Customer Reviews

Ornamental Palm Horticulture

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The authors give good, solid often overlooked advice on growing and maintaining healthy palms. Many books assume a higher level of expertise by the purchaser. Common practices now have explainations for their useage. Wonderful pictorial section on pest, malnutrition and disease damage with clear photo's. A best buy for anyone in the industry or just a strong interest.

The authors clearly had no intention in writing yet another book filled with photos of palm species that would instruct readers on what palms to plant. There are already many books that provide the service that two of these reviewers ask for ("Betrock's Landscape Palms," "Betrock's Cold Hardy Palms," "Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms") that give detailed horticultural information on palm species. The intent of this book is made very clear in the introduction: this a book on how to deal with palms horticulturally, not a guide on which palms to choose in a landscape.

This is a useful book to have around when needing information on just about anything relating to palm horticulture. The only thing I was somewhat disappointed in though, was the lack of cultural information on specific palms. I was expecting something more like how best to grow this specific palm and then turn the page and go on to info. on how to grow the next one. This was more of a general and broad coverage of palms. But this might have been more my expectations were different, as the book is and will be very useful. But sometimes I just like to be able to look at a picture of a mature palm, read all the in's and outs of growing it, and dream or plan of fitting it into my landscape.

This is a useful book to have around when needing information on just about anything relating to palm horticulture. The only thing I was somewhat disappointed in though, was the lack of cultural information on specific palms. I was expecting something more like how best to grow this specific palm and then turn the page and go on to info. on how to grow the next one. This was more of a general and broad coverage of palms. But this might have been more my expectations were different, as the book is and will be very useful. But sometimes I just like to be able to look at a picture of a mature palm, read all the in's and outs of growing it, and dream or plan of fitting it into my landscape.

The book was written in attempt to gather scientific literature on palm horticulture together in a single reference text. Broschat and Meerow have done that in a very simple and effective way. This is quite an comprehensive book that tackles the main aspects of palm horticulture from propagation to pests and interior maintenance of palms. Particularly useful are the sections on mineral nutrition and propagation. The different chapters of the book are well-complemented by over 100 illustrations which give you a better idea which disease or deficiency might affect your palm.

I have read the book in less than two days and I was able to immediately diagnostic nutrional deficiencies with my Spindle, Christmas and Phoenix palms. This book is not intended to describe how to grow a specific palm. Rather, it teaches general principles to grow and maintain healthy palms. This is the most complete and useful book on palms I have read so far. Every serious palm amateur should have one at home.

A pure technical book, great for the farmers of palms. Everything you want to know about palms but not a palm's identification book. This book have only a few photos.

I found that there was a great deal of information on possible diseases and disorders of palms. However, my main disappointment was on the real lack of information on types of palm trees and the type of soil and climate needed. I would have liked to have had more information on the cold resistant palm trees. There was hardly any information on the species of palm trees. I found much more information just surfing the internet on palm trees than what I found in the book. I think that I could have made a much more interesting book if I had done a compilation of information from contributors off the internet! I either will sell the book as used or utilize it to assist in recognizing possible diseases or deficiencies. It would have been nice to have had more information on rare palm tree distributors of seed and/or plants as well.

This is a great book for if your more than a back yard hobby. Detailed - informative - a real resource.

pics are a little lacking but there are so many photo's that can be found on line

Excellent book. A must have for any palm fan. This is the definitive book on palms in the U.S. I recomment it highly.

This book is an attempt to guide those interested in palm horticulture. However, finding that palm horticulture varies widely between the species, I found this title a disappointment. Some palms can't take iron for instance, but the authors neglect to give specific information on those species which would be helpful. The same applies to those palms that need iron. As a general guide, the book is ok, but if you really need to know how to care for your exotic and rare palms you may need advice from the local botanical garden or a nursery that specializes in growing palms to determine the nutritional requirements of a specific genus.