Easy orchids

This utilitarian manual to orchids as houseplants succeeds admirably in its aim to provide a practical, concise, easy-to-use guide that is suitable for those with little or no experience of growing orchids. Johnson, owner of McBean's Orchids in Essex, England, a company that's been growing orchids since 1879, instructs readers on how to choose the right orchid for their home (taking into account temperature, light and humidity) and explores options for procuring the right orchid. Detailed advice on feeding, watering and repotting, as well as tips for dealing with pests and diseases further increase readers' chances of successfully growing these lovely but temperamental plants. Johnson moves on to giving hints for displaying orchids and addresses common concerns and simple solutions. Finally, she presents a substantial directory, which profiles hundreds of different kinds of orchids all capable of being grown in the average home by novice growers and provides instructions for meeting the individual needs of each species. Artful photos of vibrant orchids in bloom soften the writing's textbook-like tone. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The ever-increasing popularity of orchid growing has resulted in a spate of how-to books for beginners. This illustrated A-to-Z guide, by the owner of the renowned British nursery McBean's Orchids, features 85 orchid varieties recommended for indoor cultivation. As the focus is on plants that are "widely available" in U.K. nurseries, American readers will have a difficult time locating the featured plants not readily obtainable in the United States. Similarly, the appendix of "useful addresses" will be largely irrelevant to U.S. readers. The horticultural information (e.g., temperature, watering, feeding, after-bloom care) provided for each plant, though intended for the novice, is simplistically generic. The most useful part of this directory is the chapter on displaying orchids in the home environment. Recommended only as a supplement to more comprehensive beginner guides for American readers, such as the recently published Complete Guide to Orchids.-Brian Lym, City Coll. of San Francisco Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Introduction There are orchid books for academics, amateur collectors, and enthusiasts, but none for those who love and buy orchids purely as plants to decorate their homes and gardens. This book aims to provide a practical, concise, easy-to-use guide that is suitable for those with little or no experience of growing orchids. Orchids have long been considered expensive and difficult to grow, and the myth that has built up around these fabulous plants needs dispelling. There is a wide choice of easy-to-grow orchids that will happily live in most homes. Many people may have come across a stunning orchid, but were discouraged by the uninformative plant label. It is not unusual for the instructions on such labels to be so general that they are virtually useless. In this book I will explain the basic rules for selecting your orchid, caring for it properly and getting it to reflower. Once you know the basic techniques, you will get enormous enjoyment and satisfaction from growing these wonderful plants. Central heating and other modern heating systems have resulted in a dramatic rise in the popularity of the moth orchid as a houseplant. Discovered in the jungles of the Philippines, it has elegant, arching sprays of flowers that shimmer in the breeze like fluttering, fragile moths. Phalaenopsis now tops plant popularity polls in the U.S., the U.K. and other parts of Europe. The past two years saw the moth orchid share top spot as the U.K's most popular pot plant, and it has achieved the number two position in the U.S., just behind the ever-popular Christmas poinsettia. The pages of lifestyle and decorating magazines and television shows bring us images, week after week, of orchids used as decorative features in the home. Their use is understandable: they are truly beautiful and available in a range of colors, shapes and sizes. Many are easy to grow and do not require constant attention. As for my own orchid "credentials" -- I am the owner of McBean's Orchids in Cooksbridge, in southeast England, a company that has grown orchids since 1879. Over a century of breeding and showing these amazing plants has gained McBean's nursery countless awards and worldwide recognition. I have written this book with the orchid as a houseplant firmly in mind. I'm backed by a wealth of experience from the team at McBean's, who have bred and raised several million orchids. Excerpted from Easy Orchids: The Fail-Safe Guide to Growing Orchids Indoors by Liz Johnson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.