Intermediate level books

[Paul Mc]

Hello. I currently have Understanding Orchids by Cullina, The Complete Guide to Orchids by Ortho and the 3 available Orchid Species Culture books. I also subscribe to the Orchid Digest but that's fairly complicated reading for me (albeit I try, lol...).

So, I'm wondering what other books people out there might be able to suggest. I'm not necessarily a beginner to orchids, although I do know there are lots of various aspects I don't fully understand yet.

Any suggestions would be wonderful to help me learn more.

[Paul Mc]

Hope no one minds, I'm bumping myself.

[Discus]

Hi Paul,

I've bought quite a few books over the last year as OrchidMania gets a stronger grip on me...

I tend to find most of the "encyclopaedia" type texts go over more or less the same ground, so once you have something like that, it's probably worth looking into more specialised texts on groups (or subjects) you're particularly interested in.

Having a disease book is probably a good thing, if somewhat depressing and liable to induce fits of paranoia!

The orchid books I have are these; let me know if you want to know anything about them (bearing in mind none of my books overlap with yours, so I can't compare them!).

[Paul Mc]

Thank you for the list Discus!!! I was actually looking at the encyclopedia one's but wasn't sure if it was really what I needed at this point. I came to the conclusion as you did today that I should probably get books specific to my collection. But the issue is that every orchid I know purchase is from a different genera, lol... Originally it was all phal's, den's and oncidium/hybrids. Now, good LORD, I'd have a book collection, lol...

But it's good to know that my thinking may be on target with this one.

Out of curiousity, do you have a disease book? The orchid species culture books have a section on diseases, viruses, etc... but I would (morbidly) like to read through one specific to the various issues and keep as a reference should I ever encounter yet another issue, lol... Thankfully (knock on wood) I have only had a few issues with my collection over the years - but of course that is subject to change at a wink of the eye.

[silken]

I have a number of books, but most feature a lot of orchid photos and some general cultural info so I don't know if that is what you are looking for. There are a number of them by Wilma and Brian Rittershausen that I enjoy.

But maybe a suggestion that isn't really is a book, is to invest in the software OrchidWiz. It gives fairly good cultural info on the orchids and for the species, it includes Charles Baker's culture notes which are well regarded. There aren't photos of all orchids, but many. I do wish there was some disease info, but unless I haven't stumbled on it, there isn't any. There is a nice journal to include all your plants and keep them updated and a wish list for you to keep up. It's an info source I really enjoy using. Just a thought although I realize it isn't a book.

[orchidsamore]

I would suggest that you start on my web site Coconut orchid Maxillaria tenuifolia Chocolate orchid Onc. Sharry Baby Grammatophyllum scriptum fort myers florida The information is free so you can not beat the price.

First Ray also has excellent advice on his web site.

Start with free. You probably will need six months to absorb it.

For books the best i have ever seen are the Martin Motes books 'Growing Orchids in Florida' and Growing Vanda in Florida. Do not let the fact they are written for Florida to deter you.

In St. Louis your months will vary by about 60 days from Florida but the advice gives you weather conditions and the 'reason why you do what is recommended'.

I do not think any beginner should listen to 'do this' advice. It may may not apply to your conditions. Take advice that says 'do this when ... because...' and then see if it applies to you.

Many of the things I do in my commercial growing I would never recommend to hobbyist. They will not apply to your conditions.

For example I use a potting mix of half and half charcoal with bark. Charcoal does not hold water so this is a very dry mix. Commercial mixes are 10 percent charcoal. My mix allows me to grow outside in Florida rainy season (2-4 hours of rain every day for 6 months). It requires extra watering in dry times.

It is easy to water more often than try to remove excess water. If you understand why I do this, then you can then adapt the advice to any proportion you wish to get the water retention you desire.

[Discus]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Out of curiousity, do you have a disease book?

Hi Paul, yes indeed I do (I note it's not in my list, my bad) - it's an edition of the AOS Orchid Pests and Diseases Guide.

I also tend to follow the shotgun (magpie?) approach to orchid collecting...

I find books backed up with some judicious googling work out fairly well. There's quite a lot of info buried a few searches away in forums like this one too.

Ultimately, it's my gut instinct that you can't really be taught a fool-proof method for raising anything living; over time, you develop an instinct for when a plant is happy (and when it's not) - and what to do to make sure it stays that way. Really good growers (people with so-called "green fingers") I think have almost a 6th sense about plants; just a quick glance will tell them that plant over there is unhappy, and they'll have it fixed long before it becomes a real problem. Less experienced growers don't have that intuition, and the plant gets a lot more sad (or even dies) before you realise.

I also have a copy of OrchidWiz, but I must admit I haven't spent nearly enough time exploring it; it seems pretty nifty, although I'd probably tend to ask Google before OrchidWiz how I should grow something.

Still, it helps the neophytes (like me) to have somewhere to start off from, and books are a pretty good bet...!

[Paul Mc]

Discus - thank you for the book suggestion on diseases! I found it and it looks like exactly what I was looking for on relation to diseases and other various pests! Added to my wishlist now!

Silken, I have really considered purchasing OrchidWiz, but being only able to secure part-time work I'm afraid that's a bit out of my budget at the moment, lol... I really hope to get it one day, but since I am only a hobbyist (at the moment as we are considering converting our garage into a huge greenhouse - giggle), I am not sure how helpful OrchidWiz would truly be in relation to the price. It's my brain working a cost-analysis scenario out, lol...

I think I might ask some people at my OS if I can come over sometime and look at the OrchidWiz on their computers so I can get a better feel of what it has to offer.

Orchidsamore - yeah, I tend to do most of my study online or in forums like this. However, I do like to read and learn more, not to mention have reference books around in case I just want to have a quick look or refresh my memory on things without the computer. Thank you for your website! I have added it to my favorites - and of course, Ray's is always one of my favorites as well!!! He is truly a wealth of information!

Also, I usually don't take advice without first considering my factors (environments, ability, etc...) versus another person's. I'm very analytical that way, lol... (though it does get me in trouble from time to time). That's some very interesting comparisons you explained though - and that's what I want to learn. I truly feel that the more you know about how others treat their plants and what they suggest, the better you can evaluate your own conditions and ability to an optimal outcome.

And, back at Discus (sorry for the long thread), I hear you about having a green thumb! About 20 years ago I killed every plant I owned. But slowly, over the years, more and more started living year to year, and NOW I need a greenhouse, lol... I seem to have a second instinct about them now (both orchids, tropicals and my outside garden plants). I spend a lot of time outside (smoking) so I consistently am looking at them and checking them for potential issues. I can't believe how continual practice has honed the greenthumb sense so to speak, lol...

(OK, I'm done chatting now - again, sorry for the long reply, but thank you very much for helping guide me in my search for knowledge!)