Just curious - how long do you think that you have to have a plant in your collection before you can claim you bloomed it?

As an example - I have a wallisii that I've had since July - will be at least 8 months when it blooms - Pete said his rule is 8 months... I know our local society is 6 months. What do others think?

Please vote and also mention what you specifically think.
Thanks!

Yes, my rule is 8 months but some go by 6 months.

It's hard to tell by time as each species will have different timings. I've this rule on my personal successs rate:

Only when I flowered it the 3rd time. Except if these plants were grown from flask.

Only when it has flowered off a new growth!

At least as far as paphs and phrags go they seem to have an anual cycle (sometimes curtailed to 8 or 9 months with some faster growing stuff). So the influence of a new grower may be about a year depending on what time of year you got the plant (i.e. if you got it just before a key cool down and dry time). I've also had a share of spikes and buds blast after a purchase, so I think there can be some credit due for keeping a plant in bloom after a big change in its location. Or is your question about AOS or judging rules?

No, pretty much in general. Although, if my wallisii is good, I may bring it in for AOS judging to my local center, and it will be 8 months, so will qualify. I see what people are saying on blooming new growths thought, that does seem to make sense. Clearly, I wouldn't count something that came in sheath/bud/spike whatever, but 6 or 7 months in? I would hope at least I am doing *something*right, even if I cannot claim responsibility.

I have never heard of this time period before judging it. An ex-society member of ours who since moved to Alabama was at a show set-up of ours a couple years ago. He saw an impressive alba maudiae type in bloom on a sales table(don't remember the grex) and put it in the society exhibit he was building. Sure enough the next morning it was given a blue ribbon and pulled for AOS judging where it recieved an FCC/AOS. I don't know if he and/or the vendor told the judges the situation or not...but I do remember the vendor laughing about it and not caring too much. I don't want to mention names in case this was a no-no though.

As for claiming it...if it is in bloom or spike when I buy it I don't take credit for it. If I buy a mature plant with no signs of spiking and a month later it spikes, I do take credit for it and would take it to a society meeting...although I don't usually take any plants unless I have something really impressive or rare and it's warm outside.
Jon

I have never heard of this time period before judging it.


Jon, I can't recall where I read that, but want to say it was one of the local society web sites. Though now that I am looking, of course I cannot find it again.

I am about 20 min. from the NE regional judging center, and my wallisii, the fourth plant I'd say I can claim, is looking like it could possibly, maybe, hopefully have three nice buds growing. So, it would be a good one to try with. Will have to see if the date/timing works out for early May.

I have never heard of this time period before judging it.


Jon, I can't recall where I read that, but want to say it was one of the local society web sites. Though now that I am looking, of course I cannot find it again.

I am about 20 min. from the NE regional judging center, and my wallisii, the fourth plant I'd say I can claim, is looking like it could possibly, maybe, hopefully have three nice buds growing. So, it would be a good one to try with. Will have to see if the date/timing works out for early May.

There is no AOS rule about ownership for any award except cultural awards. To get a CCM or CCE, you need to have ownership of the plant for six months. Quality awards (HCC, AM, FCC) are to the plant, not the grower. It is legal (and even slyly encouraged) to buy a plant off a vendor table and immediately submit it for AOS judging.

Where it gets confusing is the show rules for society shows. Ribbon judging/show judging is not AOS judging. AOS judges usually participate in the ribbon judging (at least around here), but the society sets the rules. Many societies require that a plant be owned by the exhibitor for a certain period of time before it is eligible for ribbon judging. In an AOS sanctioned show, there is a separate period of AOS judging (usually after the ribbon judging). A plant that was not eligible for ribbon judging could still be considered for AOS judging.

People do this in mu other hobby - fish breeding. If you are the owner no matter if you were the breeder or someone else, then you can enter it in the show to be judged. some people don;t like it, but in this case....:to each his own"...decide for yourself it's only a hobby.

Thanks for the info, everyone! I appreciate it.

Too bad that there are some in there for 5 years that I still can't claim that I bloomed it, LOL.