The World of Orchids (Υδροπονική καλλιέργεια ορχιδέας - έκδοση στα αγγλικά)

The World of Orchids
A Practical Guide to Cultivating Orchids in Soilless Culture

With an estimated 25,000 species worldwide, orchids are loved for their exotic and mysterious flowers. In the wild, they can be found in almost every conceivable habitat, from cloud-shrouded mountains and tropical rainforests, to mangrove swamps and semi-desert scrubs. They are perhaps the most challenging of all flowering plants to cultivate outside their natural habitat, often taking many years before the first flower appears.
In The World of Orchids, Jack Ross presents the results of his many years of research into orchid cultivation using soilless culture techniques. He provides research-based advice on organic and inorganic growing media, fertilising and watering, plant nutrition and nutrient feed systems, pH measurement, stress factors, tissue analysis, and mineral deficiency and toxicity. He also describes the unique root system of the orchid plant, propagating and raising seedlings, as well as repotting and potting-on.
This book is for the small orchid enthusiast as well as commercial growers producing high-quality orchid plants and flowers on a large scale. The World of Orchids – A Practical Guide to Cultivating Orchids in Soilless Culture, will prove a welcome addition to the libraries of all orchid lovers.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 01
WHY GROW ORCHIDS HYDROPONICALLY?
- Historical
- Interest by Orchid Growers
- Hydroponics in the Garden
- Potential for Improvement
- Environmental Considerations
- Orchid Fertilising Needs
- Advantages of Soilless Culture
- Disadvantages of Soilless Culture
CHAPTER 02
NATURAL HABITATS
- Growing Conditions
- Orchid Groups
– Epiphytes
– Terrestrials
– Lithophytes
- Natural Habitat
- Habitat Threats
- Breeding
CHAPTER 03
GROWING MEDIA
- Requirements
– Water
– Air
– Coarse medium
– Intermediate medium
- Organic Mixtures
- Inorganic Mixtures
- Re-wetting
- Porosity
- Containers
- Hydroponic Systems Media
– Perlite
– Pumice
– Hardened expanded clay pellets
– Scoria
– Gravel
– Rockwool
– Synthetic foams
– Tyre crumbs
– Sand
– Charcoal
– Glass spheres
– Zeolite
- Capillarity and Suction
- Transferring to Hydroponics
CHAPTER 04
FERTILISING AND WATERING
- Early Practices
- Essential Elements
- Fertiliser Mixtures
- Nutritional Disorders
- Hydroponic Fertilisers
- Salinity
- Fertiliser Regime
- Hydro-Organics
– Using organic nutrients
– Home-made organic fertilisers
– Organic fertiliser oxygen problems
- Watering
- Foliar Sprays
- Evaporation
- Reclaimed Waste Water
- Nutrient Formulation Software
CHAPTER 05
NUTRIENT FEED SYSTEMS
- Typical Methods
- Watering Can Method
- Gravity Feed
- Wick System
- Self-Scheduling System
- Management and Monitoring
– Recirculating system
– Drip feed
– Static feed or self-scheduling systems
CHAPTER 06
ORCHID ROOT SYSTEM
- Root Characteristics
- Factors Affecting Uptake of Nutrients
- Environmental Factors
- The Root Structure
- Function of the Velamen
- Repotting and Potting-on
- Oxygen Demand
- Diffusion and Osmosis
- Growing Containers
- Root Problems
CHAPTER 07
STRESS FACTORS IN ORCHIDS
- The Environment
– Atmospheric temperature
– Relative humidity
– Light
– Carbon dioxide deficiency
- Root Zone Moisture
- Computer Control
- Nutrient Concentration
- Contaminants
CHAPTER 08
ORCHIDS AND pH MEASUREMENT
- Testing Soils from Terrestrials
- Testing Epiphytic Litter
- Natural Habitat Conditions
- Role of the Medium
- Cation Exchange Capacity
- Forms of Solution Nitrogen
- pH Adjustment
CHAPTER 09
PLANT NUTRITION AND TISSUE ANALYSIS
- Essential Elements
- Element Concentrations
- Tissue Analysis
CHAPTER 10
RAISING SEEDLINGS
- Flasking
- Preparing for Hydroponic Cultivation
- Fertiliser
- Aeroponics
- Light, Temperature and Humidity
- Heated Propagators
- Keikis
CHAPTER 11
MINERAL DEFICIENCY AND TOXICITY
- Visible Symptoms
- Mobile Elements
- Typical Problems
– Nitrogen
– Phosphorus
– Potassium
– Calcium
REFERENCES
SPECIFICATIONS
Pages: 160
Size: 275mm x 210mm
Weight: 500g