Customer Reviews

Home Orchid Growing (Third Edition)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're going to have one book on orchids this should be it. Vast numbers of species descriptions, beautiful color photos, and complete information on general culture as well as exhaustive details of specific cultural requirements for many varieties; AND all you'll need to know about orchid genetics, hybridization, and natural history! This has been a standard reference for me for the 28 years I've been growing orchids.

If I were interested in looking at pictures of orchids I'd buy a book of orchid photographs but in the 20 years I have been growing orchids, my opinion is unwavering in holding this book in the highest esteem. It was my first book on orchid growing and was always invaluable. When I lost it I didn't hesitate to buy it again as it has all the information one needs to grow any orchid and how to provide it with what it needs to bloom.

If colleges offered "Orchids 101", this would be the text book! Clear, concise, easy to read and understand, this book spells out all we need to know about growing orchids. Interesting sections on sowing seeds, the culture of seedling orchids, and even the dynamics behind orchid names, make this book much more than a simple 'how-to' book. It's a complete source of all you need to know. The one book to buy first, it'll probably be the only book you need.

For years, Home Orchid Growing has been the mainstay of any orchid library. It is informative for novices, as well as experienced orchid growers.

I began attempting to grow orchids in my home a number of years ago. After making an absolute wretched mess of things and killing many a beautiful plant, I happened upon this book. It is one of the best purchaces I've made concerning this art, i.e. growing orchids. I must admit to having read this thing cover to cover and find myself constantly going back with each new purchase or gift of a plant. I simply could not grow the things without it! The text is quite understandable and the illustrations are concise and fit perfectly with the text. I do respectfully disagree with some other reviewers in that I actually found many of the black and white photos more helpful than color. If I wanted a book of pretty pictures I would buy it, or better yet attend one of the many, many orchid shows in the area. I wanted, and desperately needed hard information...with this book that is exactly what I got. I am sure there are other very good books out there on this subject, but this one certainly met my needs and I recommend it highly. Thank you Ms. Northen.

This book has a great deal of useful information, but about 90% of the orchid photography is in black and white. One of the joys of any orchid book is the illustrations. In this case, most of the art is not even very useful for identifying the plants, as color is so essential. Very disappointing.

This book does have some valuable information but is too out of date (perhaps that's why it has not been updated for 19 years). The book was published prior to the discovery of the Phragmipedium bessae and way before the discovery of the controversial kovachii. When is the last time you used much less purchased osmunda fiber?

The book is a helpful reference (and likely worth buying if you grow cattleyas) but I would have to agree with the reviewer who was disappointed because there are too many black and white photos. Colour photos to help identify diseases and pests would've been helpful. The book has a lot of imformation about growing from seedlings/flask but suspect this information might be out of date as well.

This book was recommended by a person who had grown orchids for a long time. Unfortunately I would not consider this the orchid bible anymore, especially if you are relatively new to orchid growing.

Understanding Orchids by William Cullina is a good choice.

This is a 350 page book with no table of contents, a poor index and the worst chapter organization I have ever seen. Want to know about Cattleyas? You basically thumb through the book looking for "Cattleyas". There are many chapters on them, the chapters are not sequentially organized and the pages have no indication of what chapter you are in.

If you want to read it front to back, it's fine, but referencing a specific subject is impossible without endlessly paging through the book.

The author needs a much better editor than she has.