My orchid society is setting up a display for an orchid show this weekend. At first I was sure I didn't have anything *show worthy* to contribute, but they told me "if it's in bloom, bring it!" Apparently they just need blooming plants to beef up the display rather than be specifically awarded. So I thought, ok, I have a couple of things in bloom. Only one slipper unfortunately...but I decided that our display should have at least one sophisticated slipper amongst all those floofy catts. I have never prepared a plant for show before, so I am wondering what exactly do I need to do? I cleaned the leaves with vinegar to get rid of the water spots, and I madde sure my pots were clean. I put some decorative moss over the medium and made sure there were no pests or disease. What else should I do?

Teresa, I know nothing about showing plants but yes do show off your slippers at the show. :D We have quite a few exibitors here on the forum, more experienced, so hope they chime in and give you some tips. Recently, Heather started showing off her slippers and had a great experience. Heather?

Recently, Heather started showing off her slippers and had a great experience. Heather?

Exhibiting at a show is different from what I've been doing where the plant isn't "dressed up" for showing. I've just been bringing the plants either to an AOS judging or to the show table at my local society. I have yet to exhibit at a show, and would also be interested in hearing from our more experienced show-ers.

Ed M., Rick, Wendy, Rob, Ray, etc....those guys should be able to help, Teresa, since they've all done show displays.

Teresa - you want to make sure the flower presents well. That is, pointing up a little so it is facing straight towards you rather than facing the floor. If the latter is the case you will have to stake it or the other option is to sit it in another ornamental pot with a slight tilt. If the flower doesn't lean forward too much I tend to do the latter.

David

Oh a show...I love shows. :clap:

With my plants, I clean all the leaves with horticultural oil and water. I also trim off anything that's dead or yellowing, including leaf tips. Try and trim the leaves so they look natural...don't just cut straight across the leaf. You can put some fluffy moss in the pot but i usually don't bother as I use green moss to decorate the pots as part of my 'natural' display. Be sure and stake the flower so that it's presented well....judges like to be able to se the flower without having to bend down etc, plus it looks nicer. Use something like a heavy gauge wire for staking....the stake shouldn't stand out more than the flower...try to make the stake as invisible as possible. If you haven't got wire then a light green or natural coloured stake works well. Don't let the stake protrude above the flower...doesn't look natural. Also. make sure you mark your name on the bottom of the pot ( I use those sticky address labels)so that your plant doesn't get lost during take down. That way they know who's plant it is and it won't go in somebody elses' box by mistake.

Hope that helps...sorry if it's too technical. Good luck, have fun and let us know how you make out. :Party: :Party: :Party:

A few tips:

1) Groom your plants. Clean them, remove old spikes and dead growths.
2) Stake the spikes if needed for a pleasant presentation of the flowers. It needs to look as natural as you can get it.
3) Be careful packing your plants to go to the show. Flowers and plants can be damaged in transit. Make sure you secure the pots so they don't move around or tip over before you get the plants to the show.
4) Read over the show schedule carefully. Make sure you enter your plants in the proper category. When ribbon judging, it's amazing how many plants are mis-entered.
If you are not sure, ask for help from someone with experience.
5) Ask questions, and learn from other exhibitors.

Once you've been through this a few times, it's not as tough as it sounds!

Added to the above:

Put your name and phone # on the bottom of your pot, put a label on your box with your name, phone #, club name and the name(s) of the plants that go in it.

Excellent info, everyone! Please keep it coming!

I think you're getting great advice, and Wendy has done great this year at the shows too.

I can't emphasize much more except on staking. This not only presents the flowers well, but protects spikes during transit and setup/teardown.

Staking can be as much an art as a science. The main thing is to provide support and direction to the flower without making the stake more obvious than the flower. There is this cool green velcro tape they sell at most garden supply (Home Depot too) thats great for tying spikes to stakes, easy to work, and fairly unobtrusive to look at.

Thanks for so much good advice! I'm really not expecting any awards with the two plants I entered, but I still don't want to commit any show faux pas. But in March we are having a big show here, and they do have a novice category, so I really want to enter a display! Good tips from everyone! Luckily my flowers are pretty well presented without staking. I did stake them just for transit purposes, and I packed them well in a box. I used Wendy's sticky address label idea.

I entered a really nice D. Copter that is on it's 3rd flowering of the year, but this time it only has one spike and 5 flowers. Still very pretty and nicer than most Copters, but not enough flowers. I got the mother load from that plant in July with 3 spikes full of flowers, and I used all 3 for my wedding bouquet. The other one I entered is my Paph. Pulsar x Ruby Leopard 'Flame'. It is a very nice flower, but I am afraid it is a little old and has lost some of it's gloss. Thanks again for all your help!

I have to agree with all everyone said but adding to it is how you pack your plant for it's trip to the show especially with a lot of society's they want the plants to go to a drop off place ahead of time so the people setting up the display can see what they have to work with. so make sure if you plave it in a box for instsnce I would use crumpled up newspaper pushed all around the base of you pot so it dosen't move around and if you live in an area where you have to worry about cold weather you need to cover it well or if it's rainning . just make sure it's well protected nothing worse than to get it to the show and find out it's been damaged . there will be other people handeling your plant and although they are supposed to be treating them with care one never knows. and most of all have a good time . Good Luck Ray

You might be interested in this web page: http://www.orchidtrek.com/orchidshowprep/showprep.html