Great Resources for Orchid Beginners

One of the best places for orchid beginners to get a good education, aside from our Just Add Ice website, is at the American Orchid Society's website. Click on "Orchid Basics" and you'll see a list of their most often asked questions. They also offer a quick start guide to orchid culture, called ORCHIDS 101, and a link to their Beginner's Newsletter Archive, but you can sign up to receive it for free too! They also recommend a list of books and DVDs, which includes Orchids for Dummies.

Now is a good time to sign up for the Beginner's Newsletter, since their May magazine focuses on Phalaenopsis orchids and offers both practical and historical perspectives!

Of course, once you've been bitten by the orchid obsession bug, even if you're still a beginner, it may be worth it to get a paid membership.

You'll help further conservation and research efforts for orchids and enjoy benefits like:

• Monthly subscription to Orchids magazine
• Free and discounted admission to more than 200 botanical gardens and arboreta
• Receive the annual Orchid Source Directory detailing orchid suppliers worldwide
• Access to online orchid information and features available only to our members at www.aos.org
• 10% discount on purchases in the Orchid Emporium or on-line at www.aos.org
• Discount on back issues of Orchids magazine and on American Orchid Society published books
• Reduced processing fees for American Orchid Society judged plant and flower awards
• Discounts on orchid class fees at the American Orchid Society Botanical Gardens
• Free admission to the American Orchid Society Botanical Gardens and 50% off admission for any guests.