Steven A. Frowine - Orchids For Dummies

Orchids For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022931488

ISBN: 978-1-119-85495-1

ISBN: 978-1-119-85496-8 (ebk); ISBN: 978-1-119-85497-5 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond This Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: Welcoming Orchids into Your Life Chapter 1: Discovering the World of Orchids Understanding What Makes an Orchid an Orchid Knowing Where Orchids Come From Seeing Why You Should Grow Orchids Deciding Which Orchids to Bring into Your Home Identifying Orchids by Name Recognizing What Makes an Orchid an Award Winner Growing Orchids Easy As One, Two, Three Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Orchid for You Figuring Out Where to Shop Considering Your Environment Growing Tropical Orchids Outdoors Knowing What to Look for in an Orchid Isolating Your New Orchid after You Bring It Home Chapter 3: Having the Right Tools on Hand Focusing on Cutting and Pruning Tools Considering Potting Tools and Supplies Identifying Watering Accessories Looking At Humidifiers, Heaters, and Ventilation Equipment Chapter 4: How I Love Thy Orchid: Enjoying the Orchid’s Beauty Caring for Orchids in Their New Home Staking and Grooming Your Blooming Orchids

6 Part 2: The Basics of Orchid Parenthood Chapter 5: Providing the Right Growing Environment Let There Be Light! Recognizing Natural Light Sources Comprehending Some Basic Light Terminology Considering Artificial Light Sources Figuring Out Which Type of Lights Are Your Best Option Knowing How Much Light Your Orchids Need Growing Orchids Under Lights — Tips and Tricks to Remember Humidity: Orchids’ Favorite Condition Providing Ventilation — Fresh Air, Please! Looking Closer at Orchid Temperature Requirements Giving Your Orchids a Summer Vacation Chapter 6: Watering and Fertilizing Orchids Understanding the Art of Watering Orchids — Water, Water Everywhere Knowing What Works — Watering Your Orchid Over- or Underwatering: Roots Tell the Story Considering Fertilizers — Not Magic Potions Chapter 7: The ABCs of Potting Materials, Containers, and Repotting Choosing Potting Materials Giving Your Orchids a Home: Potting Containers Repotting Orchids without Fear Chapter 8: Two, Four, Six, Eight, Let Your Orchids Propagate: Multiplying Your Orchids Dividing Your Orchids Giving Babies a New Home Producing New Plants from Cuttings Growing Orchids from Back Bulbs Chapter 9: Keeping Your Orchids Pest- and Disease-Free Preventing Problems Before They Start Besting the Bugs Identifying Fungal and Bacterial Infections

7 Part 3: The Best Orchids for Rookies Chapter 10: Moth Orchids: The Best Choice for Beginners Examining Why People Grow Moth Orchids Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Beauty of Moth Orchids Oh, Give Me a Home …: Cultural Requirements Chapter 11: The Quintessential Orchids: Cattleyas and Their Relatives From the Jungles to Your Home The Queens of the Ball: Cattleya Hybrids Exploring the Miniatures: The Minicatts Chapter 12: Lovely from Flower to Root: Lady’s Slipper Orchids Slipping into a Lady’s Slipper Straight from Nature: Bumps, Warts, Hairs, and All One Step Removed from Nature: Primary Hybrids Chapter 13: Dancing Ladies: Oncidiums and Their Relatives Taking a Closer Look at the Ladies Pansy Orchids: Miltonias and Miltoniopsis Other Members of the Club: The Oncidium Alliance Mixing It Up Chapter 14: Considering Some Significant Others A Huge and Interesting Lot: Dendrobiums Weird and Wonderful Relatives: Bulbophyllum Orchid Miscellanea: All the Rest Chapter 15: Hardy Orchids That Laugh at the Cold Focusing on Exotic and Easy Terrestrial Orchids Identifying Hardy Slipper Orchids — Not Easy, But So Worth It Dipping Your Toe In — A Few Others to Try

8 Part 4: The Part of Tens Chapter 16: The Ten (or So) Easiest Orchids to Grow Moth Orchids Lady of the Night Maudiae Type Lady’s Slipper Orchid Cockleshell Orchid Sharry Baby Oncidium Twinkles Oncidium Mari’s Song Cattleya Fan-Shape Orchid Phalaenopsis Dendrobium Chapter 17: Ten Common Reasons That Orchids Die (and How to Avoid ’em) Overwatering Underwatering Too Much Light or Heat Leaving Orchid Foliage Wet Overnight Too Much Fertilizer Improper Use of Pesticides Insect Infestation Purchase of Sick Plants Poor Water Quality Inadequate Ventilation Chapter 18: The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions about Orchids Are Orchids Difficult to Grow? Why Should I Grow Orchids? Do I Need a Greenhouse to Grow Orchids? Are Orchids Expensive? How Long and How Often Will Orchids Bloom? What Makes an Orchid an Orchid? Are Orchids Fragrant? Where Can I See the Best Collections of Orchids? Are Any Orchids Hardy? Are Orchids Parasites? Chapter 19: The Ten Most Common Reasons Why Orchids Don’t Bloom Not Enough Difference between Day and Night Temperatures Too Moist during the Winter Too Little Light Excessively High or Low Temperatures Not Using a Fertilizer or Using One with Too Much Nitrogen Immature Plants Too Low Humidity Disease, Insects, or Mice Not Enough Water Recently Transplanted and Divided