Growing Orchids in Your Garden

by Robert G. M. Friend

Book Overview

Wherever you live in the world, you can grow orchids in your garden. From lady's slippers in boreal forests to dendrobiums hanging from tropical palms, orchids provide color and elegance unmatched by... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881926590
• ISBN13: 9780881926590
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The value of this book depends upon the location of your garden

The world of orchids can be divided into tropical, sub-tropical (usually below 30 degrees latitude), and temperate. This book is mostly about growing orchids outdoors in the tropical and subtropical areas of the United States, though some space is devoted to mostly frost free areas above 30 degrees. And just a small amount is devoted to the temperate regions. So you might be disappointed if you are not located in Florida (especially south of Gainsville), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Southern California. But if your garden is in one of the subtropical areas you will be delighted. It is not a big book for the price, but is well written, nicely illustrated, and contains much practical advice. For example the author discusses which types of trees are best for which epiphytes, where to place them on the tree, how to attach them, how much optimal sunlight and so forth. Good book, but not so valuable if you live in Minnesota.

DARING TO GROW OUTSIDE

With some helpfull hints to grow orchids outside the house, this book choose the right orchids species for the different types of gardens. Though not conclusive with this, it also emphasize the orchids culture on courtyard and balcony, even in indoor gardens. A choice for gardeners and garden designers. Superb photos and a notheworthy table of orchids selection. Alejandro Taborda, ARGENTINA.

A Great Orchid Guide

Robert Friend has inspired me to look at orchids in a whole new way. Friend covers everything there is to know about orchids. From the different types of orchids and which type of garden to grow them in, to growing orchids in pots and containers and which pests to look out for. I may not be able to leave my orchids outside year round, but his chapter on growing orchids indoors is very helpful in keeping mine alive and beautiful no matter what the weather is outside. This book is really for someone who already had the orchid basics down. But for anyone who grows orchids already, this is a book that might inspire you to look at your plants in a new light.

Excellent

Books on growing orchids as house plants are numerous but information on growing them outside is not as easy to find. Here is a new book on growing temperate orchids in tropical and subtropical regions (i.e. California, Florida, Hawaii and southern regions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia). The chapters are well organized and the book is well illustrated with color photos of orchids growing in private gardens, nurseries, parks, etc. (most of them in Florida). Chapter 1 is "Epiphytes: Growing Orchids on Trees," which discusses the requirements of epiphytes, how to attach them to trees, companion planting, and caring for the orchids after they are planted. This is followed by a glossary of orchid genera with information on the culture of each. Chapter 2 covers "Lithophytes: Growing Orchids on Rocks and Walls" and Chapter 3 "Terrestrials: Growing Orchids in the Ground." Each chapter follows the same format as the first. Other chapters cover such topics as pests, species or hybrids?, designing gardens on large properties, suburban gardening, and courtyard and balcony gardens. The last section of the book covers growing orchids in containers. A chart of recommended orchids shows name, type, region, main color, flowering season, fragrance and brief comments.