Which Magazine is better, and Why?

[jayman8117]

Which do you prefer, and why, I want to subscribe to one of them, but I am a newbie, so please help my decision.
Orchid Digest, or
The American Orchid Society magazine
thanks,
Jay Rose
San Jose, CA

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'm assuming you've already checked out the websites to both parties you're asking about.

I don't own any magazines per se, but I did check the Orchid Digest website out.

The Orchid Digest Publication

From what I've seen, it appears to be geared for those who are willing to go to the next step in orchid growing and really learn about species orchids and their habitats. There're even articles about orchid conferences and such.

AOS may deal with the more commonly available mainstream orchids, idk. But that's what it appears to be like everytime I visit their website.

Maybe someone who actually owns these magazines will say something.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh yeah, I'll add one more thing...

The Orchid Digest Magazines upon first glance reminded me of The Journal of the Bromeliad Society, which I actually did own.

The articles in The Journal of the Bromeliad Society were pretty hardcore, they featured color photos and pictures of plates with the different flower parts. Each article went into the habitat and area where the plants were found. (Sound familiar to the description of the Orchid Digest magazines?)

I found that while the articles in The Journal of the Bromeliad Society to be very informative, at the time (I was a teenager), it didn't hold my interest for very long. I still have them around. If I find a few of them, I'll probably re-read them to see if anything has changed since then.

This may be the same thing with the Orchid Digest magazines. But then again...I'm assuming.

[jayman8117]

King,
thanks for your quick replies to my newbie questions, it is obvious that you are an expert.
You are truly, the KING of orchid growing.
I have much to learn from you.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You know, I can recommend a book instead. I think it'd be more helpful to you than those magazines for now.

Maybe later you can think about the magazines.

I don't own this book, but Camille does. She's the one I heard about it from.

However, I did read an excerpt of it, and it seems like it's more up your alley.

Try this book out:

Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants (by William Cullina)

Here's a link to the product on Amazon:

Amazon.com: Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants (0046442263269): William Cullina: Books

Here's a link to a sample of this book on Google Books:

Understanding orchids: an ... - Google Books

Check it out, I really think this is for you.

[jayman8117]

King,
I do own 'Orchids for Dummies' and Ortho's 'All about growing orchids'.
I know this is not an extensive library, but is all the used bookstore had.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The one I recommended is better than both those books, in my opinion.

Trust me.

I checked the two books you have out too (in fact, a lot, maybe too much...).

Just read the link I posted to Google books, you'll be blown away.

[jayman8117]

King,
I went to Amazon and checked out the book you recommend, 'Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants '
The reviews by readers were enough reason to to get it, and I will do so soon.
As always King, your the man!

[ronaldhanko]

Jayman, I think I'd go with the AOS magazine for the reason already given (though some articles even in it can be quite technical), and also because the Orchid Digest Magazine is bimonthly (if I remember correctly (only 6 a year) and because it's quite expensive to have sent from the UK.

[billc]

Cullina's Understanding Orchids is an absolutely great book for beginners to novices to experts. He writes in an easy style and covers just about everything you need to know. For the price of 1 plant, you'll be able to grow the ones you already own much better.

Bill