Michael Tibbs - Orchids Handbook: A Practical Guide to the Care and Cultivation of 40 Popular Orchid Species and Their Hybrids

A Practical Guide to the Care and Cultivation of 40 Popular Orchid Species

MICHAEL TIBBS

Paphiopedilum gratrixium, an easy-growing, vigorous, widely cultivated species from Vietnam and Laos.

Orchids Handbook

CompanionHouse Books is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Project Team

Vice PresidentContent: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Anthony Regolino

Design: David Fisk

Index: Elizabeth Walker

Copyright 2018 by IMM Lifestyle Books

Orchids Handbook (978-1-62008-305-5) is a second edition of Orchids (978-1-84773-882-0). Revisions include new photographs and updated text.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

ISBN 978-1-62008-305-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Tibbs, Mike, author.

Title: Orchids handbook / Michael Tibbs.

Description: Mount Joy, PA : CompanionHouse Books, [2018] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018032938 (print) | LCCN 2018037289 (ebook) | ISBN 9781620083062 | ISBN 9781620083055 (softcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Orchid culture. | Orchids.

Classification: LCC SB409 (ebook) | LCC SB409 .T582 2018 (print) | DDC 635.9/3472--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018032938

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author, and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein.

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Miniature Vanda hybrids and Encyclia tampensis grow happily side by side in a tropical garden environment

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Oncidium sphacelatum establish into huge specimens and create quite a spectacle when in full bloom.

Growing orchids has never been more popular. It is truly an international pastime but, strangely, growing orchids is still considered by many to be difficult and expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Modern propagation methodsoften growing orchids in the laboratory from seed or multiplying the growing tip of a choice orchid in a nutrient medium (meristemming) that encourages the growth of many small plantshas brought tropical orchids within the price range of many people throughout the world. While some orchids are truly difficult to grow, with very exacting demands for their culture, most orchids that can be purchased in nurseries, supermarkets, and florists are easy to grow providing that the instructions on the label are followed. Furthermore, orchids are such good value. Many flower for extended periodssix months continuous flowering from a moth orchid is not uncommon.

Orchids are rewarding subjects for both the amateur and for the serious grower. Whether you grow them on the kitchen windowsill, bathroom, garden, or greenhouse, there are orchids that will suit your purpose. Growers often specialize early onmany stay with a particular group of orchids, such as slipper orchids or Masdevallias, while others adopt a more catholic approach and fill their greenhouse with a kaleidoscope of color. With increasing experience, a grower can graduate from the easy moth, jewel, or slipper orchids to the more demanding Dracula, Odontoglossum, or terrestrial orchids. There will be something in the family to satisfy everyones taste. If you like large, showy flowers, try Cattleya or Laelia; if you like miniature orchids, then Pleurothallis or Bulbophyllum might suit you better. If you lack a greenhouse, there are plenty of orchids that thrive outdoors and will brighten your garden throughout the spring and summer months.

There are also orchids to suit everyones pocket: orchid prices have never been so low. In the 19th century, orchid growing was a rich mans hobbynow you can now feel just like a Victorian millionaire on a mere fraction of the outlay!

Mike Tibbs, the author of this guide book to growing orchids, is one of the most widely travelled and experienced orchid specialists. Few orchid growers have his breadth of experience, achieved during his career on four continents. He has managed one of the best-known orchid collections in Britain, has worked in both Japan and the USA with major breeders, and has run his own nurseries in South Africa. This book reflects his wealth of knowledge of orchids, from cultivation techniques to plant breeding and showing. In this book he provides a simple, straightforward, and well-illustrated guide to orchids and their cultivation, one that will no doubt increase the number of people taking up orchid-growing as a deeply satisfying and rewarding pastime.

Dr. Phillip Cribb

Honorary Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Rhyncolaelia glauca growing in a tropical garden in Florida.