Orchids: A Practical Handbook

This is a beautiful guide to growing orchids. It is an inspirational encyclopedia of orchids, with guidance on the best orchids to choose, and how to grow and care for them. It provides everything you need to know to grow orchids successfully, with step-by-step information on potting and mounting orchids, propagation, feeding, watering, light levels, and dealing with pests and diseases. It gives practical advice on growing and displaying orchids indoors, under glass, and outdoors, both in temperate and tropical areas. It includes an easy-to-use plant directory of over 200 fabulous orchids, with photographs of each orchid, and vital information on habitat, size, flowering time and growing requirements. It provides over 630 stunning colour photographs of orchids in all their glory. Flamboyant, intriguing, beautiful and exotic, orchids have evolved to become the largest family of plants in the world. This ground-breaking book by two of the world's leading orchid authorities presents everything you need to know to identify, choose, grow and display orchids successfully.
It includes an invaluable section on Where to Grow Orchids with inspirational display ideas for growing orchids indoors, whether in glass tanks and baskets or on trees and stones, well as on growing orchids outdoors. Keeping orchids under glass, with advice on heating, ventilation and shading, is also included. Guidance on growing orchids is given in a section on Care and Cultivation, with vital information on basic tools and equipment, compost mixes, potting and mounting, propagation, routine care such as feeding, watering and light control, and dealing with pests and diseases. 'An Orchid Directory' looks in detail at a wide range of orchid species and hybrids, providing information on their natural habitat, size, flowering time and growing requirements. With its beautiful colour photographs and practical advice this is the definitive guide to growing and caring for orchids.