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A Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids

© Diana Pederson

Orchids fascinate most plant lovers. It doesn't matter if you are strictly an outdoors gardener or if you prefer growing inside under lights, or even in a greenhouse. They have an unfounded reputation for being difficult plants to successfully grow. The Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids, written by Wilma and Brian Rittershausen, published by Timber Press in 2001 seeks to dispel this image of orchids.

The authors provide the home gardener with an easy to understand text illustrated with both black and white illustrations and colored photographs to accompany the discussion. The first chapter provides an Introduction to Orchids. Orchid flowers are significantly different from other flowers. One such difference is that pollen is a solid mass rather than the powder form typical of other plants. Pollination in orchids frequently involves the flowers mimicking insects. This chapter further discusses the habitats where orchids grow. Some orchids grow in the crotches of trees or attached to branches while others grow in soil.

The following chapter discusses how to choose an appropriate place to grow orchids in greenhouses. Heating, ventilation, and humidity are among the considerations discussed in selecting the appropriate place to grow them. A problem with the logical order of the book's chapters occurs here. This chapter is immediately followed with one on the cultivation and propagation of orchids. Although the content is excellent, it divides the chapters dealing with where to grow them. Chapter 4 discusses growing orchids inside the home. Unfortunately, this chapter is very brief. The main consideration discussed is providing extra humidity.

Next, the authors discuss pests and diseases. The information presented is excellent. You learn to identify the pest or disease and how to treat it. This chapter should have followed the one on orchid cultivation and propagation.

Have you been hooked by the beautiful illustrations? If so, you may want to pay particular attention to chapter 6. This chapter talks about training orchids for show purposes. A brief section tells you who is responsible for orchid shows in the major orchid growing countries. Contact the American Orchid Society at 16700 AOS Lane, Del Ray Beach, Florida 33446-4350 for information on your local orchid-growing clubs.

The bulk of the book is the A-Z of Orchids (chapter 7). The names used are based on the most recent taxonomy available to the authors. However, you should always expect some disagreement over which name to use when there is more than one for a single orchid species. This is typical of virtually every plant family today. As scientists study the plant dna they discover some plants are related that were considered totally different families before. Musical names is something all gardeners need to get used to today.

The copyright of the article A Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids in Gardening Techniques is owned by Diana Pederson. Permission to republish A Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.