Orchids for Every Home: The Beginner's Guide to Growing Beautiful, Easy-Care Orchids

by Wilma Rittershausen, Brian Rittershausen

An illustrated guide covers every aspect of orchid care, from selecting the best plant to enabling ideal growing conditions, in a beginner's primer that profiles 120 varieties and includes maintenance instructions for easy through more challenging options. 12,500 first printing.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 2004

Reviews

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's actually a really good guide. i was sad to find out that so many of the ones in here were not naturally occuring types. but i think the reason for their appearance is that they are commonly sold. i was disappoint to find the flowering section a little small. plus the tips throughout the book were the same, just in case anyone didn't notice. "don't over-water, don't put outside, don't put in direct sunlight..." it was never mentioned that the flowers will not bloom in fluorescent lighting, nor that if you touch the blooms with your hands, they wilt faster. i guess they assumed that all of us are going to run out and buy that super cool orchid case and never really touch it. little known fact, the oils in your hands cause damage to the roots and petals. also, if you're a night owl like me, it will stunt the growth of your plant. they need natural "daytime" and "nighttime" hours. despite all of the warnings about putting them outside, mine do best outside. granted they are in fully shade 90% of the day, and do run the risks of overheating and bugs, they still fair better out there. if i'm ever rich, i'll have a greenhouse full of orchids, but until that happens, they're stuck in their shady corner of the porch.

[Lulu Cao · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors are very, very knowledgeable about orchids. They have provided a lot of information for many popular species of orchids, such as how to care for them, how they behave outdoors, and the history of breeding them. I was able to identify the orchid, which I got from a local plant store, and found its care guide.

[ja · Rating 5 out of 5]

good info on training, temps and moth orchids

[Rebekah]

I picked this up just to get some info on how to keep my new phalaenopsis alive and now I want ALL THE ORCHIDS

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well organized for clueless beginners like myself, with specific, well-illustrated instructions for basic care. Unfortunately, some photos are doctored up and put on solid backgrounds, which gives a few gorgeous plants a pretty phony feel. If my plant's still alive in a few months, I'll come back and give it another star :)

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is informative, but still a little vague. it seems to have been written with the assumption that the reader is already a somewhat experienced gardener. for example, it says to cut the flower spike between two lower flower nodes in order to produce a new spike, but never explains exactly how to go about doing it.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this is my favorite orchid book. Lots of great information.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start guide regarding the different kinds of orchids and basic care. As well as some stunning photos. Glad to have found this in my local library.