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Become a plant parent to some of the most stunning flowering plants you've ever seen
Orchids display more beautiful and exotic flowers than you'll find on other flowering plants, but they do require some love and care to grow well. With help from Orchids For Dummies, anyone can be successful in growing and flowering these gorgeous and fragrant plants in their garden or home!
This step-by-step guide shows you how to select orchids that will thrive in your own unique environment and how to water, fertilize, repot, and propagate them on your own. You'll learn to decipher complicated orchid names ("phalaenopsis," anyone?) and create spectacular displays. You'll also discover:
* New information about updated plant and orchid classification systems so you can know what to buy at your local garden center or store
* Expanded info on moth orchids, one of the most popular varieties of the plant sold in the world today
* Updated instructions on which pesticides, fertilizers, and potting materials you should be using
Perfect for amateur gardeners, orchid-lovers, and anyone interested in growing these exquisite flowers on their own, Orchids For Dummies will turn your thumb green in no time at all!
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Welcoming Orchids into Your Life 5
Chapter 1: Discovering the World of Orchids 7
Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Orchid for You 23
Chapter 3: Having the Right Tools on Hand 39
Chapter 4: How I Love Thy Orchid: Enjoying the Orchid's Beauty 53
Part 2: The Basics of Orchid Parenthood 67
Chapter 5: Providing the Right Growing Environment 69
Chapter 6: Watering and Fertilizing Orchids 95
Chapter 7: The ABCs of Potting Materials, Containers, and Repotting 111
Chapter 8: Two, Four, Six, Eight, Let Your Orchids Propagate: Multiplying Your Orchids 123
Chapter 9: Keeping Your Orchids Pest- and Disease-Free 131
Part 3: The Best Orchids for Rookies 143
Chapter 10: Moth Orchids: The Best Choice for Beginners 145
Chapter 11: The Quintessential Orchids: Cattleyas and Their Relatives 167
Chapter 12: Lovely from Flower to Root: Lady's Slipper Orchids 191
Chapter 13: Dancing Ladies: Oncidiums and Their Relatives 213
Chapter 14: Considering Some Significant Others 235
Chapter 15: Hardy Orchids That Laugh at the Cold 257
Part 4: The Part of Tens 267
Chapter 16: The Ten (or So) Easiest Orchids to Grow 269
Chapter 17: Ten Common Reasons That Orchids Die (and How to Avoid 'em) 273
Chapter 18: The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions about Orchids 279
Chapter 19: The Ten Most Common Reasons Why Orchids Don't Bloom 285
Appendix A: Additional Orchid Resources 289
Appendix B: English-Metric Conversion Tables 295
Index 297
About the author
Steven A. Frowine is a noted professional horticulturist and a longtime avid gardener and communicator.
The National Gardening Association is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit https://garden.org.
Summary
Become a plant parent to some of the most stunning flowering plants you've ever seen
Orchids display more beautiful and exotic flowers than you'll find on other flowering plants, but they do require some love and care to grow well. With help from Orchids For Dummies, anyone can be successful in growing and flowering these gorgeous and fragrant plants in their garden or home!
This step-by-step guide shows you how to select orchids that will thrive in your own unique environment and how to water, fertilize, repot, and propagate them on your own. You'll learn to decipher complicated orchid names ("phalaenopsis," anyone?) and create spectacular displays. You'll also discover:
* New information about updated plant and orchid classification systems so you can know what to buy at your local garden center or store
* Expanded info on moth orchids, one of the most popular varieties of the plant sold in the world today
* Updated instructions on which pesticides, fertilizers, and potting materials you should be using
Perfect for amateur gardeners, orchid-lovers, and anyone interested in growing these exquisite flowers on their own, Orchids For Dummies will turn your thumb green in no time at all!
