Product Description

The immense Oncidium/Odontoglossum alliance contains some of the most popular orchids grown, including members of the genera Ada, Brassia, Cyrtochilum, Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Psychopsis, Rodriguezia, Rossioglossum, and Trichopilia. Finding reliable cultural information for more than just a handful of the most commonly available species, however, can be a real challenge. In this meticulously researched volume, Margaret and Charles Baker have assembled a staggering amount of data about these plants in an accessible format. By combining weather records and habitat reports with information from successful growers, the authors have formulated recommendations for approximately 1,300 species within this important group. The wealth of information provided in this book makes it an invaluable addition to the library of every serious orchidist.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #288789 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 992 pages

Review
"There are no photos, but information abounds. This dense, technical, and detail-oriented work stands out in its field."
—Phillip Oliver, Library Journal, June 2006 (Library Journal )

There are no photos, but information abounds. This dense, technical, and detail-oriented work stands out in its field. Phillip Oliver, Library Journal, June 2006 (Library Journal )

From the Publisher
The immense Oncidium/Odontoglossum alliance contains some of the most popular orchids grown. In this meticulously researched volume, aimed at serious orchidists, the authors have formulated recommendations for approx 1,300 species.

About the Author
Margaret Baker was a frequent contributor to the American Orchid Society Bulletin. She was an avid amateur orchid enthusiast and with her husband Charles previously wrote Orchid Species Culture: Dendrobium and Orchid Species Culture: Pescatorea, Phaius, Phalaenopsis, Pholidota, Phragmipedium, and Pleione published by Timber Press. Margaret Baker died in 2003.

Charles Baker is an avid gardener and former meteorologist with the National Weather Service. With his late wife, Margaret Baker, he wrote Orchid Species Culture: Dendrobium and Orchid Species Culture: Pescatorea, Phaius, Phalaenopsis, Pholidota, Phragmipedium, and Pleione, as well as numerous articles for Orchids (the publication of the American Orchid Society) and Orchid Digest. The Bakers spent most of their careers in Alaska, where Charlie worked as a meteorologist for more than thirty years and Marg was a scrimshaw artist, jewelry maker, and administrator in the Alaskan bush. After moving to Portland, Oregon, the Bakers became avid amateur orchid enthusiasts and frequent contributors to Orchids, Orchid Advocate, and Orchid Hunter, among other journals.

Customer Reviews

A must for the serious student of orchids
This book is for the serious student of orchids, whether neophyte or experienced grower. It covers 87 genera in the Oncidium/Odontoglossum alliance, and provides a wealth of cultural information, based on the genus' origin and habitat. If a grower knows the altitude, day and night temperature fluctuations, humidity, rainfall patterns, light requirements, etc., of a plant, (s)he stands a much better chance of growing (and blooming) it successfully.

In addition to providing all of this information, the book gives plant size and type, whether the plant has a stem or pseudobulb, describes the leaves, inflorescence, and flowers, including size, number of flowers per inflorescence, and whether or not they are fragrant.

There is a discussion at the beginning of Cultural Recommendations in "captivity": light, temperatures, humidity, watering requirements, fertilizer, rest periods, growing media, cultural problems, etc.

This is not a picture book. The only pictures are the eight on the dust jacket. But there is invaluable information between the covers for the person who wants to excel at growing and blooming orchids.

A phenomenal achievement!
I love Baker's books on orchid species culture. It's all the information that experts are always haranguing beginners to learn about species: "Know where it comes from! Learn its preferred temperatures! Lowlands or alpine!" Alas most beginners haven't a clue where to look for this kind of information other than the same old reference books that keep reprinting the same old outdated and sometimes outright wrong stuff. Use this in conjunction with Harry Zelenko's Oncidium book for easy identification, and you're all set to grow any oncidium alliance species that might come your way.

Stunning amount of detailed information
This bulky volume contains a stunning amount of gathered information about (micro-)climate, habitat, distribution, flowering time, sizes and colors of plant parts about virtually every Oncidium alliance botanical species that exists, updated to present taxonomical insights. A wealth of knowledge for every grower or breeder that likes to try his/her hands on some Oncidium alliance botanicals. An amazing achievement of the authors and a very valuable posession!