhizome and root cuttings, and lots more. The book contains one of the better tutorials on artificial lights and propagation setups (as well as cleanliness and tools) that I've seen. Readers are invited to use as much or as little of the techniques as they wish of course, but her success with a lot of tricky species and varieties is unquestionable.
The author uses proper nomenclature throughout, happily, and the book is beautifully photographed and illustrated clearly and in color.
Five stars. It would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, gardening groups, activity groups, and home reference.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
November 11, 2024
This is an extremely detailed book that really goes into the science and terminology of propagation. It was almost too detailed for me. There was so much information it sometimes felt overwhelming and she gives very in depth information about doing each type of propagation with one example plant for each, when I would have preferred a ton of kinds of plants listed with a photo and quick instructions on how to easily do each.
I love propagating and I have been doing it for years but I am LAZY. I do a million things half *ss instead of one thing perfectly. So for geraniums (I keep my potted geraniums inside all fall and winter as blooming houseplants) I cut off a stem and put it in some moist soil and so far it has always rooted. I have some coleus in water above my sink right now that have lovely roots and are ready to be potted up. But I also have a bunch of leggy plants I’d love to use for babies and some of them I’m unfamiliar with propagating. I don’t want to buy special mediums and cover the babies with the proper thing to keep humidity right and (sorry) sterilize my specialty scissors. I don’t want to try weird propagation trends from social media. I just want a list with names and pictures of a ton of plants (sometimes I own them and still don’t know what they are called) and to find out the easiest way to do each one.
This book is perfect for people who want to do things properly and learn everything there is to learn. That isn’t me, but it’s a great book for those folks.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.
I love propagating and I have been doing it for years but I am LAZY. I do a million things half *ss instead of one thing perfectly. So for geraniums (I keep my potted geraniums inside all fall and winter as blooming houseplants) I cut off a stem and put it in some moist soil and so far it has always rooted. I have some coleus in water above my sink right now that have lovely roots and are ready to be potted up. But I also have a bunch of leggy plants I’d love to use for babies and some of them I’m unfamiliar with propagating. I don’t want to buy special mediums and cover the babies with the proper thing to keep humidity right and (sorry) sterilize my specialty scissors. I don’t want to try weird propagation trends from social media. I just want a list with names and pictures of a ton of plants (sometimes I own them and still don’t know what they are called) and to find out the easiest way to do each one.
This book is perfect for people who want to do things properly and learn everything there is to learn. That isn’t me, but it’s a great book for those folks.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.
January 28, 2025
I received an e-copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Before this book my idea of propagating my plants is sticking a cutting in a glass of water and hoping for the best. Now though, I feel like I have a whole arsenal of tricks I can try to achieve better results. In fact, I may have a copy in my cart for my next book order...so that says something.
The author shows a verity of methods for propagation (leaf cuttings, divisions, air layering, offsets, rhizome/root cuttings, etc. She talks about lighting conditions, including artificial which I really appreciate as a former basement suite dweller. She goes into details about all sorts of things, like how to build your own propagation box, which I sent a lot of time studying admittedly. Some of the info is a little more technical, but I like that because it means the book will still be handy even as you grow past beginner level plant parent.
The whole book has beautiful pictures, some of which are labelled for your education. Everything is very cleanly laid out, so there is no confusion for the reader and, personally, my eyes don't get distracted with something completely unrelated (I still think of the 500+ recipe cookbook and shudder). I like the step up of the book, it all makes sense to my little brain.
Conclusion
I am VERY pleased with this book and I am buying a copy for my personal book collection.
Before this book my idea of propagating my plants is sticking a cutting in a glass of water and hoping for the best. Now though, I feel like I have a whole arsenal of tricks I can try to achieve better results. In fact, I may have a copy in my cart for my next book order...so that says something.
The author shows a verity of methods for propagation (leaf cuttings, divisions, air layering, offsets, rhizome/root cuttings, etc. She talks about lighting conditions, including artificial which I really appreciate as a former basement suite dweller. She goes into details about all sorts of things, like how to build your own propagation box, which I sent a lot of time studying admittedly. Some of the info is a little more technical, but I like that because it means the book will still be handy even as you grow past beginner level plant parent.
The whole book has beautiful pictures, some of which are labelled for your education. Everything is very cleanly laid out, so there is no confusion for the reader and, personally, my eyes don't get distracted with something completely unrelated (I still think of the 500+ recipe cookbook and shudder). I like the step up of the book, it all makes sense to my little brain.
Conclusion
I am VERY pleased with this book and I am buying a copy for my personal book collection.
November 20, 2024
Simply put, WOW. Lindsay Sisti's The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation is the ultimate resource for plant lovers looking to multiply their greenery. The guide is impressively thorough, covering every possible technique for propagation, including some methods I had never even considered. This book is an indispensable tool for anyone passionate about houseplants and eager to expand their collection.
One of the standout aspects of this guide is its excellent layout, which makes it easy to navigate and find what you need. This isn't a book you'll read once and put away—it's a practical reference you'll find yourself returning to time and again. The high-quality photos, clear labels, and practical tips scattered throughout make it even more useful and visually engaging, preparing you to apply the knowledge with confidence.
I highly recommend The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation to beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts. It is packed with valuable information that will leave you excited and confident about propagating your plants.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press for providing me with an e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review.
One of the standout aspects of this guide is its excellent layout, which makes it easy to navigate and find what you need. This isn't a book you'll read once and put away—it's a practical reference you'll find yourself returning to time and again. The high-quality photos, clear labels, and practical tips scattered throughout make it even more useful and visually engaging, preparing you to apply the knowledge with confidence.
I highly recommend The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation to beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts. It is packed with valuable information that will leave you excited and confident about propagating your plants.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press for providing me with an e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 20, 2025
This is a highly informative book that includes ANYTHING you would need to know to propagate plants. I have been a plant mom for many years, and propagating for the past few years. I am no expert by any means, but it is fun to experiment and try different things when propagating. This book takes all of the guess work out of it. It is FULL of photographs, labels, diagrams, descriptions, and information on all things propagation. The photographs are very detailed and very helpful, as it shows specifically where to cut to get the best piece to propagate. There is a lot of information on the best substrate, how to mix substrates, which plants to propagate in water, and the best environments for success. I can't speak on all of the amazing information this book contains, as it's impossible to list everything. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in plants and propagation beginner to expert. I think everyone can learn something from this book - I know I most definitely did! I will be referencing this book for years to come!
Thank you Lindsay Sisti and Cool Springs Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Thank you Lindsay Sisti and Cool Springs Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
November 19, 2024
I was SO hoping the entire book would be as gorgeous as this cover... I was not disappointed!
When something so informative double as a coffee table book, you know I'm in.
The book I would have done anything for in my plant hey-day, there is nothing left to be desired. Screw googling each kind of plant and how to chop and prop! Lindsay Sisti did the work for you, and created art in the meantime.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in propagation.
P.S. SAD light therapy lamps work like a CHARM for propping plants that can handle that much light!
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Lindsay Sisti, and Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}
When something so informative double as a coffee table book, you know I'm in.
The book I would have done anything for in my plant hey-day, there is nothing left to be desired. Screw googling each kind of plant and how to chop and prop! Lindsay Sisti did the work for you, and created art in the meantime.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in propagation.
P.S. SAD light therapy lamps work like a CHARM for propping plants that can handle that much light!
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Lindsay Sisti, and Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}
January 3, 2025
This is, as it says in the title, a guide to houseplant propagation. It's a particularly good example of this type of book because it's both scientific and friendly. It's written in a chatty, jokey style, with puns but it also explains how to propagate plants, starting with plant biology. It then looks at different types of propagation, and is specific about different types of plants as well. The photos are both illustrative and pretty. This is a great book for plant lovers, and it attractive and helpful enough that it would make a good gift. While I knew some of this already, reading this book has given me little more confidence and knowledge.
My thanks to NeGalley and the publishers who provided me with an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to NeGalley and the publishers who provided me with an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2024
If you are a plant parent like me you will learn so much from this resource and my plant collection is growing with these tips and tricks. It is very detailed and comprehensive. I think it would make a great gift for the avid houseplant grower. The photography and diagrams are easy to follow. This would be a perfect addition to a personal library and public library as it will be referenced time and time again.
Thank you Net Galley, Lindsay Sisti and Quatro Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title, The opinions shared are my own.
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation is expected to be released Dec. 31, 2024.
Thank you Net Galley, Lindsay Sisti and Quatro Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title, The opinions shared are my own.
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation is expected to be released Dec. 31, 2024.
June 7, 2025
I have been interested in learning more about plant propagation, so I was very pleased that NetGalley was kind enough to let me to read this book. I found this book to be very easy to read. I enjoy reading books about plants, but am often saddened when I do not have visuals to aid in the processing of information, so I was really happy to find beautiful pictures throughout this book. Also, her sense of humor within the book, made the material more accessible and less daunting. It is a great book for those who are interested in plant propagation; especially those who are beginning the journey!
November 24, 2024
If you've ever been interested in growing houseplants this book is a must. Its the bible basically with the ten commandments of propagation (not really). I learned a lot about how plants reproduce and the pictures are very helpful. The author also includes some dorky humor which keeps the book from reading like a botany textbook. Its very rewarding to turn one house plant into many, making more for yourself or sharing with friends and family. This book is your instruction manual to making it happen. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2024
As a houseplant lover I have tried to propagate my plants with mixed success!
This book is a great guide to propogation, providing information for beginners and those with more experience. It talks you through the different types of plant, the propagation methods available, mediums, environment and tools
This book is very detailed, but in a user- friendly format so is easy to read. The language used is humourous and informative and there are lots of beautiful photographs of houseplants.
I'm definitely inspired to try propagating a few of my plants again in Spring.
This book is a great guide to propogation, providing information for beginners and those with more experience. It talks you through the different types of plant, the propagation methods available, mediums, environment and tools
This book is very detailed, but in a user- friendly format so is easy to read. The language used is humourous and informative and there are lots of beautiful photographs of houseplants.
I'm definitely inspired to try propagating a few of my plants again in Spring.
April 22, 2025
Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for an eARC; all opinions are my own.
This book was interesting and fun to read and I learned A LOT about plants, particularly, propagating, in a very accessible way. It is clear that the author is passionate about plants and sharing knowledge as that came across in the text as well as the presentation of the information.
I feel more confident to try propagation on my own - while checking the book for guidance - and look forward to trying it out and seeing how it goes!
This book was interesting and fun to read and I learned A LOT about plants, particularly, propagating, in a very accessible way. It is clear that the author is passionate about plants and sharing knowledge as that came across in the text as well as the presentation of the information.
I feel more confident to try propagation on my own - while checking the book for guidance - and look forward to trying it out and seeing how it goes!
September 6, 2025
Highly recommended for house plant enthusiasts! Clear, step-by-step descriptions, and full color photographs.
The author is right, Fluval Stratum, is a miracle for propagation and struggling plants alike.
Stratum is that this soil comes from a single source: the foothills of the Mount Aso volcano in Japan, where the soil is rich in nutrients and minerals.
I like to start with a layer of LECA at the bottom, then add a mixture of perlite and Fluval Stratum together. I use this mixture for propagation and in my terrariums. Plants are happy and thriving!
The author is right, Fluval Stratum, is a miracle for propagation and struggling plants alike.
Stratum is that this soil comes from a single source: the foothills of the Mount Aso volcano in Japan, where the soil is rich in nutrients and minerals.
I like to start with a layer of LECA at the bottom, then add a mixture of perlite and Fluval Stratum together. I use this mixture for propagation and in my terrariums. Plants are happy and thriving!
December 28, 2024
Fantastic book! Great ideas, great methods, great instructions, great photographs, this book should be the bible for all those wishing to grow/expand/trade their houseplants. Not just a "take a plant and stick it in potting soil", it explains numerous methods of propagating your houseplants. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review, and have enjoyed it so much that I have pre-ordered a copy for myself and for my son! Buy it!
March 2, 2025
This is a very handy book for house plant enthusiasts. It has beautiful photos throughout, and very clear instructions. I have propagated many outdoor plants, but other than my philodendrons, no inside plants! This guide makes me feel more confident about doing so. The author goes into the anatomy of various plants, different methods, various mediums, etc. Recommended!
This eARC was provided by NetGalley and Cool Springs Press.
This eARC was provided by NetGalley and Cool Springs Press.
September 29, 2025
Great book. It explains what the best way to propagate different plants is. It has helped me with my monstera. I was trying to do cuttings and now I know why the cutting wasn't getting roots. I can fix it. I got this from the library and I think I will purchase this as it will be a good reference.
October 6, 2025
I've propagated lots of plants and this helped to teach me several new to me techniques and cleared some things up that I was confused about. not only is this book super informative for beginners and those further along in the hobby, it's also hilarious. I recommend it for anyone who has plants or a plant addiction (or a soon to be plant addiction with the help of this book) Happy propping!!
December 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
This is a great book for beginner plant parents and those who have been looking after plants for a while and want to get into propagating. It's very in-depth and would make a lovely gift.
This is a great book for beginner plant parents and those who have been looking after plants for a while and want to get into propagating. It's very in-depth and would make a lovely gift.
April 24, 2025
Cheeky & Fun! I love the way this book was written! So much helpful information. With great pictures and guides, I felt empowered to consider taking a clipping next time it’s offered!
December 16, 2025
LOL at the dedication - that speaks to my soul
Wow! This is an insanely visually appealing book that is detailed, informative and funny! I need a finished copy ASAP!
This is a perfect book for plant lovers who want to learn more about their plants and how to make plant babies!
I love that this is everything you’d need to learn about propagation in one clear and concise book! Propagation can feel so overwhelming but this book has me convinced I can be a plant baby making queen!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Cool Springs Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Wow! This is an insanely visually appealing book that is detailed, informative and funny! I need a finished copy ASAP!
This is a perfect book for plant lovers who want to learn more about their plants and how to make plant babies!
I love that this is everything you’d need to learn about propagation in one clear and concise book! Propagation can feel so overwhelming but this book has me convinced I can be a plant baby making queen!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Cool Springs Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews