AOS Shows

[jocierk]

My local Orchid club is taking place in an AOS show in the next few weeks. This is my first opportunity to enter my orchids in a show and I was wondering if anyone has any insight into what they look for when giving out awards? My area doesn't really have a huge orchid community or very many local places to buy them so I don't have a lot of exposure other than the other club members. I don't know if my plants will measure up in an AOS show but I thought what the heck I may as well try and I can't wait to see all the other plants! Any suggestions or opinions are much appreciated!

[Bulbofett]

I'm not sure about your club, but with mine they will hold a meeting prior to the show date where you can take in the plant you want to show and have it "judged". They also show you how to make a show plant look presentable. Have you asked your club for help?

This will be my first year showing a plant so I can't offer any advice past that

[PaphMadMan]

Shows usually have 2 levels of judging - informal ribbon judging for the awards given by the show, and formal scored AOS judging for those few plants that catch the supposedly educated eyes of the judges as potentially eligible for AOS awards. Just being there normally puts any plant under consideration for AOS judging as well.

For ribbon judging, plants must be entered in the right class to have a chance. There should be some kind of list or schedule that tells what the classes are and how to determine what plants belong in what classes. Usually if you choose the wrong class you're out of luck, no one has the time to fix your mistake and get the plant judged properly. It doesn't matter for AOS judging, the judges will do whatever they please.

Your club should be giving some guidance on expectations and preparing plants for the show. Do pay attention.

In any case, don't hesitate to put your plants in the show, don't worry if they are good enough. Anything that looks good adds to the appearance of the displays and the success of the show. Do make sure your plants are looking their best - clean water marks off the leaves, stakes should get the job done but be as invisible as possible, trim that ugly leaf the cat chewed on, etc. Distracting pots or decorations are usually not appropriate for any plant going in a group display and really just detract from any attention the plant itself deserves.

The quality and quantity of the flowers themselves should determine the success of your plants, and there isn't much you can do about that except buy good plants and care for them well.

Remember that only a few plants will even get formal AOS judging, and awards will probably be rare. For ribbon judging there will usually just be 3 ribbons per class, so many plants get no recognition at all. Go in with few expectations, and don't be disappointed.

[Cym Ladye]

Lacking a meeting to attend, the best advice I can give a first time orchid show exhibitor is to take the following 10 steps to simply make your plant "prom worthy, so to speak.
1) Choose one or more of your plants with flowers free from damage, ie no slug, snail or physical problems.
2) Attractively stake the flowers and clip the top of the stake off so it does not detract from the flower. Staking should be done early before the buds open and preferably they should not be looking up at the ceiling. (Browse the internet for similar genera and see samples) Judges do not like to stand on their heads to look at flowers so always try to "make the flower stare at them directly".
3) Clean the old bracts off the stems/pseudobulbs and remove any old flower stems. As I grow cyms, I also cut off at a sharp angle any dead tips of the leaves.
4) Wipe both sides of the leaves with a wet paper towel. Some people use a 50/50 solution of water and non fat mild or a dilute solution of lemon juice. Both are slightly acidic and will help remove any water stains.
5) Top off the top of the pot with fresh mix if necessary.
6) Find the full name of your plant ie cross, cultivar and parents if it is a hybrid. The RHS website will give you this info. As a beginner, you can probably enter your show with a NOID and if it is a Catt, for instance, it should be entered as Catt. hyb ign 'cultivar name of your choice'.
7) It is not necessary to put the plant in a fancy cache pot (decorative pot). Although often very pretty, it can detract from the flower.
8) Place the plant in a box well braced for travel to arrive safely at your destination.
9) When you arrive at the show, you will need to fill out a card with the information from #6. The people entering plants will guide you as to what class the plant(s) will be entered in.
10) Enjoy the experience, take lots of photos (be sure to also take a photo of the name of the plant photographed!) and have fun talking to other club members and fellow exhibitors. In other words, HAVE FUN!

Good luck!