Product Description
Helps beginning orchid growers develop the skills necessary to progress to more difficult ones.

Plenty of information to inspire more advanced orchid growers.

Provides a basic understanding of optimum environment for growing orchids.

Helpful hints for creating that ideal environment.

Explains potting, staking, and dividing orchids.

Teaches about orchid growth patterns, and shows how to handle plants based on those patterns. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

All about orchids
This book is great all the questions I had about orchids were there and although the book was listed as acceptable-it was nearly unused-great

Beautiful Pictures
Beautiful pictures make this book a delight to read. It has pictures of many different types of Orchids and easy ways to care for these lovley plants. Step by step instructions help the new Orchid lover care for their plants. Helpful information on care, feeding , watering ,repoting and more. Great book and a must have for any Orchid lover.

Good for me
This book is very useful for a beginner house plant gardener who loves orchids.Has enough information for me to get started and not be fearful.Have looked up and found all answers to all questions confronting me at this stage.

A Great Beginners Book
Ifyou are looking for a comprehensive beginner's guide to orchids at a reasonable price this is it. The book is well organized, easy to understand, and decently illustrated. Photos and quality may not be of the best quality, but you can find those in one of the many other pictorial guides to orchids available. If you want to get growing, this book is a great start.

Excellent
This is a truly excellent starter and it's great for the medium level amatuer, too. There is a lot of information, yet it's not succint. The quality of the pictures is not satisfactory, however, this is one of the very few books which show overall plants,as opposed to show macro of flowers only. This is not a minor point: when I placed my first order online, I decided I was not going to buy dendrobium, because I don't like the plant. While this reflect my personal taste, knowng how the overall plants look like was a major plus. Moreover this book teaches how to measure the light intensity by simply using the lightmeter of your TTL camera. To me this information alone is worth the price of admission. ... Read more

Product Description
This cleary written and lavishly photographed guide provides all the know-how and inspiration needed to begin cultivating brillant blooms and discovering the enchanting world of Orchids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Very helpful
New to orchids - this book is very helpful and also appreciate all the colored photos.

Orchids Simplified
This is an excellent book for the new Orchid Collector. It's very strait forward, easy to understand. I highly recommend this book for Beginners.

Orchids Simplified
Great pictures,and very helpful to one who is still very much a novice at this hobby (can it ever really be just a hobby?)

The Best
This is simply the best book for the novice who has an interest in learning about orchids or in growing your own orchid.

a good beginner book
The author wrote from his own experience and it's easy to relate to his stories. I wish it had a clearer structure to follow. Very nice pictures though. ... Read more

Product Description
Louise Eldridge is taking her public television garden show on the road--to Hawaii! But the tropical paradise isn't so idyllic once murder makes an unexpected appearance...

Lush with hibiscus, ficus, plumeria, and monkeypod trees, the island of Kauai is the perfect place for Louise to film a few episodes of Gardening with Nature.

After their shoot at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Louise unwinds with a sunset walk on the beach. But at the base of a cliff, she makes a grisly discovery: the battered body of Matthew Flynn, a noted botanist. Her attempts to save his life are fruitless, and--after seeing his injuries firsthand--Louise is convinced that his death was no accident.

Now it'll take some serious digging for Louise to unearth more clues, but she'll have to be very careful, because this is one killer who is ready to plant her in the ground...

"Neatly plotted...Ripley's green thumb fans will relish the paradise island setting and Louise's reliable sleuthing." --Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

All in the Details!
What I loved best was that the story was so good with the detailing you felt like you actually were staying at a 5 star Hawaiian Hotel. Even the simple parts where it felt as if you yourself were strolling from room to lagoon; could feel the humid heat. Gardening has been our family business plus being from Hawaii. Details created such an authentic take. Ripley has a new twist with words for telling a story that gripps you. Even her encounter with a rude parrot. Couldn't put the book down - I'm new to this author. Didn't think much of main characters hubby. The way Ripley wrote finishing crime action was as if you really were there with the victim - made it so REAL I felt as if I were watchingbut couldn't do anytning to help is the best way I can say here.Wish Ripley would write more stories based on plants (or food - just another great detail technique) - say a trip to the Amazon jungle, Costa Rica with it's orchids and lushness, or maybe a visit to another Hawaiian Island with a mix of gardening,plants and restaurants?!

One of the Best in the Series
I really enjoyed this book.I am not much of a green thumb, but this series was recommended to me by a friend.The main character is so likeable and the mysteries are well-developed, now I have read them all. I also really enjoy how the author keeps changing/developing the characters' lives- it is more realistic and it keeps the reader wanting to know what will happen next. The best part of this book is the setting and anyone who has been to Hawaii will LOVE all the Hawaiian details in this book.I am really looking forward to the next installment.

Great story, great setting
This is the first book I've read in this series, and it was terrific.The author does an amazing job with the setting, particularly the trip to the volcano.The plant information is interesting and so is the debate in the storyline about searching out new plants for different possible commercial applications.I liked the main character (though I personally didn't think much of her husband!) and was surprised at the solution.Will definitely look to read more by this author.

botany version of Ten Little Indians
Louise Eldridge is euphoric as she takes her DC based PBS show, Gardening with Nature, to the Hawaiian island of Kauai for a special shoot at the National Tropical Botanical Garden.Louise has scheduled a panel of expert guests to discuss horticulture.However, she finds the egomaniacal quartet (nursery owner Dr. Bruce Bouting, ethnobiologist Dr. Matthew Flynn, environmentalist Dr. Charles Reuter and Pacific Island expert Dr. Tom Schoonover) so obnoxious she looks forward to leaving paradise for home.

While strolling on the nearby beach, Louise finds the battered body of Dr. Flynn that she quickly concludes was a homicide.Police Chief Randy Hau leads the official investigation, but a second homicide occurs.Unable to heed her spouse's warning to stay out of the dangerous water, the plant lady begins an inquiry as she seeks the root cause of this homicide.

The Gardening Mystery (see SUMMER GARDEN MURDER) crowd will enjoy the change of milieu because Louise feels a need to uncover the botany version of Ten Little Indians.The whodunit is fun to follow as Chief Hau and amateur sleuth Louise separately work the case.Fans of the series will root for the plant lady as Ann Ripley provides a fun tropical cozy.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
"Paperback: 608 pages Publisher: Laurel Glen Publishing (September 1, 2002) ISBN: 1571457216 Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches The orchid is one of the most treasured flowers in the world. Now all the species and varieties of orchids are carefully detailed and categorized in this comprehensive guide. Compiled by Botanica's expert editors, this exhaustive reference stands alongside their equally impressive Annuals and Perennials, Trees and Shrubs, Roses, Gardening Encyclopedia, and Organic Gardening. Over 2,500 color photographs capture the beauty of the over 1,200 varieties of orchids listed. Complete with a reference table and glossary, this compendium is easy to use, portable, and modestly priced." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

very informative
There is a lot of information for the orchid lover, novice like me in particular.

Great reference
Orchids are an everyday hobby and I have lots of references on them. I use this as a guide and identifier often. I didn't buy it to be an overview on everything orchids just for the above and it is great for that purpose. If you know about orchids there is no single reference and it is a study that is always changing. I enjoy this book and recommend it these are your needs.

Species Orchid book
I've only had this book for 2 weeks, but its been a godsend! I recently purchased 5 orchids that I am not familiar with and learned by reading the entry on the specific genus how and what to use as potting medium and light requirements.I believe this will become my orchid 'bible'.

A Wealth ff Orchids, But...
This book is a terrific encyclopedia of orchids.Unfortunately it has not kept up with the galloping taxonomists who make life for the serious grower.It is inexpensive and of all the "Encyclopedias" published through 2008 the least expensive, the most jam-packed---but not enough for the serious grower aspiring to becoming a an AOS judge--though it would be a good study tool..The world is moving to computerized systems to keep up with the changes in orchid naming.Matt Cohen Zen of Watering Your Garden

Just can not overlook the mistakes!
I had purchased this book as an addition to my orchid reference collection.I am extremely disappointed with it after checking this book against three other reference books.I checked two very common orchids for me in this book against my other reference books and found that the"Botanica's" was incorrect in their identification. ... Read more

Product Description
A look at what it takes to successfully raise orchids for fun or profit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book for beginners
For someone just getting involved with orchids, or for someone who wouldlike a different perspective, this book is perfect.High quality photos onglossy paper make this book a pleasure to read!I felt that it could haveexpanded a bit more on the subject of home growing, yet it is highlyinformative at a great price! ... Read more

Product Description
The fun and easy way to grow orchids
Orchids, as anyone who has read Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief or has seen the movie Adaptation knows, inspire a passionate following. And their popularity is rising: according to the USDA, more than 12.7 million orchids were sold in the U.S. last year.Brimming with black-and-white illustrations and 8 pages of color photos, this friendly guide introduces would-be orchid fanciers to today's most popular and intriguing orchid varieties—and shows step by step how to select healthy plants at a nursery or commercial grower, cultivate them successfully at home, promote blooms, create beautiful orchid displays, and even produce hybrids.

Alan Koch (Lincoln, CA) is owner of Gold Country Orchids, a company that breeds award-winning miniature and compact Cattleyas and Phalanopsis. His orchids appear regularly at North American orchid shows, and he delivers talks at orchid societies worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Wonderful book with so much info
I have recently gotten back into growing orchids and had forgot everything I ever knew. I ordered 3 books from Amazon.com (to go along with 4-5 I already had but the "Orchids for dummies" was better than all the others put together. It has so much information beginning with buying the orchids to carring for them properly. I have only had it a couple of weeks ad already I can see some changes in my orchids. A very good buy for the orchid enthusiastist.Amazon always has what I need and I feel safe and comfortable ordering from then.

Orchids for Dummies
This is a great book for 'northerners' that move to the south. You have a whole different list of growing problems here. This book is very easy to follow and find what you need to know.

Great for Dummies
I bought it for my mother who got a Orchid,for a present.She carried it back to the florist to try to get the flowers (Blooms) to come back after about 6 months it came back.I think she has got it going her way after reading the book.

Very useful "how-to"
Good basic tutorial for growing orchids. Demystifies orchids and encourages the neophyte to "go for it!"

Helpful book
For beginners, it's great.For seasoned orchid growers, it's very informative.I use this book a lot in orchid care & highly recommend it.Very satisfied with purchase as it's user friendly. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (22)

IT'S A LIFESAVER!
"Understanding Orchids" is a lifesaver, for me and the orchids which come to live at our house in the rainforest on the Big Island of Hawaii.Most are going to live outdoors in their natural habitat in the hapu'u fern trees on our land, but, without this book I wouldn't know which ones are "cool" to "intermediate" growers, prepared for our micro-climate; I wouldn'tknow who likes sun and who only wants deep shade; I wouldn't know who wants to be planted in the ground, not on a tree; or what's the lowest temperature a given orchid can tolerate, or which ones should never be allowed to dry out, or how much and when to feed them. I'd be an orchid murderess, for sure, without this book.With it, I'm a good friend and they thrive.Have to clutch my wallet, though, 'cause I want too many of the gorgeous plants pictured in "Understanding Orchids."Lynne Farr, author of OFF THE GRID WITHOUT A PADDLE Off The Grid Without A Paddle

Great book for beginners.
I enjoy this book very much because it provides more information on the cultivation and growing of each genus than common orchid books.
Huge encyclopedias are usually full of theory, listing the properties of the plants, but with little specific detail on their cultivation.
Cullina points out the difficulty of growing specific genera unless certain growing conditions are provided and this helps to avoid a wrong choice. There is little detail on the species of the large genera, but this is a simple guide so i would not expect more.

Understanding Orchids
An excellent overview of the hobby of growing and collecting orchids.
I highly recommend this book to the beginner or to someone who is an established grower.

Orchid expertise welcome
My husband is the orchid grower. He has three orchid reference books, and this is easily the best one. We also gave this book as a gift to his sister, who shared contents with her son-in-law, and so it goes ...

Orchid lover's bible
My husband has become an orchid enthusiast (big time) in the last year and he raves about this book.He now has 15 plants of multiple varieties and this book has educated him on how to exactly nurture each of his delicate "babies". ... Read more

Product Description
Wherever you live in the world, you can grow orchids in your garden. From lady's slippers in boreal forests to dendrobiums hanging from tropical palms, orchids provide color and elegance unmatched by any other garden flower. Although it may sound too good to be true, many orchids are actually low-maintenance plants for various backyard habitats — and don't need special pots or greenhouses. In this exciting book, Robert Friend shows gardeners how to introduce orchids into the garden by attaching them to trees, fixing them to rocks and walls, or planting them directly into garden beds. He details more than 500 orchid choices for every garden situation and supplies practical cultivation information. The author draws on a lifetime of experience with orchids to explain how to choose the right orchid for a given climate and how to landscape with orchids in different types of gardens from tropical to cool-climate areas, from large acreages to small courtyard gardens. Growing Orchids in Your Garden offers an array of dramatic ideas for every reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The value of this book depends upon the location of your garden
The world of orchids can be divided into tropical, sub-tropical (usually below 30 degrees latitude), and temperate.This book is mostly about growing orchids outdoors in the tropical and subtropical areas of the United States, though some space is devoted to mostly frost free areas above 30 degrees.And just a small amount is devoted to the temperate regions.

So you might be disappointed if you are not located in Florida (especially south of Gainsville), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Southern California.But if your garden is in one of the subtropical areas you will be delighted.It is not a big book for the price, but is well written, nicely illustrated, and contains much practical advice.For example the author discusses which types of trees are best for which epiphytes, where to place them on the tree, how to attach them, how much optimal sunlight and so forth.

Good book, but not so valuable if you live in Minnesota.

DARING TO GROW OUTSIDE
With some helpfull hints to grow orchids outside the house, this book choose the right orchids species for the different types of gardens. Though not conclusive with this, it also emphasize the orchids culture on courtyard and balcony, even in indoor gardens. A choice for gardeners and garden designers. Superb photos and a notheworthy table of orchids selection. Alejandro Taborda, ARGENTINA.

Growing Orchids in Your Garden
I purchased this book in response to a review in "Orchids" the journal of the American Orchid Society.That magazine reviewed another book, "Hardy Perennial Orchids," by Bill Mathis.In the review they noted that this book is much more comprehensive.That statement is true to a very narrow degree - it mentions more genera of orchids.This book for the most part considers the arrangement of tropical epiphytic orchids in tropical gardens or temporarily set outside during the summer.Thus, the information contained in it is contained in any general book about orchid culture.This book does contain an occasional paragraph, scattered here and there, about hardy terrestrial orchids that may be incorporated into gardens, but without any information about "how to do it."If the reader is relatively new to the keeping of tropical orchids, then "Growing Orchids in the Garden" is a fairly good introduction (to growing them in the house or setting them in the garden for the summer), although there are better general introductions.If the vast majority of US or European readers truly want to grow orchids in their gardens (and there are many that are both easy and magnificient in appearance) then a book like that by Mathis is what you are looking for.It gives detailed instructions, which this books does not cover at all.

A Great Orchid Guide
Robert Friend has inspired me to look at orchids in a whole new way. Friend covers everything there is to know about orchids. From the different types of orchids and which type of garden to grow them in, to growing orchids in pots and containers and which pests to look out for.
I may not be able to leave my orchids outside year round, but his chapter on growing orchids indoors is very helpful in keeping mine alive and beautiful no matter what the weather is outside.
This book is really for someone who already had the orchid basics down. But for anyone who grows orchids already, this is a book that might inspire you to look at your plants in a new light.

Excellent
Books on growing orchids as house plants are numerous but information on growing them outside is not as easy to find. Here is a new book on growing temperate orchids in tropical and subtropical regions (i.e. California, Florida, Hawaii and southern regions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia). The chapters are well organized and the book is well illustrated with color photos of orchids growing in private gardens, nurseries, parks, etc. (most of them in Florida).

Chapter 1 is "Epiphytes: Growing Orchids on Trees," which discusses the requirements of epiphytes, how to attach them to trees, companion planting, and caring for the orchids after they are planted. This is followed by a glossary of orchid genera with information on the culture of each.

Chapter 2 covers "Lithophytes: Growing Orchids on Rocks and Walls" and Chapter 3 "Terrestrials: Growing Orchids in the Ground." Each chapter follows the same format as the first.

Other chapters cover such topics as pests, species or hybrids?, designing gardens on large properties, suburban gardening, and courtyard and balcony gardens. The last section of the book covers growing orchids in containers. A chart of recommended orchids shows name, type, region, main color, flowering season, fragrance and brief comments. ... Read more

Product Description
With growing orchids as a pastime ever increasing in popularity, here, reissued with a lovely new cover, is one of the most popular books on the subject. This engaging volume provides all the inspiration and hands-on facts for transforming a windowsill, patio, glassed-in porch, or small garden plot into orchid territory, with the emphasis-given a plant that can be all too intimidating-on the easy. There’s Lady’s Slipper orchids and Jewel orchids for low-light homes; Laeliocattleyas to take advantage of a sunny kitchen window; and a host of other varieties. Complete with concise, easy-to-follow instructions, and beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs, Easy Orchids makes growing these prima donnas of the plant world rewarding and enjoyable for beginner and expert gardeners alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Beautiful reading!
I read from this beautiful book every day.It arrived quickly and in perfect condition.

Not that great
I was really hoping for something that went into detailed potting care and lighting.The book also recommends some plants for the windowsill that, in my opinion, need more attention than your average windowsill grower gives.The pictures are nice but it just wasn't the information I was hoping for.

I found this book and my mother loved it
There are a lot of orchid books but I guess I found a good one for her :)My mother really likes orchids and grows them. I wanted to get her an orchidbook that had great photos, good recommendations and ideas, had different thing that she could look at. She loved it and raved about it!!

Useful information, but lacking structure
This book was easy to read and had lots of beautiful orchid pictures.However, there the book is very lacking in stucture. It simply goes through different types of orchids and meanwhile gives you tips on watering, fertilizing, etc. as you go.I have read a few other orchid books and this just seems to be a conglomeration of the useful hints and tips I've found in those.For a much more useful book try Ortho's All About Orchids.

Love this orchid book
What a great orchid book.I'm a beginner, but I'll use it forever.Absolutely wonderful photos and references.I saved an orchid using instructions in this book.I recommend it, especially at this great price. ... Read more

Product Description
Our best single book on orchids is a perennial bestseller and an outstanding value at the price. Edited by an eminent orchidist, it is aimed at a broad audience, from the flower lover with a casual interest in orchids to the committed enthusiast and professional. It fully describes and beautifully illustrates more than 1100 species and hybrids commonly in cultivation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids
For a beginner, it is not helpful. Also seemed to be lacking photos of the more common type. I bought it with the intented of indentifyng the orchids I had but was left with more questions.

Great Book!Great Company to do business with
This book was exactly as described and received promptly, in better condition than stated.No Problems.Would recommend book and merchant! Very informative and comprehensive

Boring, meaningless and cheap
This isn't really an encyclopaedia. Rather, it's a meaningless coffee table book. True, 1100 orchid species are illustrated and identified, but so what? The presentations are extremely short, so short that Wikipedia would consider them stubs, and the photos are plain boring. Usually, we only get a close up of one particular flower! Nor are common names included, not even of species which have established English names (such as the Lady's Slipper orchid). If you own a barbershop or run a health clinic, this book may be good for the waiting room, but to actually *read* it is pointless. Instead, try to find books about a specific geographical region, or a specific group of orchids. "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids" will just annoy you and make you $30 poorer.

Knowlegable Author's Encyclopedia of Orchids
The author is one of the most knowledgeable people in the orchid world.he has written and accumulated photos of a reasonable chunk of orchids in cultivation with a mix of some rarities.The text is not for a beginner.Similaarely it won't help much with cultivation problems.A good reference with high quality photos.He avoids jumping into the crazed world of nomenclature of being rewritten with every passing day.Matt CohenZen of Watering Your Garden

Very informative
This encyclopedia is quite fascinating!

It shares a good amount of information about a plethora of orchids.
Further, the book is nicely organized & easily comprehendable.

Although it is regarded for it's "beautiful photography", I would disagree. Majority of the photos are nice, but not wonderful.
Many of the photos may appear beautiful because orchids are absolutely gorgeous not exactly the photography skills & technique used to take the photos.
Also, I wish it had more photos.

Overall, I would recommend it for it's information & facts. ... Read more

Product Description
An engaging account of humanity's growing fascination with orchids from ancient times onward, together with a biographical gallery of 50 great scientists, naturalists, and explorers who contributed to our knowledge of orchids. The nomenclature and bibliography have been updated for this edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best of its kind !!!
This is by far the best book on orchid history ever written. A wealth of information on each historical orchid people that deserve to be there and with their corresponding photo!! It's all here!

All the other chapters are simply a delight to read. A must have for any orchid people with a sense for the past. ... Read more

Product Description
For the indoor plant hobbyist, intermediate orchid grower, or anyone simply "mad about masdevallias," this is a first complete reference to these collectible orchids. An inspiring tribute to their beauty and a practical guide to their care, the book offers detailed advice on all aspects of culture. For those enthusiasts who are up to a challenge, chapters on propagating, showing, and registering masdevallias are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Book is a gem!
Bought this book right before the 2008 Pacific Orchid Exposition in San Francisco.The photos and text were great, but the tables at the end were even more useful for shopping at the Expo.The tables list the species and hybrids with their growing temperatures.If I can grow these plants in Nevada with 13% humidity, so can you!

great book
A great book for anyone interested in growing Masdevallias, regardless ofskill / experience. There's plenty of useful tips in the cultural descriptions that go with each species photo, and I learned that they're a much more diverse genera than I had imagined. Many can also tolerate surprisingly cool temperatures (useful for me in the Netherlands), although those that can tolerate warmer temperatures are also covered, as are some common hybrids. The photos are excellent and the layout is pretty good too (species are grouped alphabetically, I would prefer by subgenera). The section describing the geography of each country where they occur is interesting, but too general to be of any real use (how many Masdevallias occur in the Peruvian desert?). Orchids don't recognize country boundaries, it would IMHO have been better to focus this section on the different microclimates in the geographical areas where they do occur (e.g. the Andes between 800m and 3500m). These minor details aside, this is a great book and good value.

Masdevallias: Gems of the Orchid World
I can't say enough positive things about this book.The wisdom of some of the top masdevallia growers was sought out and compiled in one place. Excellent photos, solid text, and a useful list of the top growers and contact information for them. I was able to reach two of the top growers who live in my area and find out what orchid shows they would be attending. That allowed me to expand my collection with some awesome new plants. Buy this book, you won't regret it.

Fantastic book!
This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Masdevallias or those who love orchids in general. I feel this book fills a long standing void of books dedicated to the genus Masdevallia. The book contains detailed information on the history, natural distribution, cultivation, taxonomy of the subgenera, as well as information on propagation and showing masdevallias. There are 100's of beautiful photographs of the many species with information for each species photographed. There is also a section on hybridisation accompanied with many more colour photographs. I believe this book will be a longstanding 'Bible' to the genus for years to come. Highly recommended.

Great Book on Masdevallias
This is a great refence book for growers of Masdevallias, it is easy to read and it has up to date information. Thanks Mary Gerritsen and Ron Parsons for all of the work that you put into this book.

C. Wyatt
San Francisco ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

The Orchid Expert review
Good reference for the beginner, but not a lot of depth.Includes interesting background and history on the subject of home orchid growing.The last chapter illustrating the various common species of orchids was colorful and interesting.

New to orchids
The Orchid ExpertThis book ROCKS!!I am new to orchids.Something I have wanted to do for many years, but afraid to make the leap because everyone I talked to told me how hard it was.Not so.This book gave me the information I needed to get started and feel like I could also be an "orchid expert". So far my "little orchid garden" is a real asset to my life and home.You will love this book!

The Orchid Expert
Lots of important information condensed into a small book. It's valuable for any skill level of orchid enthusiast.However, if you're just starting out, it greatly helps to reduce some of the confusion about the different growing requirements for individual orchids. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume covers six popular orchid genera: Pescatorea, Phaius, Phalaenopsis, Pholidota, Phragmipedium, and Pleione. The Bakers' unique approach to orchid cultivation, which they document in
this book, stresses the importance of main-taining climatic conditions similar to those in each species' native habitat. The ingenious climate tables created by the authors provide precise, usable information which enables the grower to adjust growing conditions - length of rest period, temperature, humidity, amount and timing of water and fertilizer - to approximate those of the species in the wild. The weather data is supplemented with information from successful growers.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dendrobiums culture
If you're trying to grow species Dendrobiums you really have to know something about the conditions your plant likes in the wild. It may grow ok anyway, but if you give it what it really wants it will grow wild. The Bakers always deliver when it comes to cultural information for your orchids. No pictures, just information by the ton. If you want to know about your species dendrobium, it's there. Also great for looking up the species your hybrid came from. The book is also great for pressing flowers when you're not reading it. As typical for the Bakers, it's huge. This is one of the first paperbacks I've seen for the Bakers information. It seems to be well made especially for such a large paperback. There are 90 pages missing from the back of the book which need to be downloaded from a given site. ... Read more

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Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Great if you want to start an orchid garden, not for those who just have a flower or two.
This book gives decent advice on growing orchids, but unless you want to get into the genealogy of orchids, it may be a bit overwhelming. However, I can imagine that someone who wants to start and orchid farm or have a section of their house devoted to orchids will find this book very helpful. Not really for casual orchid growers.

This was my very first orchid book
After reading Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" I became absolutely intrigued by orchids and their culture. Of course I wanted to run right out and buy one but I no clue as to what I would do with the darn thing once I got it home! Then, while browsing the shelves of the NY Botanical Garden's giftshop, I came across this book. I was immediately attracted to the simple cover, and the way the info was presented within: clear, easy, non-intimidating language and photos. I bought the book and a week later bought my first orchid... and my 2nd the following week... and my 3rd & 4th two weeks after that! This book put me completely at ease with orchids - obviously! And, though all 4 were cheap Home Depot purchases that I later discovered to have pretty bad root rot, I'm proud to say that 4 years later 1 of those "starter" plants is still with me and thriving.

good information
Received a few good tips on care of orchids A good book to have handy. ... Read more

Product Description
Prized for their exotic beauty and astonishing variety, orchids are the royal family of the plant kingdom. Found in a dazzling array of forms and colors, orchids—hard to obtain and harder still to maintain—are treasured as the rarest and most exclusive of plants. This glorious volume illustrates the most exquisite specimens of the flower with botanical artworks from the unrivaled collection of the Royal Horticultural Society in England.

Reproduced here for the first time are the stunning watercolor portraits commissioned for the Society's prize-winning orchid every year since 1897. These and other spectacular illustrations combine with a text by one of the world's foremost experts on orchids to make this the ultimate pictorial history and reference on the most glamorous flower of all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good pictures and historical reference
This book has a number of paintings reproduced, and has basic orchid culture and a fair amount of orchid history, especially related to the RHS and England. Useful addition to a big reference library but not a major reference work. ... Read more

Product Description

1500 orchid species are profiled in this authoritative, detailed, and carefully researched encyclopedia. Infinitely varied and hugely interesting, these strikingly beautiful plants are sumptuously illustrated with over 1000 photographs in a reference that no orchid lover can afford to be without. Isobyl la Croix is a scientist, plant hunter, and horticulturalist; her deep passion for orchids informs the plant selection and adds depth to the plant descriptions. The cultivation advice includes information about the orchid's native habitat—including elevation, geography, and climate. Recent developments in DNA analysis have led to some surprising findings with regard to the relationships between orchids, and the author has undertaken an extensive effort to bring all orchid names up-to-date to reflect the latest scientific thinking and taxonomy. From Acampe to Zygostates, no other serious reference approaches the depth and authority of this remarkable book.

Customer Reviews (8)

WOW!
Beautiful book.Beautiful pictures.Tons of specific info about all the different types of orchids. It was a little pricey, but if you want a well designed book with plenty of information regarding all the species, this just about covers it.There were a few, I found, that were not included (unless the species has been renamed recently), but overall, you couldn't ask for a nicer book.

a must have book for serious orchid collectors
I have been a collector and lover of orchids since 1994. This book is all that is necessary for orchid identification and care purposes. I have given this book as a gift to orchid hobbyist friends.

Broad Encyclopedia but not Practical
This a very broad encyclopedia of common species, less common species and rare species.It is better a s a library reference though it has not kept up with the changing array of taxonomic names.This is unfortunate.I also agree with another reviewer that if it is a species discussed in text then it should be illustrated.The photos are exquizite.the reasonable price of the text for the dazzling array of photos reflects foreign printing.I would not buy it if I was a novice. Matt CohenZen of Watering Your Garden

Highly Recommended
While I can only concur with the above reviewers this excellent volume falls short in that not all orchids addressed are illustrated. I know space is an issue, but even a small photograph would prove really helpful with identification issues

Most Fabuolous Book of All for Orchid Lovers
I can not tell you how delighted the 'giftee' was with this book.Well worth the pricy cost -- WELL worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
Bringing together descriptions of all 690 angraecoid orchid species—including those from Africa and Madagascar—for the first time, this account reflects the authors' close observation of the living plants in the wild and in cultivation and offers precise ecological information on habitat, altitude preferences, and flowering season of individual plants. Exquisite photographs and illustrations complement the authoritative text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent Angraecoid orchids collection!!
Before I browsed this book, I only knew Ang.sesquipedale, the Star of Bethlehem, which is a huge orchid. When I got the book, I was surprised that there are so many species of Angraecoid orchids!!

Recently, I start to collect these orchids from a flora market and stories online in my country. I love the mini orchids such as Aerangis fastuosa, Angraecum didieri, and Jumellea confusa. I hope that I can get Mystacidium capense, which is a robust native to South Africa and I heard that it prefers to habit on orange trees so farmers hate it!!I wish people can help this lovely orchid and orchid traders can import it to my country.

There is a beautiful orchid not included in this book is Polyradicion lindenii, the Ghost orchid, which is famous for the book, Orchid Thief. This orchid is a native to Florida Everglades. I was crazy about this beauty. Because it is not an African orchid, the authors lost it. What a pity it is!!

Long overdue
At last, a more recent revision of this group of orchids, incorporating numerous changes that have occured since the last major work by Hillerman.
The descriptions are accurate and comprehensive, with cultural advice etc. This book is a must-have as a refernce work and general addition to any good orchid library. My only negative impression was that there were a number of species with no line drawings or photos - I always find that a book with a larger variety of pictures of the species is of greater use to the general orchid grower. Nevertheless - this is a book any orchid grower must have, especially as it covers a large selection of these wonderful African Orchids.

Angraecoid Orchids: Species from the African Region
I found this text to be most informative and easy to read and to understand.The layout was logical.For a grower relatively new to this genera the insights provided by Joyce Stewart helped me understand the limitations that my growing conditions place on successful culture of this group.

I believe that any serious grower of orchids would find this a welcome addition to thier reference library.

Review on Angraecoid Orchids
Excellent reference book for the Angraecoids.This is a huge work to list the many species, habitats, and culture.
Great color photos of these beautiful orchids.

A book for all the african orchid lovers
A very nice book with beautiful fotos. A complete review of the genus Angraecoid. ... Read more

Product Description
Proven advice on many easy-to-grow orchids.

Long considered expensive and difficult to grow, modern orchid varieties are far from fragile and come in a vast array of colors and sizes to suit any gardener and home environment.

Easy Orchids explains how to grow orchids at home, from choosing a healthy plant to transporting and caring for it.

An extensive A-Z orchid directory includes cool, warm and intermediate varieties and hybrids, each with detailed care instructions. The directory also features: - Strength of fragrance - Ease of growth - Ideal growing temperatures and locations - Size of bloom - Watering and humidity levels - Feeding, potting and summer care.

Advances in home climate technology have spurred the dramatic rise in popularity of orchid houseplants. Wide availability and affordability have made them more accessible.

Beautifully illustrated and up-to-date, Easy Orchids also includes a checklist for gardeners buying orchids online. Other buying tips include what to look for in healthy roots and leaves and the wrapping of the orchid for shipping or travel.

With the valuable tips and advice in Easy Orchids, gardeners of all levels will discover how fail-safe it can be to grow orchids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great book for those with their first orchid
This is a great book if you have just discovered orchids.Very good photos that go along with very helpful information about the general care of the plant.Arrived very quickly from when it was purchased and in great condition.

Easy Orchids
This is a must for every serious orchid lover. Many good tips and very good detailed in word and photo.

Nice Pictures. Not much depth of information.
The book arrived promptly and in excellent condition.It is filled with gorgeous pictures.Good luck trying to find the orchids featured.

But the thing that fails to satisfy: the information offered is a brief description of only the most basic kind for absolute beginners.Little if anything is offered you can't find on the web.It is a very attractive coffee table book.But even for a beginner I would suggest something with more depth of substance.

Book Review
This is a good book for pictures but it is not specific at all in fact, it is rather repetitive.I would not buy it again.

A good book for orchid growing
It is a good book for people who are beginners in orchid grow. I use this book as a handbook. ... Read more