Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses

Sale Price: $175.00

Rating: 68 Reviews

One of my absolute favorite books! THE bible of plant propagation!

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propogation and Uses

Sale Price: $61.60

Product Summary: Their identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.

Rating: 17 Reviews

One of my absolute favorite books, just a bit less expensive than the one above.

Practical Woody Plant Propagation for Nursery Growers

Sale Price: $65.81

Product Summary: An exhaustive exposition of propagating methods, from growing from seed to cuttings, grafting, layering, and tissue culture. It is based on the actual working methods of successful propagators worldwide and presents detailed explanations and illustrations of the procedures used.

Rating: 3 Reviews

This is another of my favorites. The grafting rootstock chapters are quite handy.

Plant Propagation A to Z: Growing Plants for Free

Sale Price: $22.67

Product Summary:

A handy and richly illustrated guide to all propagation techniques.

Plant Propagation A to Z has more than 500 photographs that illustrate both practical step-by-step propagation techniques and the plants themselves. The book introduces propagation in general and then describes the tools and methods used. There are extensive tables detailing which techniques are best suited to more than 1,000 garden plants and noting the best times for propagating.

The book also includes:

• Annotated step-by-step color diagrams
• Seed, cutting and division techniques
• Specialized propagation methods
• Temperature and moisture requirements
• Germination time and strike rate
• Guidance on specific techniques for each propagation procedure
• Recommendations for choosing the best equipment.

Easy-to-use and informative, Plant Propagation A to Z is an essential reference book and how-to guide for gardeners everywhere.

(20061128)

Rating: 12 Reviews

My motto: if it is free it’s for me!

Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (6th Edition)

Sale Price: $124.95

Product Summary: Hallmarked as the most successful book of its kind, this remarkably thorough book covers all aspects of the propagation of plants - both sexual and asexual - with considerable attention given to human (vs natural) efforts to increase plant numbers. The latest applied techniques and theories of propagation are discussed. A greater emphasis to the rapidly growing area of tissue culture micropropagation is addressed. Explores developments in propagation equipment and facilities. Expands chapters on cutting-propagation to include research on adventitious root production. Techniques for rooting cuttings are provided.

Rating: 4 Reviews

Great book that explains the hows and whys of plant propagation.

Practical Woody Plant Propagation for Nursery Growers

Sale Price: $65.81

Product Summary: An exhaustive exposition of propagating methods, from growing from seed to cuttings, grafting, layering, and tissue culture. It is based on the actual working methods of successful propagators worldwide and presents detailed explanations and illustrations of the procedures used.

Rating: 3 Reviews

This book is tailored toward woody landscape plants

Easy Plant Propagation

Sale Price: $13.99

Product Summary: Growing your own plants from seeds or cuttings is much easier than you think. The plant propagation techniques that you'll learn in this book are simple to do and easy to learn, and they work incredibly well! If you already have a green thumb you'll love this book. If you don't have a green thumb, be prepared, you are likely to amaze yourself. Finding a beautiful plant and being able to reproduce that plant as many times as you like is a thrilling experience and it can be quite addicting. Since gardening is very therapeutic, that's a good thing. Learning how to propagate your own plants can result in a great deal of savings and/or earnings. Everyone in my family, from nieces and nephews to grandmas and grandpas, spent some time dabbling in our nursery. Our two sons learned work ethics and the value of a dollar. They also learned to appreciate, and at times be awed by, nature. It took me 35 years of crawling around in the dirt on my hands and knees to learn what I share with you in this book. Reflecting on those years I cannot think of a more rewarding way to spend the better part of my life. It is my sincere hope that you share what you learn in this book with the children in your life. Kids love to garden, and there is no better way to spend quality time with a child than teaching them how to garden. Plants are the heartbeat of the earth. If we can teach kids how to propagate plants, care for them, and admire and respect the plants of this planet, you and I will leave this earth in very capable hands. Jump in, get dirty! Get lost in the magic of plant propagation.

Rating: 5 Reviews

Mike Mcgroarty explains plant propagation in terms everyone can understand.

The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture, Second Edition

Sale Price: $30.01

Product Summary: Compiled by two distinguished professors of horticulture, The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation is a must for professionals and students of horticulture. Over 1,100 species and their propagation requirements by seeds, cuttings, grafting and budding, and tissue culture are discussed in exhaustive detail. Essentially a recipe book for making more trees and shrubs, this reference is a high-level how-to.

Rating: 14 Reviews

Another favorite. This book goes hand in hand with the Reference Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael Dirr.

Secrets of Plant Propagation: Starting Your Own Flowers, Vegetables, Fruits, Berries, Shrubs, Trees, and Houseplants

Sale Price: $13.57

Product Summary: Learn the techniques of successful plant propogation and avoid mistakes and disappointments with expert advice from Lewis Hill. Grow beautiful, bountiful, healthy plants — and save money in the process!

 

Rating: 6 Reviews

Not many unknown secrets, but great info nonetheless

Hartmann & Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (8th Edition)

Sale Price: $98.50

Product Summary: The world standard for plant propagation and horticulture for over 50 years, Hartmann and Kester’s Plant Propagation continues to be the field’s most complete, up-to-date text on plant propagation. It now contains color figures throughout, promoting learning and making it an even more useful working text and reference. It also contains extensive updates reflecting the latest commercial techniques and understanding of propagation biology. Like previous editions, it is organized into paired chapters on principles and practices, so it can easily be adapted for teaching courses that cover only practical topics, and for courses that also cover conceptual issues.

Rating: 8 Reviews

This book is my personal secret. I don’t usually tell anyone I have this one!

American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques

Sale Price: $23.10

Product Summary: The unrivaled priatical guide to the successful propagation of all garden plants -- from trees and shrubs to culinary herbs.

Expert Guidance On The Propagation Of More Than 1,500 Plants. Whether you want to increase your plants by the easiest or most reliable methods of propagation, or experiment with more unusual or advanced techniques, or use specialized techniques for a favorite plant group, AHS Plant Propagation contains all the techniques you need in easy-to-follow, step-by-step explanations such as: What is is the best way to propogate a plant? Each entry in the A-Z section of Plant Propagation tells you, plant by plant, which method of propagation to use, when to do it, and what degree of skill each method requires. How can you improve germination of seeds? AHS Plant Propagation tells you which seeds need special treatment before sowing and how to provide the conditions to ensure a good rate of germination. How long does it take to obtain a flowering plant? AHS Plant Propagation gives guidelines on the average success rate for each plant, how big a yield you can expect, and how long it should take to get a mature or flowering plant. How do you make sure cuttings won't fail? AHS Plant Propagation tells you how to take appropriate cuttings from each type of plant and how to make sure they root successfully. Destined to become the standard work on the subject, AHS Plant Propagation is the practical handbook gardeners have been waiting for.

Rating: 58 Reviews

Author: Alan Toogood

Propagation techniques on tons of plants!

When I first started propagating plants, I did what everyone else does when trying to figure out exactly what is needed when building a misting system; I did numerous searches using Google, Yahoo, Ask, Dogpile (ever heard of that one?) and many others. What did I find? The same thing you would find today; not much detailed help at all.

So this is what I have done for you; I have created a flowchart that will help you choose exactly what you need. How? By answering questions!

Here is how the MIST flowchart works:

You simply answer a few yes or no questions about your plans for your mist system and the conditions which you will be rooting the cuttings. Follow the arrow to the next question, and continue to do this until you reach the end of the chart. Along the way you will be told which misting timer, misting nozzle, and other parts you would need for your particular application. The best part is that all you have to do is visit the store to get any of the parts one you are done!

Super easy huh? I sure think so. So here is the flowchart that will get you on the right track when trying to figure out what parts you need when building a misting system for your cuttings:

Click to enlarge the picture and start finding out which parts you need for your misting system

Remember, all the parts you need to build a misting system are right at the Mistkits online store.

Be sure to let me know if you found the flowchart useful by leaving a comment.

I have had quite a few inquiries on wiring the mechanical operated misting setup. Here are the wiring directions for the Intermatic type of mechanical timer setup that some folks still use. I don’t sell or use these timers, but am providing the instructions and a few pictures as a service to customers and non customers alike.

I recommend a DIG misting timer because it is much more versatile than the mechanical timer setup and MUCH less expensive too.

Wiring the 24 hour timer

Please refer to the 24 hour timer picture for the following:

Bring the wire from a 110 volt source (an outlet or breaker) into the timer and attach the Black wire to the #1 (Line) screw. Attach the white to the A (Neutral) screw, and the bare wire goes to the green ground screw. (Please note that a GFCI outlet or breaker should be used to minimize the likelihood of someone getting shocked…your electrician will be sure it is safe)
The wire that goes to the interval timer from the 24 hour timer goes like this:

The black wire attaches to the screw #2 (Load). The white attaches to screw A (Neutral), and the bare wire goes to the green screw (Ground).

Wiring the interval timer

The following is in reference to the picture which shows the wiring of the interval  timer, and notice that the picture has a schematic also.

The wire that comes from the right side of the picture is the 110 volt power coming in to the timer from the 24 hour timer. The Black wire goes to the “switch common” screw. The white goes to the “clock” screw. The bare wire goes to the green ground screw.

Here is a closeup of the wiring for the interval timer

Coming out of the bottom of the timer are the wires that will go to the transformer for the solenoid. (If you have purchased a transformer that plugs in, it will go to an outlet, otherwise, these wires will go to the transformer itself) Be sure your transformer is the same voltage as your solenoid valve!!!! (Usually 24 volts AC) White to the clock screw, bare to the green screw. The black wire in the picture above, goes to the “norm open” screw, but it should go to the norm closed. The solenoid is normally closed…not normally open. If you put it on the normally open screw, you will have power to the transformer and solenoid all the time. You want the power coming out of the timer only when the interval timer is activated by the tripper.

As far as the transformer, follow the directions that came with it. It is a little difficult to describe wiring the transformer because of the various types, but below is a picture of one I have wired up. The wires at the top of the transformer go to the 10 minute timer. This particular transformer does not require the white and black wires to go to a specific wire on this timer, I just hooked one to the white, and one to the black….yours may be different….refer to the instructions. The green wire goes to a ground. I tied it into the bare wire that was used to ground the interval timer. The wires from the bottom of the transformer in the picture go to the solenoid. It does not matter which wire from the solenoid gets hooked to which wire/screw on the transformer. Just pick one and connect it, then do the same for the other one. Again, if you purchased a transformer that plugs in, wire your interval timer to an outlet and simply plug the transformer into it. To wire the outlet from the interval timer, remember this: Black wire to the BRASS screw, White to the SILVER screw, bare wire to the GREEN screw.
The wires coming from the transformer to the solenoid are simply attached to the solenoid wires….there is no right or wrong way, no positive or negative.

If you found these instructions helpful, please let me know.

Disclaimer: This article for reference only. Electrical wiring should be left to licensed electricians that will adhere to local and state electrical codes.

Up until last year, I had mediocre results when it came to growing tomatoes. Actually, anything in the garden. I have lived in my current home 7 years and last year (2011) was by far the best year ever. Why? two secrets I stumbled upon.

1. Winter of 2010/2011 was the first winter I had chickens. I had to clean out the coop a few times so I put the manure on the garden. Well, that isn’t actually true; I placed it on the snow, over the garden. It eventually ended up on the surface of the garden when the snow melted, but by the time the snow had melted, the chicken manure had been sitting there for months.

2. Because of a bad decision to use horse manure on the garden my second year here, I was being overrun with grass every year. Yes, grass, oats, wheat, whatever it actually was. I tried numerous things, including buying a Mantis tiller and tilling the soil numerous times before actually planting anything. Nothing worked, the grass just grew, so much in fact that I eventually had to give up halfway through the growing season because there was no way I could pull it all out. I know, I know; if I had just kept up with it, I could have controlled it. But, I have a life.

I was working 50 or more hours a week, running Mistkits, designing, building, and selling misting systems and parts. I was also keeping up with 10 websites (yes, 10) which required writing articles, writing reports and E-books, and designing and testing a way for my customers to power their electric misting timer without having electricity nearby. Like I said, busy!

So I decided early in the spring, just before all the snow melted, but before the soil started to warm up,  that I would try something to keep the weeds down. I grabbed some heavy duty black landscape fabric (the professional kind, not Walmart, Lowes, or HD variety) and placed it over the garden, pinning it own with huge landscape staples.

And this is what happened:

When it was time to plant, I purchased vegetable plants from a local greenhouse. Tomato, broccoli, cucumber, even corn. I then cut a slit in the fabric just large enough to get the plant through and into the soil and when I was done, was extremely satisfied. It looked great and if any weeds did happen to grow, which I doubted any would, all I had to do was remove them from a very small area around the plants.

The plants did great, every one of them. I have never had plants grow so large! The chicken manure was doing its job and the black fabric was keeping the weeds down, allowing water to penetrate, and keeping the soil warm as well.

Fast forward to harvest:

I had so many tomatoes (all vegetables actually) that I couldn’t give them away fast enough. Sad to say, some even spoiled on the vine because I couldn’t keep up. I knew then that I had stumbled onto something and decided to write an E-book about growing tomatoes. Ya, ya, one good season doesn’t make someone an expert.

I started researching tomatoes and how to grow them. I purchased multiple books and read all of them. I started to put together my thought in a document that would eventually turn into my book that I would sell. Then I purchased one more E-book just to see if there was more info in it that I could use for mine.

This is what I discovered:

I am not going to write that book! Why? Because there is no way I can compete with the last one I purchased! It is 81 pages long and absolutely loaded with information and tips, contains literally hundreds of pictures, charts which include pictures on pests and diseases and what to do about it, nutrient deficiencies, you name it, it is packed!

With the download came a special bonus; a database of 1300 varieties of tomatoes and even tells you where to purchase the seeds!

Well, I have decided that I have too many irons in the fire right now to even begin to put together as good of a package as that one. But, I am so impressed, I want to pass along the website so you too can grow the best juicy tomatoes you can. Be sure to grab your copy right now!

Available at Amazon right now!

Have you ever wanted to be published and become a real author, one who can proudly say they have a book on Amazon and have sold (INSERT NUMBER OF COPIES SOLD HERE) copies? Now you can! A published author has more credibility and says they are an expert in their field.

I have recently been into writing books. Not real paperback or hardcover books (yet) but E-books. You know, Kindle, Nook, etc. I have a crazy thought about gathering some gardening tips and advice from friends, newsletter subscribers, and visitors to my websites and compiling them into a small book that will be converted to Kindle and Nook versions and sold on Amazon.

If you are interested in being a part of putting a book together and selling it on Amazon or your personal website, even giving it away, read on:

• The book will not be owned by any one individual. The title will be something like “Essential gardening tips” and author credit on the cover will give credit to all authors, such as (but not limited to) “Multiple authors-see inside for more information” or “Various contributors”, you get the idea.
• The book will not be copyrighted material, which will allow every contributor equal rights to modify, distribute and sell it as they choose (think PLR rights) but are highly encouraged to maintain each author’s name and link if present. Fair is fair….
• Each author will be able to sell or give away the book as they choose.
• Each author will have credit for their contribution by means of a mention in the (original) book as well as a link to their website if desired (no indecent websites will be included in the book).
• The large amount of time and work involved in creating a published book will be divided up amongst many, making it much easier to create  the book.

Now, if you are interested in getting your tips or advice included and becoming a published author, here is how:

Create a user account at the mistkits blog and let me know you via the contact form that you want to be included in the book. I will then make you a contributor to the blog which will allow you to create an article(s) using the blog (WordPress) as the word processor and publish your article after it is approved. (It’s not hard, I promise!) The article will be published (congratulations, you just became a published author!) on the internet visible to every search engine to find. When at least 15 articles are published, I will compile them into a single format and create a cover that will then be converted to a file readable by Kindle and Nook E-readers. Once that is done, every contributor will be given a copy to use as they wish.

The only thing I ask is that before being published here, I be allowed look at the article to be sure it is gardening/plant related and formatted correctly (and obviously is suitable for all audiences) and ensure it is search engine optimized (keywords, tags, etc.).

Only 2 links will be allowed to be within the article and those must point to gardening or plant related websites. If you have a website that you wish to include that is not gardening related, I reserve the right to allow or deny them at my discretion.

At least 15 articles must be submitted by May 31, 2012 for the project to be viable and move forward. If 15 articles are not submitted by then, the E-book will not be created. See disclaimer below.

Not too bad huh?

You in? Then get your user account created and start getting that article going!

Disclaimer: By submitting an article and publishing it on the blog, you agree that Mistkits can retain the original article and use it without restrictions as long as it is not modified. There is no guarantee the E-book will be created unless the minimum number of articles (15 minimum) are submitted and published. In the event too few articles are published, the original Author has the rights to use their own article(s) only, as they please but still gives Mistkits the right to display and use their article(s) as published with no restrictions. No guarantee of monetary gain is promised nor guaranteed.