Orchid Judging - Orchid Board

Kevinator · #1 01-21-2016, 02:41 AM

Hi guys! I've always wanted to take some of my plants for AOS judging and I think two of my plants may be able to get awards: Angraecum sesquipedale and Zygonisia Murasaki Komachi. I will be including pictures of the two but both are relatively young so I'm not sure if they would be ok for judging. The zygonisia has not opened its buds yet but looking at last year's performance, it seems hopeful. The angraecum has one flower open at this point and comes from highly awarded parents. One spur has its end slightly bent to the side but it doesn't seem to be a major problem. Along with this I have two questions:

1. If these plants are viable for judging, do you guys have any tips?

2. How do the clonal names work? Do you enter the plants in with the name or are they named after the award is given?

Thanks for any information in advance!

Luizacft · #2 01-21-2016, 05:58 AM

I've never taken any plants for judging, so I'm no help. Anyway, good luck!

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Do. Or do not. There is no try.

katrina · #3 01-21-2016, 06:40 AM

Clonal names are given after a plant gets awarded. After an award is given, you send in the cert paperwork w/your chosen clonal and the fee and from that point forward...it has whatever name you have chosen...along w/the specific award value (AM, FCC, JC, CBR, HCC, etc).

One caveat...if the plant already has a clonal then you can't change that but you can get an improved designation if the point value is higher than the original award. For instance, going from an AM to a FCC (or some other higher award). Even if the flower count is relatively low but the flower itself is much better (bigger, better form, etc) it could potentially still come away awarded based on it being better but the clonal would remain the same.

Example - let's say you have a Cattleya maxima 'Joe Schmo' AM/AOS and this flowering has excellent form and a higher flower count and you take it to judging...say the judges give it a high point value...you could end up w/an FCC and then your plant would be Cattleya maxima 'Joe Schmo' FCC/AOS. The 'Joe Schmo' would stay but now your plant has an FCC. I hope that makes sense.

You wouldn't likely see this in such a young plant but down the road...in an older and very well grown plant, the grower could end up w/an CCM or CCE possibly but those are typically given to specimen sized plants that don't just have beautiful, well shaped flower but the whole plant just beautiful and very well grown. This is an award given to the grower rather than the plant itself. Making the plant C maxima 'Joe Schmo' CCM/AOS. Some consider this the best of all the awards because it speaks to the skills of the grower and how well the plant has been grown.

As for taking it to judging...I don't know about the Zygo but I know the Ang has received awards on older plants w/fairly high flower counts. If you plant is young and only has a couple of flowers but the flowers are exceptional then it's possible it could get a flower award. Worse case scenario though...you get a really good look at the judging process and you can talk w/the judges to see what they are looking for in the process. It would be a good learning experience, if nothing else.

Kevinator · #4 01-21-2016, 11:06 AM

So apparently orchidboard will only let me post one image per post and flips the pictures so here are the two plants. The Angraecum just received flower damage for some unknown reason today. You may be able to see it in the flower picture.

Kevinator · #5 01-21-2016, 11:07 AM

Kevinator · #6 01-21-2016, 11:24 AM

The zygonisia has two developing spikes and needs some cleaning up. Sorry for the pictures, once I get home I will try to get better ones.

Fairorchids · #7 01-22-2016, 06:40 AM

Without measurements we can't compare this sesquipedale to those awarded pteviously.

BTW, you are free to assign clonal names in advance, but they get no recognition, unless the plant receives an AOS award.

I often buy multiple plants, so I can select for breeding. I might want to keep three for different qualities (flower size, quality & plant vigor). I have to give them informal clonal names to keep track or what each one is.

Once I divide & sell divisions of such plants, they get some degree of local recognition.

Paphluvr · #8 01-22-2016, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinator

So apparently orchidboard will only let me post one image per post and flips the pictures so here are the two plants. The Angraecum just received flower damage for some unknown reason today. You may be able to see it in the flower picture.

Attachment 118033

Are you posting from an I-Pad? When you chose a picture from your photo stream they are all given the same name (I think it is "photo"), therefore the last one you try to link is the one you get since they all have the same name. At least that has been my experience. I don't know if there is a work-around for that or not other than using a photo hosting site.

Kevinator · #9 01-22-2016, 06:39 PM

Sorry for the delay, here are the measurements for the currently open sesquipedale bloom:
-petal tip to petal tip: 6.25 inches
-lip length: 2.55 inches
-spur length: 13.1 inches
-dorsal sepal length: 3.35 inches

I posted the pictures form my iphone since i didn't have time to take official photos and upload them. The second flower seems slightly smaller and is starting to open.

Fairorchids · #10 01-22-2016, 07:48 PM

I looked up a fairly recent AM (2013). Plant had 7 flowers on 2 inflorescences. The largest flower was:
NS: 15.5 cm (= 6.1")
VS: 12.2 cm (= 4.8")

Hope this helps you decide whether to take in your plant. If there is some flower damage, you should wait till next blooming though.