Orchid Book Review of Orchid Simplifed. Also See Our Other Book Reviews...

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For those looking for a more personal introduction to the world of orchids, look no further than Henry Jaworski’s Orchids Simplified. Lavishly illustrated with stunning colour photographs (and drawings), Jaworski sets out to entice the beginning orchid grower by sharing his own experiences as both an orchid admirer, and subsequent enthusiast. Introductory chapters explore the mystique of orchids and debunk some of the myths surrounding them. After a basic primer on growing phalaenopsis orchids to get the reader started , Jaworski launches into a sensible discussion of where to buy orchids and what to buy, pointing out the differences between seedlings and meristems, and explaining how to decipher plant tags. Read this, and you'll be ready to shop!

The next few chapters discuss where to grow orchids (on the windowsill? under lights? in a greenhouse?), and Jaworski provides good basic advice to ensure success. Notable, is a diagram showing how to construct an inexpensive fluorescent light cart. There is the requisite chapter on repotting, often the scariest task for the beginner. Jaworski provides an illustrated overview of the various potting mixes available, though there is no mention of peat-based ‘mud-mixes’ that have become extremely popular among phal growers especially in recent years.

Jaworski’s discussion on pests and diseases are disappointingly abbreviated. For a book dubbed as "An Indoor Gardening Guide", the discussion on pest control is relegated to the chapter on growing or summering orchids in " The Great Outdoors", and as such calls for the dunking or spraying of infested plants with chemical pesticides. Though the pesticides recommended are among the least toxic available, the methods proposed are poorly suited to the indoor grower who may live in a high rise building and not have access to any outdoor space in which to safely spray plants.

Jaworski does not discuss hot pepper wax, pyrethrum sprays, insecticidal soaps or other or other organic/botanical pesticides that are generally preferred, if not as effective, for indoor use. There is almost no discussion on fungal and bacterial problems. Though the author notes that bacterial and fungal problems can be avoided by growing the plants "correctly", he calls for "a shot of fungicide/bactericide" to clear up any problems that arise, no doubt leaving the reader confused about what exactly to do, and ill-equipped to deal with a very real problem.

Jaworski provides a sampling of " orchids you can grow" and describes some of his favorites in each genera, mostly species. He covers the main genera, including Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums, phalaenopsis, Pahiopedilum, Miltonias, Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, Brassias, and Vandas. Catasetums, and Stanhopeas are also discussed though neither are particularly well-suited to indoor growing because of their size , growth habit, and exacting needs.

There is a only a brief paragraph on phragmipediums, with mention of only one plant, phrag. Sedenii, despite the two glorious photographs of Phrag. Grande. Given the resurgence of interest in phrags, especially the compact red-flowered besseae hybrids, more details here would have been invaluable. Nevertheless, there is enough sound information in this book to get the beginner started on the main orchid genera, and inspiring photographs of plants in bloom from the author’s own collection.

Chapters on propagation describe how to divide plants and resprout old back-bulbs. There is an overview of seed production and flasking, as well as a recipe for a home-made flasking media. Without detailed instructions on flasking, a technique beyond the scope of an introductory book such as this, including this recipe seems to serve little purpose. Jaworski concludes with a thoughtful and balanced discussion on the destruction of orchid habitats and the need for conservation, often lacking in treatments of this controversial topic in other books. His love for these plants is evident here, as it is throughout the book. Orchids Simplified is a stylish, and easy to read introduction to growing these most sophisticated of flowers.

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