There are a large variety of different orchid books to choose from. Start with a general book which covers most of the orchid families and then progress to more specific topics.
Below just a few suggestions.

Reminder :  South Africa is in the Southern hemisphere - check for which country/ hemisphere the book was written, remember where you are living (!) and don't get confused with the months. (If you are living in the southern hemisphere, add six months if the book was written for the Northern growers. If written in Australia, New Zealand etc. the months/seasons stay the same). 
If they mention seasons, that luckily stays the same.
There have been a lot of name changing in the species - check for a synonym if you cannot find a specific orchid. There are almost 30 000 species in nature and  you will never find a book which covers them all.
 

 

 FROM THE SAOC (SOUTH AFRICAN ORCHID COUNCIL) :   

ORCHID INFORMATION DISKS FOR SALE

The SOUTH AFRICAN ORCHID COUNCIL (SAOC) has produced the following CD. The disk contains 2 formats, Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Word, to suit most operating systems. This is a real must-have for the serious orchid grower. The CD contents are as follows: detailed cultural information on the most popular genera, pests and diseases and their control, growing conditions, where to buy orchids including discounts, mounting plants, greenhouses & shade houses etc.

OTHER CD'S AVAILABLE FROM THE SAOC

       

      (updated July 2011)

Books now in stock – order from www.saoc.co.za or mikeandtessa@mweb.co.za

Orchids – a practical guide to their care and cultivation – Michael Tibbs – R220

Growing Orchids in SA – a gardener’s guide (English and Afrikaans) Hendrik Venter – R185

Orchid Culture : Some sound advice – R90

Culture books – Cattleya, Paphiopedilum and Cymbidium – R75 each

Also available – Articles of Association of the SAOC on CD – R25 plus postage, Growers guide on CD – R50 plus

postage, and orchid information CD’s with SA species – each R35 plus postage

 

 

Hendrik Venter has started a ‘book corner’, where members can post lists of wanted books, or offered books, which he will then co-ordinate. Members offering orchid books for sale, or those with a ‘wish list’, are invited to email him on hendrikv@telkomsa.net or by phone 082 570 1964. Some lists have already been sent to him – so now is the time either to find that book you are looking for, or to sell those you no longer need.
 

For a very comprehensive list of orchid hybrids and species, visit the Royal Horticultural Society which deals with registrations and names at: 

http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/registration_orchids.asp

 

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:  

Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland” has landed.

This book is well worth the wait - Contact Umdaus Press on 011-675-1477, or via email umdaus@succulents.net
It is designed to be an easy to use field guide with
·          Detailed descriptions of 210 orchid species
·          More the 1300 colour photographs
·          Distribution maps based on altitude
·          Life size image of each species
·          Flowering times

 The aim of the book is to ease identification for professionals and amateur enthusiasts alike.

 Authors: Douglas McMurtry, Lourens Grobler, Jolisa Grobler and Shane Burns

ISBN number: 978-1-919766-46-1
Publishers: Umdaus Press
 

GROWING ORCHIDS IN SOUTH AFRICA - A Gardener's Guide

            

BRAND NEW FOR SOUTH AFRICA !
ISBN: 1-875093-84-2  and 978-1-875093-84-7
(Briza Publications books@briza.co.za)
Hendrik Venter
At last a book written especially for South African conditions.
Available in Afrikaans and English

BOTANICA'S POCKET ORCHIDS

ISBN-0-09-183820-1
It deals with over 1200 species with easy-to-understand text. Comprehensive information on propagation, growing, flowering and background.             

Helmut Bechtel, Philip Cribb & Edmund Launert

THE MANUAL OF CULTIVATED ORCHID SPECIES
ISBN 1-874849-39-0
(Bok Books)
Gerald Leroy-Terquem & Jean Parisot

ORCHIDS CARE AND CULTIVATION
ISBN 1-874937-39-7
(Cassel Publishers Ltd)
Alec Pridgeon

WHAT ORCHID IS THAT ?
ISBN 1 86302 194 9
(Weldon Publishing, Sydney)
Rebecca T Northern

HOME ORCHID GROWING
ISBN 0-442-06064-5
(D von Nostrand Co)
Peter McKenzie Black

THE WARD LOCK BOOK OF ORCHID GROWING
ISBN 0-7063-7019-8
(Ward Lock Limited)
Brian and Wilma Ritterhausen

ORCHIDS AS HOUSEPLANTS
ISBN 0-7063-6815-0
(Resopal)
Wilma and Brian Ritterhausen

GARDENER'S GUIDE TO GROWING ORCHIDS
(Southwater)
HP Linder & H Kurzwell

ORCHIDS OF SOUTERN AFRICA
ISBN 90 5410 445 7
(AA Balkem)
Mike Tibbs and Ray Bilton

ORCHIDS - An illustrated identifier and guide to cultivation
ISBN 1-85926-089-6
(Leefung-Asco Printers Ltd)
J.N. Rentoul

EXPANDING YOUR ORCHID COLLECTION 
ISBN 0 85091  364 0
(Lothian Publishing Company Pty Ltd)
Joyce Stewart

ORCHIDS OF KENYA
ISBN (UK) 1 873040 28 8 
(Timber Press INc.)

 

 

 

BOOK CONTACTS:

IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Malcolm Foster
( Gray's Bookshop )

Telephone Home : 012-344 2640
Telephone Work: 012-3227820

SUPPLIERS ON THE NET:
www.kalahari.net
www.amazon.com  
www.ballbookshelf.com