Question about judging a plant

[Tsuchibuta]

While reading through some flasking threads and such I ran across a couple of instances of miniature orchids blooming in flask. Can an orchid in flask be considered for judging (AOS or ribbon)? or would it have to be deflasked? (assuming there is only one plant in the flask)

[littlefrog]

Hmmm... I don't think that has come up before (in my experience, anyway). Ribbon judging, I'd say sure.

AOS judging... I think I'd have trouble judging an orchid in flask only if it were a flask which had multiple seedlings in it. One seedling, one flask, I don't see a problem. Multiple seedlings... well, how do we know which plant was awarded? How do you tag it?

Interesting question though.

[goodgollymissmolly]

How would you measure it. Doesn 't much matter because a plant that small is unlikely to win an award anyway. An infinitely small chance that this would ever be a serious issue.

[Tsuchibuta]

Miniatures are awarded all the time often with only a few growths because the species aren't often cultivated. Not to mention the fact that miniatures are not widely grown let alone shown. - Thus the question remains is it against the rules for this to happen, regardless of whether it ever would happen.


IMO the awards process in itself is entirely too subjective, and agree that it's highly unlikely, however I think it's more unlikely because it's unconventional (judging is all about precedent = thus tends to be conservative and not so open to radical ideas), rather than solely because of the plant size.

[goodgollymissmolly]

I'm not interested in debating your opinion of judging. You contradict yourself in your second paragraph when you first say judging is too subjective and then say it's all about precedent which is factual comparison to previous awards.

There certainly is a subjective component to judging just as in judging dogs, horses, ice skating, gymnastics, and some forms of skiing. Nothing wrong with that.

You said "miniatures" are awarded frequently with few growths because they are not often cultivated. Some may get recognition awards (CBR's) for that reason but not flower quality awards or certainly not cultivation awards.

[Tsuchibuta]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

I'm not interested in debating your opinion of judging. You contradict yourself in your second paragraph when you first say judging is too subjective and then say it's all about precedent which is factual comparison to previous awards.

There certainly is a subjective component to judging just as in judging dogs, horses, ice skating, gymnastics, and some forms of skiing. Nothing wrong with that.

You said "miniatures" are awarded frequently with few growths because they are not often cultivated. Some may get recognition awards (CBR's) for that reason but not flower quality awards or certainly not cultivation awards.

Precedence does not rule out subjection.

I don't have access to my awards quarterly to provide exact statistics, but I know for a fact that I have seen first bloom seedlings awarded flower quality awards. Additionally it is statistically more likely to get an award with a Paph. than any other species and often the plants awarded only have a single bloom.

- Regardless of opinion, the post was if it was factually possible based on rules. Not what is most likely, based on opinion.