AOS Judging

[Leafmite]

Good luck next time!

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by rangiku

I took a look over at the Orchids Plus section of aos.org (online version of AQ+). Cattleya mendelii has been awarded six times, first in 1985 and most recently twice in 2008. The minimum number of flowers was two, with the maximum of 10.

Just a point of clarification - the number of flowers is almost always not an issue when the flower is being considered for a quality award or for a botanical or horticultural award, only when it is considered for a cultural award.

[ronaldhanko]

I bring plants for judging fairly regularly and I always check to see what awards a plant has received before bringing it (using Orchidwiz). That can be a real eye-opener. Sometimes I even check the measurements of a flower to see how it measures up against other awards.

Not that long ago I brought in a Masdevallia constricta that had flowers substantially larger than any awarded plant (I checked on Orchidwiz) and it received an HCC. Also had a Dendrobium pentapterum with around 50 flowers but found out on Orchidwiz that the most recent cultural award was on a plant with 170 flowers. Didn't bother to bring mine, then.

On the Masdevallia I also mentioned to one of the judges that the flowers were larger than any other I had seen and at least in our area they are open to being told that kind of thing prior to the judging (you are not allowed to participate in the judging of your own plant, even as a spectator).

Sometimes I bring a plant that I am quite sure will not receive an award (after checking on Orchidwiz) but bring it because I know it's something the judges don't see very often or something that's not often grown in our area and that they would be interested in seeing even if it's not pulled for an award.

[littlefrog]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Just a point of clarification - the number of flowers is almost always not an issue when the flower is being considered for a quality award or for a botanical or horticultural award, only when it is considered for a cultural award.

I'm not sure this is true in practice. At least for a lot of genera. While we award single flowered paphs all the time, it would be almost unheard of to award a single flowered phalaenopsis. Floriferousness (is that a word?) is an entry on the point scale, it isn't a lot of points but it is there. In practice, flower count is probably worth more 'bonus points' than the score sheet indicates. Just like size is only 10 points, but they are really important points to most judges...

[DelawareJim]

I have a Phal violacea that has been recommended for AOS judging. What should be done to prep it and how should I pack it in the car so it doesn't get damaged in transit?

Thanks.

Cheers.
Jim

[goodgollymissmolly]

DelJim,

Rinse the leaves with water to remove any dust and debris. If the leaves have hard water spots, put a small amount of detergent in the rinse water to remove it. The foliage is not being judged except in the case of cultural awards, but you will have a better chance if your plant looks good.

You can stake the inflorescence for transportation if you think it might be fragile or hit other things. You can also stake the inflorescence for judging if it improves the appearance. Judges are free to remove any stakes, however.

Depending on how your pot looks you can consider sitting it inside a bigger clay pot. This will improve its stability also. This is no bigger. No one is judging your pot.

I go 90 miles to judging. If there is any chance that a plant will tip over or slide into something, Intake a cardboard box much largest than the plant diameter and cut a hole into it that is a tight fit for the pot. That keeps everything upright and protects from the plant getting too close to something that could damage it.

With big plants (normally not a Phal), you can weave some Spanish moss loosely into the plant to keep flowers from bouncing around and hitting themselves or something else. You must remove the moss for judging of course.

Typically a potted Phal will do just fine with just the box support. A mounted Phal can be more challenging. I bought two microphone stands and drilled holes in a number of places so I can hang mounted plants for transport. Usually you also need to masking tape them to prevent twisting around. One thing leads to another, I found that I needed to make some sand bags to be sure the stands did not fall. So now I have about 20 lb of sand and stand to transport a 6 oz plant, but what the h......

Ron, Littlefrog is correct...floriferouness is a pointed characteristic and it is considered. While it's not a major factor, if it's only 10 points you surely would prefer not to lose 5 of them because your plant falls below most of the awards.

[CTB]

how do you display a hanging plant for judging?

[goodgollymissmolly]

Good question Carol and it has more than one answer. If the plant is small and it can can just be laid on the table without damage, I do that.

Most of the time a plant that is mature enough to be awarded will be too big and rambling for that so I have several stands that were originally lamp bases. I have several lengths of 1/2 inch EMT (that's a non-screwed electric conduit available from Lowes/Home Depot). I can slip the appropriate length of EMT over the stub (12-18 inches) that I left of the original lamp post and just hang the mount.

For really big plants, I use the microphone stands (see post above) that I used for transport. I bought two new ones from on the internet (an Amazon store) for $15 each (new). They telescope from about 3 feet tall to about 6 feet tall.

I transported and displayed in an exhibit a Phal schilleriana with a 7 foot long inflorescence this way without any damage going or coming in a 200 mile each way show. It went best in show so you can see it arrived in good condition. I will admit that if you are using a car you may need to adapt these ideas to your space and head room. I'm transporting in an F-150 super crew so I have the full rear cab area (with seats up) and the head room of the truck to work with.

Many people who regularly take plants to shows or judgings have invented their own ideas. Sometimes that's not entirely possible. I doubt my schilleriana would have made it in a Smartcar.

Sometimes a PVC pipe contraption will work to hang or serve as a support of some kind. For judging nothing elaborate is needed just functional. A large clay pot can be used to hold a mount on the judging table. The judges will make their own way to view the plant even if they just have someone hold it. ...that's what students are for!