Orchid Growing for Wimps: Techniques for the "Wish I Could Do That" Gardener

by Sasha Fenton and Ellen Zachos

Book Overview

"A superb primer on orchid culture. It uses a fully illustrated step-by-step approach and doesn't skimp on relating complete details. There's a chapter showing easy-to-grow orchids in all their glory, and there's also a chapter warning about 'difficult' orchids to avoid. This tome takes you on a visit [to] 16 terrific varieties you can easily handle....It's a fun and rewarding winter exercise."- Denver Post.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806979356
• ISBN13: 9780806979359
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Orchid Growing for Wimps

This book really helped me grow orchids more successfully. The author is very organized and covers all aspects of growing these beautiful plants. His tips made my money go further because I realized that some orchids require very specific conditions that I couldn't replicate, so if I bought them I was doomed to failure. By following his suggestions anyone can successfully grow orchids and coax them into flowering again and again.

Great Book On Orchids

This book is easy to understand with lots of detail. Good to have as reference.

Removed all the guess work in a book you can read in one evening

I've read a lot of confusing books on orchid growing as well as some very good ones like Understanding Orchids. this book is conveniently short and clear with excellent charts, great pictures easy descriptions. I found of everything I have read that this one gave me the confidence and actually repot, prune and relocate my outdoor Florida orchids. I finally feel confident that I know what I am doing. I gave it five stars because it was the star in the crown of what I read but I feel that you still need to read Understanding Orchids as well to have it all.

... This wimp loved it!

I received an orchid plant a few years back and was afraid of loving it to death (ie: overwatering, overfertilizing, etc.) Happily, it seems to do quite fine, but I wanted to know when to repot it, how to get it to bloom with the most possible blossoms and how to care for it-aside from just keeping it alive. This book was VERY helpful, and I am the ultimate in Orchid wimps. The pictures helped me to match up what kind of plants I could buy that would do well in my home and had a great section on pests, diseases and interesting tips on how to make it a "humidity bath", and what is normal (big fat white roots, growing all crazy-like out of the top....normal (who knew?) ). It is a book for the novice, the wimp, the "please, hold my hand and tell me everything," kind of orchid grower....of which I am....and thankful that someone put it all in words for me. It will also let you branch out to other types once you get your "orchid growing chops"....and there are plenty of different varieties to try. So, take the plunge, get the book and learn to grow beautiful orchids.

Takes the fear out of growing orchids!

I found this book to be easy to read, informative and entertaining. It is full of beautiful photos too! The book breaks down the process of growing orchids into a few basic steps. The very helpful chapter on insect pests and diseases addresses a topic that many books do not cover well. I also like that the author includes profiles of many easy-to-find, easy-to-grow species to help novice gardeners choose the right plants for their growing conditions. I bought one for me and another to give as a gift!