Customer Reviews

Making More Plants: The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The title of this book says it all and the book, as unbelievable as it may be, delivers it all. Whether you want to learn about propagation by seed, cutting, layering, grafting, division, leaves, roots or how to propagate geophytes, the clear, detailed instructions and step-by-step photos will get you working in no time. Ken Druse, gardener and photographer extraordinaire, has packed this book with photos and has not started in on the details without providing plenty of preparation tips including information on seed collecting and storing and a quick botany lesson. And Druse doesn't leave you guessing about how to propagate the plants you want - an extensive appendix fills you in on the best methods for specific plants by listing them alphabetically. Making More Plants is incredibly useful as both a quick reference and as a gardening textbook for learning more complex techniques.

After 5 years of raising a bazillion plants from seed and just finishing a 3 month course on plant propagation (and trying to figure out how to turn my kitchen into a clean room for the purpose of tissue culture without driving my husband to divorce court), I saw Ken Druse's book reviewed in 'Garden Design ' magazine and ordered it. Not only is this book exquisitely photographed to the point of tears, (I get very emotional about plants, except marigolds) it has excellent information and clear directions which put my propagation textbook to shame. If you raise more than ten plants from seed, you will eventually want thousands of plants and Ken is your man. The step by step instructions are clear and botanically correct. The photographs are achingly beautiful but more importantly, tell you what to do, why and how, yet without putting you to sleep like above-mentioned textbook. In fact, you may need two copies, one to fill in as the proverbial coffee table amusement and another to take to your greenhouse or shed or wherever you commit these delightful little acts of plant reproduction. Oh, and maybe one for the bedroom on slow nights. And maybe the bathroom. One for the car for long trips. This book is that good.

This book explains everything I want to know about preparing, sowing, and grafting plants. Mr. Druse has answered every question I've had. very well written. Easy to understand. Great detail.

This is one of those rare books that has excellent content as well as being visually stunning. I've learned from this book how to propagate many of my own plants - by getting cuttings and seeds from neighbors, friends and countryside. The beautiful photography is great eye candy for any plant lover. Highly recommended.

While I'm a relative newby to the propagation world, I strongly recommend this book on several merits. Ken Druse communicates eloquently the science of plant propagation, and yet his photography strongly appeals to one's artistic sense. Most books on propagation or starting seed are dry, blandly illustrated, and really don't do much to foster the art of the science. Ken has done it all. You simply cannot help but daydream while paging through the book.

A treasured addition to your botanical book collection, Ken Druse will share space with greats like Rosemary Verey, Penelope Hobhouse, and Mary Keen.

Having previously failed at stem cuttings, I was delighted to have my first babies grow after following Druse's instructions. The pictures are very helpful and he gives enough detail that one does the right things the first time. Nothing succeeds every time, but this book is a gem.

Simply the best book written on plant propagation.

Book contains 22 pages on botany, 10 pages on how to hybridize, 14 pages on seed collecting, 14 pages on seed conditioning, 24 pages on sowing, 14 pages on vegetative reproduction, 44 pages on cuttings, 12 pages on layering, 12 pages on grafting, 16 pages on division, 24 pages on bulbs and roots, 3 pages on tissue culture, 16 pages of plant specific notes, 4 page cross-name reference, 4 pages of plant suppliers, 4 page glossary, and 5 page index.

Each section contains dozens of photographs displaying the "how to" approach described in the text. Excellent information and easy to follow instructions. Every page contains a tip or trick about plant propagation.

My favorite section is the 16 pages of plant specific propagation notes and comments. Hundreds of plants are listed. It's like reading Mother Nature's secret diary! Everything you every wanted to know about how to make more plants (but growers never would tell you) is contained in this section. All alone, these propagation notes are worth the price of the book.

If you want to get your hands dirty, this is a great "how to" guide for plant propagation. You'll recover the cost of this book over your next garden season.

Excellent information!

This book was given to me for Christmas by my husband. I had not seen it before and I was completely staggered by the combination of very full information about propagation with the incredible photographs and the overall passion for every growing thing that is expressed here. It is unusual to find a "how to book" that contains the visual perfection found in this volume. No plant lover-gardener should be without it.

This book was given to me for Christmas by my husband. I had not seen it before and I was completely staggered by the combination of very full information about propagation with the incredible photographs and the overall passion for every growing thing that is expressed here. It is unusual to find a "how to book" that contains the visual perfection found in this volume. No plant lover-gardener should be without it.

Ken Druse has "done it again" -- a beautiful, useful book that any gardener (amature or master) will want to own. When mine arrived from Amazon, I put down everything and started reading. Everything the other reviewers said is accurate, and so I won't repeat that here.

However, there is one thing that no one has mentioned: the type is tiny! Even with my reading glasses -- which I hardly ever have to wear -- I still end up squinting. I think that the stylist for the book made a decision that while elegant is hardly in the best interest of the reader. Given that Mr. Druse is a magazine editor, it is not surprising that the pages are in multiple column layout, but it is suprising with the small type how dense it all seems.

This is an excellent reference guide and the copious appendixes are probably the best I have seen in any reference material.