Orchids to Know and Grow

For gardeners or orchid lovers intimidated by the plant's exotic and temperamental reputation, Sheehan and Black, both environmental horticulture professors emeriti at the University of Florida, have written a small, rather dry but helpful volume outlining basic orchid cultivation methods, as well as some surprising orchid facts (vanilla is an orchid!). Beginning with the six qualities that define an orchid and instructions on how to identify one, they proceed with two chapters on naming and taxonomy, followed by an encyclopedic list of orchid genera that takes up the bulk of the book. The chapters describing hands-on orchid culture cover light, water and temperature needs; growing media; containers and potting; propagation; diseases and pests; and how to grow orchids in greenhouses as well as in the home. The information, although thorough enough to get started, is sketchy at times: the propagation section mentions “a method of germinating orchid seed aseptically on nutrient agar” but rather than describe how to do it in your kitchen, which they state is possible, they merely remark that “most amateur gardeners prefer to purchase flasks of already germinated seeds.” Despite this sometimes frustrating lack of detail, the book, which also contains enticing color plates of many of the genera, is a good reference for both beginning and experienced orchid growers. (July)