What to expect at orchid shows?

[My Green Pets]

Astrid I usually take cash only and leave the cards at home. That way I don't get myself in trouble. Plus it forces you to think about what you really want.

If you are interested here are a couple of short videos of orchid shows I have been to in the past couple of years. It shows the plants on display as well as the plants for sale (but in the end, almost everything is for sale )

This one was in Chantilly, France


and this one was in Louisville, KY.

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by Paul

LOL That's actually a good reason to go help with set up if you are a member of an OS. Many folks would be amazed at how many choice selections disappear before the show even opens to the public!

How very true!

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Bulbofett

Experience differs from show to show so you really just have to experience one for yourself. Depending on who the vendors are will determine if there are any unusual orchids. I wouldn't say you're likely to find any rare ones though.

Haha, I suppose "rarity" is in the eye of the beholder! For me, just finding things beyond the typical 8 oncidium varieties that local stores carry is rare and exciting to me!

I about shat when I saw nelly islers sold at my local store, for example!!

I guess I am hoping to see some dendrobiums, masdevallias, and pahps/phrags.

I don't think it will take much to impress me at all!!

---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 PM ----------

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

Astrid I usually take cash only and leave the cards at home. That way I don't get myself in trouble. Plus it forces you to think about what you really want.

If you are interested here are a couple of short videos of orchid shows I have been to in the past couple of years. It shows the plants on display as well as the plants for sale (but in the end, almost everything is for sale )

Oh wow! The show in France seemed amazing!
The show in Kentucky seemed just like it was only slightly more diverse than what I can get at the store. I am very interested to see what will happen now.

I should make videos like that one for sure!! Thanks for sharing!

[801229001]

You will definetly see masdevallia , dendrobium and paphs/phrags at Any orchid show you go to! have fun!

[tarev]

It is fun and educational to attend the orchid shows. The one I get to attend is the Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco, and always I enjoy being there. Incidentally it is coming up this Feb. And it is now like my yearly tradition to go there. Before my hubby is not inclined to even get into a nursery, but now he even asks me when the show will be.

There will be lots of displays, arrangements, and if you know some of the noted orchid vendor sellers, they would have a space there.

But I try to really discipline myself, since it is so easy to fall in love with the blooms, but have to give myself some reality check with the cost involved and where will I grow them..or if it will be able to grow in my location.

Sometimes there are workshops going on too, if you have time, you can attend anyone of them, like repotting, divisions etc.

There was a time I volunteered at the package drop off area, so it allowed me free entrance during the show, my duty was just half day, not bad, I get to enter for free and do very light work of handling plants already bought so people can park them while they continue to go around; then we have free meal..so it was truly fun! It is amazing how many people go to the shows, young and old.

Prices will vary, depending if it is a good specie or hybrid, flowering or not. So you have to know what you can realistically afford. I also try to see what orchid supplies that might be on sale at the show, sometimes it maybe more expensive there, sometimes you just chance upon a good price, it just varies.

Then there are also some other non-orchid vendors, I get some good plant specimens sometimes.

[Optimist]

Well, be the change you would like to see, or something like that. I expect people in their 20's are working, studying, partying, or changing diapers, not nessesarily attending flower shows. But...you never know...

As far as money. Make a budget. Think about what you want to buy in advance. I would think it would be easy to spend 100$. At orchid shows, you can often find good deals on seedlings. A year or two away from blooming. I am impatient though.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Well, be the change you would like to see, or something like that. I expect people in their 20's are working, studying, partying, or changing diapers, not nessesarily attending flower shows. But...you never know...

As far as money. Make a budget. Think about what you want to buy in advance. I would think it would be easy to spend 100$. At orchid shows, you can often find good deals on seedlings. A year or two away from blooming. I am impatient though.

I'm impatient, too! I just bought a cheap psychopsis division from ebay (evelyn orchids, she has pretty good reveiws there and here on orchidboard), and it isn't in bloom and I'm thinking, "Gosh, how long before I get it, and then how long until it spikes???"

We'll see how this turns out... I'm still waiting on the orchid I got last Sept for my birthday to bloom... only 6-8 more months...

This is me waiting for blooms and spikes:

[theloyalplum]

Hit my first Show recently. I would say, don't bring a credit card, or have the discipline to not use it. And have a budget or have somewhere with you to stop you from going overboard because you will see orchids you like and you will want to buy them!

I personally went for mostly non-blooming plants because they were in the 8-15 dollar range each and I don't mind waiting. Budded or flowering plants astronomical!

[wintergirl]

I took at set amount of cash with me to my first show. That way I stayed on budget.

[lotis146]

I remember posting a similar thread, I was so anxious to get to a show. Posting here allowed me to get some advice and suggestions but also keep me calm and occupied while I waited.

Now this year I've been to three shows, just got back from the third. They really do vary, both the vendor circumstances and the displays. Some are quite grand while others are pretty nice.

I got lucky the first two shows because I didn't find a ton of plants that I just HAD to have. I found myself wanting to impulse buy but I knew I had more shows to attend in the future. Now this last show I think I let get away from me as I wound up with some impulse buys. I have however been eyeing Colmanara Masai Red ever since I saw one at the Orchid exhibit last year and I keep turning down the opportunity but this year I was like oh my I SHOULD buy one (even though later I realized it's not the variety with white on the lip that I like best ). It's in full bloom with about 12 blooms, 8 pbulbs, and 3-4 active new growths. Then I got Dtps. I-Hsin Blackjack with a really pearl white lip - I'll be posting some threads in beginner later with pics - it's a compact sized Phal. I got a really small division of Onc. Copper Falls 'Michigan', b/c it was $3. I'm impatient too so even though this take at least a year probably more to bloom IT WAS $3! Then there's Bllra. Tahoma Glacier 'Green' - common hybrid but, couldn't help it with such big flowers - and finally Dtps. Yupin FairLady. All of these are in bloom (except Copper Falls).

I got in bloom plants b/c right now I've got a few in bloom at home but most aren't and I thought well hey if I'm going to get ANYMORE plants they're going to be in bloom for me to enjoy. That said, beware this phenom as it's like 'beer goggles', suddenly every vendor has something that would be awesome to look at for the next couple weeks.

In addition to agreeing with what everyone else has said - really don't bring your credit card unless you want to buy lots - I highly recommend making a point to getting to a bigger show in your area, or if they have something at your local botanical gardens, GO! I just went to the Orchid exhibit at the Chicago Botanical Gardens the same weekend as the Illinois Orchid Society Show, it was an impressive trip let me tell you.

I would also advise talking to the society members over vendors because when vendors get busy it's hard to pick their brains. Being the nerd I am I love talking to people about growing orchids but they have to tend to all the people at their table. It certainly varies in terms of the advice you get. I forgot to mention I bought my first Vanda - V. Wirat x Kultana Blue - told myself no Vandas but this thing is pretty, and the vendor gave me one set of instructions (while rushing around) then a patron of the show told me she's got 20 at home and I would say gave me better instructions (at least in terms of my situation).

Okay sorry I'll stop now but first I'll say that it certainly is a mixed bag of people. I'd have to agree that there aren't a lot of 20 somethings though that's not to say there aren't young people. Certainly there are families and seniors but a lot of 30 somethings too.