Cacti & Succulents [Paperback]

Hans Hecht (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1997

A reference combining a collection of photographs of cacti with encyclopedic information on the full range of species and their care. Illustrations, charts and drawings display the variety of cacti and are presented with information about their care, covering, lighting, water, soil, repotting, fertilizing and grafting. First published in 1997.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Written for the beginner (though there is plenty here for more experienced cactus and succulent growers), this wonderful guidebook offers a wealth of information on propagation, grafting, fertilizing, and repotting, along with advice on lighting, soil, and pest and disease control. There's an alphabetical listing of more than 300 cacti and other succulents, with their botanical names, common names, and important characteristics and requirements. Each entry includes the plant's description, information about its natural habitat, tips for year-round care, and information on its species. Also included for each one is a color photograph of the plant. One of the most helpful guides to these fascinating plants. George Cohen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Pub Co Inc (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806905492
• ISBN-13: 978-0806905495
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,294,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Cacti & Succulents

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful job, May 28, 2001

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cacti & Succulents (Paperback)

This book gives a comprehensive overview of the more important species of cacti and succulents. The photographs are beautiful and the information content is superb. For cacti and succulent lovers/keepers, the author gives very helpful advice on their care and maintenance. In addition, he gives a short discussion at the beginning on the evolution of cacti and succulents. The myriads of different shapes taken on by these plants are a constant source of amazement, for they can be highly symmetric as well as twisted and deformed. The photographs in the book are a marvelous example of this variety.

A short dictionary of terms is inserted at the beginning of the book for the beginner who is approaching cacti for the first time. The botanical names are given for each entry and the author gives recommendations on the cacti that bloom the easiest. A section on propagation and grafting is also included in the book.

A very delightful book on a class of plants that are intriguing in every way.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book which will provide joy and utility., April 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cacti & Succulents (Paperback)

This book is beautifully illustrated, and contains a wealth of useful information to those learning to grow cacti. Mr. Hecht's minimum temperatures run well above what I think are correct, but safety is good idea for the novice. I highly recommend this book.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good to look at but flawed in content., July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cacti & Succulents (Paperback)

Although a well-organized and generally informative book, I believe it suffered greatly in its translation from German to English. I found the tips on cultivation to be thoroughly confusing, with many ambiguous terms such as "airy" and "under glass" and significant amounts of inconsistent information. My preference is to see familiar phrases such as "bright, indirect light" or "partial shade" used to describe growth requirements, instead of"..sunny, not in the full sun; if need be, in half-shade." This would have helped ease part of my quandary and made it easier to understand exactly what the author intended. The best features of this book were the numerous and excellant pictures of the various genera of cacti and succulents, and the inclusion of tables describing the characteristics of species that were not pictured. However, if a beginner wants to buy only one reference guide on cacti and succulents I wouldn't recommend this one, there are better books available for about the same price.