Book Description
The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents features the history, cultivation, and imaginative use of more than 300 plants -- in step-by-step color stages. This is a feast of in-depth information and eye-catching photography. DK's new line of paperback titles combines all the qualities of its hardcovers with the advantages of the soft cover format. Each of these already popular books will now be available to a large new readership who will delight in the essential elements of every DK title: clarity, educational value, and visual appeal.
Customer Reviews:
care for your cacti/succulents with a base of knowledge.......2007-07-23
I've read this book from cover to cover a number of times, always exposing more useful information. Particularly of interest are the many excellent photographs, which help us longtime cactus fans who've bought various cacti through the years without knowing what we've bought, or purchasing packets of mixed seeds, stand a chance of identifying these plants. Even in the photos that suggest planting possibilities, the plants are identified. Perhaps the most useful suggestion is the purchase of an inexpensive moisture meter (I picked one up at a ubiquitous discount chain for less than $5 that is a marvel of invention), which showed me that my watering habits needed rethinking. The book is printed on heavy stock, loaded with luscious photographs and details concerning the needs of any particular group of cacti/succulents - yes, there are omissions - the book covers; also there are planting tips, information on growing medium, fertilizing, etc.. Overall, this is a very worthwhile and valuable book for the cactii/succulent enthusiast.
GREAT ADDITION TO MY LIBRARY.......2006-09-24
I've been collecting these wonderful plants for a number of years now and am constantly adding not only plants to my collection, but books. I am glad I added this one! No one book can completely cover every aspect of cacti lore and this one certainly does not, But, this work, added with several others, help to round my research library out. Each new addition, i.e. books, helps and this was certainly a good addition. The text is well done as the author is abviously very knowledgeable and I did like the photographs. I did agree with another reviewer in that the shots from the top of the plant, looking down are indeed pleasing to the eye, but they fail, in some cases, to give a true picture of the plant. I photograph plants and find it is helpful to get side views of different subjects. That is not big deal though. This is a helpful book and I do recommend it highly.
Not Complete but still Very Good.......2004-10-27
The book is very well produced and the photography is very good. The author is well known and respected in Cacti circles and the book reflects his knowledge and status. The first section relates to the history and discovery of cacti and shows some amazing photographs of cacti in their habitat. It goes on to show how best to display your cacti in suitable containers and then a chapter on the differing shapes of the plants and their flowers The plant catalogue itself does not show too many of the different genera, but the popular ones are there and what it does do is show photographs of a number of species within a certain genera and this appeals to me. Too many books try to over-reach themselves and try to cram in as many genera as possible, showing a photograph of one species and very short descriptions of one or two other species. In this book the descriptions of each plant give the average height, flower colour etc. and also the min. temp. each plant will stand. The book shares space equally between true cacti and succulents and they are presented separately which makes the book layout clean and easily readable. At the end of the book are several pages on plant selection in sections, i.e. Plants for beginners; Plants for the Greenhouse; Free Flowering plants etc. This is another plus. One criticism I have is that many of the plants are photographed from directly overhead, this may be aesthetically pleasing, but does not give a true reflection of the size and shape of the plant and is not really my cup of tea. But this is a small moan about what is otherwise an excellent book. At this price the book is a good buy and there is something for everyone interested in the care of these unusual plants. I am happy to have this book in my collection.
Not the "Complete" Book without Yuccas!.......2003-09-29
This is a georgeous book, but it doesn't mention Yuccas at all! There is very little on Agavaceae in general.
The outstanding photography makes it somewhat worthwhile. All of the plants are photographed on white seamless, so they really pop off the page.
Excellent reference, not just for beginners.......2003-02-14
If you had to limit yourself to just one book, this should be that book.
For novices, this book has excellent basic advice for getting started, including many pictures and of how to display and plant them. For those with more experience, the book is a handy first reference before searching a specialized botanical tome.
This book makes the specific point that (popular, commonly available) cacti are no more difficult to grow than any other house plant.
The book thoroughly covers the needs of these plants, including what kind of soil, how much water, what temperature and amount of light they prefer.
The largest section has all of the popular genera, including the tropical varieties. This section has excellent photography of the plants at their best. If a person had a cactus that's in this book, that person would very likely be able to identify it from the descriptions and pictures. The book usually describes the distinguishing feature that classifies the plants of that type.
Typical and maximum sizes are given, along with the plants' growth habits and the age at which they first flower (some varieties do not flower until they are many years old).
Also included in this section is the hardiness, or how cold the plants can get before they die. If you don't live where these plants naturally grow, this is very important information. For instance, many kinds of cactus grow where it snows in the winter and can be grown outdoors in most of the USA.
At least one of each of the different general forms of cactus is shown: columnar cacti, prickly-pear types, barrel types, etc.
Following the section on specific cacti is a fairly representative section on popular succulents. There are so very many different kinds of succulents in the world, even a book ten times thicker would barely scratch the surface. This book concentrates on those species which are most commonly planted alongside cactus.
The lists at the back of the book are almost worth the price of the book itself. There are lists that categorize cacti and succulents in every which way, including many species that were not pictured or discussed in the main sections. There are lists by how easy the plants are to grow ("easy", "moderate", "difficult"), lists by temperature range ("cool", "temperate", "hot"), and other useful groupings. These lists help make this book continually valuable, even as one's experience and knowledge grows beyond the basics.
This author (Terry Hewitt) has written other books on cacti and succulents. Those books are also excellent, and worth purchasing for the unique information that they contain, but mainly as supplements to this book.
There are also other excellent cactus books that are more complete, but also more technical - or more specialized (for instance, there is an entire reference work on just the "opuntia" (prickly-pear) species).
This book is perfectly written for the average amateur cactus lover.
Book Description
A succulent collection decorates an outdoor patio during the warm season. When the weather cools it's simple to relocate the collection indoors. With clear photographs that beautifully exemplify what a collection can look like, as well as designs for unusual containers and accessories, this is your complete guide to growing and caring for these stunning plants.
Customer Reviews:
A Good Book for Starters!.......1999-08-19
This book is an excellent book for people who are just starting their collection of Succulents and Cacti. It starts off with the basics of succulents, discusses care and setting up your garden. It also has a fairly good index to succulents. The photos are not the greatest, and sometimes they don't focus on the plant, but the flowers. However, the information they give on each plant is valuable, as well as gives several recommended species. An added bonus is the common name index at the end. This I found to be the most helpful since most people use common names. A lot of the other index books don't have common names listed. All in all, this is a good book. It's a bit dated in the pictures, but I found it a good start. I am purchasing another book now for more extensive index to succulents.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful job
- A beautiful book which will provide joy and utility.
- Good to look at but flawed in content.
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Cacti & Succulents
Hans Hecht
Manufacturer: Sterling Pub Co Inc
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Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents
ASIN: 0806905492 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful job.......2001-05-28
This book gives a comprehensive overview of the more important species of cacti and succulents. The photographs are beautiful and the information content is superb. For cacti and succulent lovers/keepers, the author gives very helpful advice on their care and maintenance. In addition, he gives a short discussion at the beginning on the evolution of cacti and succulents. The myriads of different shapes taken on by these plants are a constant source of amazement, for they can be highly symmetric as well as twisted and deformed. The photographs in the book are a marvelous example of this variety.
A short dictionary of terms is inserted at the beginning of the book for the beginner who is approaching cacti for the first time. The botanical names are given for each entry and the author gives recommendations on the cacti that bloom the easiest. A section on propagation and grafting is also included in the book.
A very delightful book on a class of plants that are intriguing in every way.
A beautiful book which will provide joy and utility........1999-04-16
This book is beautifully illustrated, and contains a wealth of useful information to those learning to grow cacti. Mr. Hecht's minimum temperatures run well above what I think are correct, but safety is good idea for the novice. I highly recommend this book.
Good to look at but flawed in content........1998-07-09
Although a well-organized and generally informative book, I believe it suffered greatly in its translation from German to English. I found the tips on cultivation to be thoroughly confusing, with many ambiguous terms such as "airy" and "under glass" and significant amounts of inconsistent information. My preference is to see familiar phrases such as "bright, indirect light" or "partial shade" used to describe growth requirements, instead of"..sunny, not in the full sun; if need be, in half-shade." This would have helped ease part of my quandary and made it easier to understand exactly what the author intended. The best features of this book were the numerous and excellant pictures of the various genera of cacti and succulents, and the inclusion of tables describing the characteristics of species that were not pictured. However, if a beginner wants to buy only one reference guide on cacti and succulents I wouldn't recommend this one, there are better books available for about the same price.
Book Description
Prickly and frequently taking strange shapes, cacti often thrive when given minimal care—and sometimes languish when owners "nurse them to death." This handsomely illustrated book introduces plant growers to the basics of cactus care and cultivation, then presents an alphabetized directory of roughly 50 varieties—from Acanthocalycium to Uebelmannia pectinifera. Only avid plant lovers need remember the scientific names. More practical for plant growers, and shown in stunning photographs, is the magnificent variety of cactus flowers that blossom from the unusual and fascinating shapes of these plants.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous and informative.......2007-07-16
Wow. Some of the most beautiful pictures here. The book seems very well put together. Instructions are clear and informative without being too scientific-y or too offhand. Very relevent information and great organization, along with fantastic photographs to inspire.
A VERY HELPFUL BOOK.......2006-09-09
I am quite glad I added this one to my collection. The photographs found in this volume are quite good, beautiful, as a matter of fact. I had to agree with another reviewer in that I do wish more of the actual plant was shown, rather than the flower. There are some very good growing tips in this small volume which I found very helpful. No one book can fill all of your needs is raising/growing any plants and I have found that it is very necessary to purchase a number of them. This is one I am glad to have added to the growing shelf. I did give this one five stars as the photographs alone are worth it. Recommend.
To the author 'beautiful'=flowers.......2006-06-02
This should be called Cactus Flowers because there is very little in this book other than pictures taken from above of cactus flowers, frequently obscuring the cacti themselves for page after page. There is hardly any discussion on form, spines, etc. just flowers, flowers, flowers. The actual photography of the flowers itself is very well done. There are some good tips on care, but it is very repetitive. This would be a good book for someone who likes pretty plant books or flowers, not necessarily someone interested in cacti.
The best book available for home cactus enthusiasts!.......2005-02-11
I've purchased over a dozen books on cacti, but none of them thoroughly discuss the proper care for cacti grown at home. I was amazed by author Elisabeth Manke's attention to detail as it pertains to information you actually need. For instance, one section of the book covers general cactus care on a month-by-month basis. For an Ohio cactus enthusiast, that kind of information is invaluable. Indeed, one of my cactus plants owes its life to this book!
If you often read about cacti, you already know that there is a lot of conflicting information out there from highly reputable sources. In my experience, any time the information in this book differs from that in other books, this book is the one that is correct (and that even counts a $100 cactus encyclopedia!) All of the pictures and species are properly labeled by modern naming conventions.
If you need a book to help you ID wild cacti in the Arizona desert, this one probably isn't it (despite the hordes of beautiful photos). If you're trying to raise a few (or a few hundred) plants of your own in a windowsill or a greenhouse, this book is the best resource I've found! I wish I would have bought this book first. I'd have saved a couple hundred dollars...
My First Book Ever on Cactus Care........2003-08-10
I have been an avid cactus fan since I was very young (I'm 16 now), but I never had a really good book on cacti until now. This one is concise, comprehensive, and offers a wide range of gorgeous color photos. Sure, it was the only one my local bookstore had. But by the same token, it is excellent, and not too expensive either. For the cactus lover.
Book Description
A story about the mighty saguaro cactus.
< BR>
Customer Reviews:
Very educational.......2007-08-25
This book is very educational to use in a classroom or an education focused day camp and is not an easy read as a story book at bedtime.
Not your ordinary desert book.......2004-05-12
We have been reading many different desert books for a unit study. It seemed that we kept running across the same old information in every book. Then we read this one! It tells you things that you just don't find in other books. This turned out to be our favorite book. The pictures are wonderful and it is easily understandable by young children, thought adults will learn a thing or two as well! Highly recommended.
This book was full of wonderful pictures and information.......2003-03-30
I have used this book every year as a third grade teacher. It is wonderful as a read aloud for science to illustrate how animals and plants adapt to their environment and rely on other plants and animals for survival. This is one of the best books I have ever read to my class because it is not dull science jargon but presented as the story of the life of the cactus. Don't miss this one for teaching and learning about life science in the desert.
Our third grade class loved your book........1999-11-03
Our third grade loved your book. It gave us a lot of information about the desert. The illustrations were excellent. We especilly liked the use of author techniques such as diagrams, onomatopeias, catchy title and colorful illustrations. We would love to contact Barbara Bash.
Book Description
Cacti and succulents are ideal houseplants, needing little care and providing unusual and colourful displays. This book looks at the increasingly wide variety of plants now available, and assists the beginner to choose and cultivate many of the popular types. Full details are given on feeding, watering, potting, and on displaying the collection to its best advantage. An A-Z listing of over 75 varieties shows the wide diversity of shapes, sizes, and effects that can be grown.
Customer Reviews:
Keen by Name, Keen by Nature.......2004-10-27
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast. The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative. The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particulary the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly. There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.
Average customer rating:
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Saguaro Cactus (Habitats)
Paul Berquist
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
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ASIN: 0516260650 |
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Cactus Flower: A Comedy in Two Acts
Abe Burrows
Manufacturer: S. French
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B0006BTG76 |
Book Description
Cactus and Succulents unravels the mystery of growing these drought-friendly plants in any climate, indoors or out. Easy-to-follow directions tackle everything from watering and fertilizing schedules to tips on arrangements. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs and complete with a mail-order source list, Cactus and Succulents is a wonderful resource for the novice gardener as well as the confirmed cactus lover.
Customer Reviews:
Nice book with basic info and beautiful ideas.......2005-03-20
I just recently fell in love with succulent plants, so my husband bought me this book (and a few others) for Christmas. I enjoy leafing through it for ideas. It has lots of beautiful photos with ideas for growing succulents and cactus. The book is about 100 pages and when you open it up, most pages have a full-page photo on one side and text on the other. The text discusses some background info on the plants pictured and a "How to do it" section that describes the plants needs. One thing I really like about this book is that as you page through the book, the pages that cover specific plants have a summary of info of that plant in the margin. This always includes the basic info you need - light, watering, fertilizing, etc.
This book isn't as in-depth as some, but it's more of an idea book. It has photos of plants both indoors and out. It's a great basic info & idea book for the beginner.
It was okay..........2002-10-06
Luckily I found this book on sale because I probably would have been a lot more disappointed if I had paid more than [price]for it. The beginning section I found to be rather interesting, it's more of a general care section. The rest of the book however are tips for more specific species. If you have one of these species of cacti or succulents, it is a bit informative. If you're looking for a very general book, with some general tips, it's an okay book. If you're looking for something in depth, don't get this book because you'll be highly disappointed.
Somewhat disappointing.......1998-01-14
I originally looked at this book because it had information on something that I was interested in -- propagation. However, I am now a little bit wiser.
The reason this book is disappointing to me is only 1/3 is related to general care of cacti. The other 2/3's of the book focuses on common species of cacti and how to take care of that particular species. I also find this to be inaccurate, because care of species also depends a lot on what type of environment you put them in. My recommendation is if you are looking for a book on how to care for cacti, look a little bit longer.
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