Layering is a safe, sure, simple way to increase many types of plants, and particularly the climbers and danglers with which this book is concerned. The first requirement is that the plant have long, lax or drooping stems – which vining plants do. The rest is easy, because the stem is not severed from the parent until the new plant is well rooted and can survive on its own. Humidifying devices, bottom heat, and close protection are seldom called for.

Garden plants layer readily, sometimes even spontaneously. And layering is equally easy for indoor or greenhouse vines. A wandering stem or runner is simply pinned down on the soil in a nearby pot, and severed when it is securely rooted.

Ground layering in the garden takes place at the base of the parent plant. Loosen and lighten a small section of soil, and mix in some peat or other humus to help hold moisture. Select a firm, semiwoody stem, and open the thick skin in one of several ways to speed up rooting. The stem can be nicked underneath with a sharp knife, or split and held open by a small piece of toothpick or match, or simply twisted just enough to break the outside skin and separate a few of the inside tissues. Some plants insist on rooting at or near a node, others don’t care where. And some softer stems don’t even need to be nicked.

We all know how plants can have such an impact of homes and offices. Of course they look great, but they can also have strong psychological affects.

Numerous studies have discovered that plants can transform offices by reducing absenteeism and by increasing productivity. These scientific findings are hard to ignore, and have become the driving force behind the increase in the popularity of office plants. In fact as a result, nowadays most offices are fitted out with plants.

Research has also found that these psychological effects are not achieved by using real plants. Artificial plants and flowers (providing they are realistic) can also have similar effects. Green foliage creates a change in environment whether it is artificial or real.

Gone are the days when silk plants and flowers were clearly artificial. Modern design and printing techniques enables the manufacture of realistic artificial silk plants and flowers that are difficult to distinguish from the originals. Most silk trees nowadays even include real wood stems, with aerial roots.

Artificial plants and flowers has now moved high-tech allowing for dramatic improvements in design and manufacture. This means that imperfections in the original leaves and petals are reproduced with exactness in order to create design masterpieces.