Growing Successful Orchids in the Greenhouse and Conservatory - Tapa blanda

All too often orchids are regarded as temporary houseplants - in flower when bought and thrown out when flowering has finished. But with a little extra care and attention they can become long-lived, trouble-free, regularly flowering plants be it in the home, conservatory or greenhouse. Lifelong orchid enthusiast Mark Isaac-Williams offers an excellent beginner's guide to these coveted plants. Covering the most popular genera, he analyses their history, characteristics and cultivation details in an easy informative style, sharing his years of experience with personal tips along the way. Well-illustrated with both colour photographs and line drawings, it makes a pleasant change to see illustrations of the entire plant, foliage and all, as opposed to the usual close-ups of the flowers - invaluable when buying orchids out of flower and label-less in garden centres. An attractive book for the new converts to this fascinating genus and which should inspire further exploration of its vast range. - Lucy Watson

Did you know that the orchid family contain some 750 genera, nearly 20,000 species and many thousands more hybrids? This new book by renowned authority Mark Isaac-Williams offers both the passionate enthusiast and the beginner to orchids a comprehensive guide to this fascinatingly exotic family of plants, and information on how to grow them successfully in the greenhouse and conservatory. Written in a clear, accessible style and presented in an easy-to-follow format, the book is illustrated with over 300 colour photographs of the most photogenic orchid species in the world and includes 50 detailed illustrations on their care and cultivation in the domestic environment. * Fascinating account of the history of orchids. * Comprehensive chapters on five of the most popular genera: cymbidium, dendrobium, phalaenopsis, phaphiopedilium and pleione * Advice on pests, diseases and common ailments