I'm going to my first local orchid show tomorrow! I have been to a show before (once) but this will be my first show that I am actually participating in. I actually took off work tomorrow so that I could enter a display. I'm a little nervous though, and not really sure what to expect. So here are my questions for the more experienced:

1. Are there any special tips regarding my individual display? Any no-no's I should know about? I have a set of rules from my society, but I am wondering about things that aren't in the rules.

2. I usually see display tags other than the labels that go inside the pots. I was going to make my own display tags on card stock today using my computer, or if I have time I can do them by hand (I do calligraphy). Is this generally what people do for individual displays?

3. I have a general idea of how I am setting up my display. I had lots of creative ideas, but I spent most of my spending money in Chicago, so I am keeping it simple this time around. I am entering in the Novice category. I am using mulch for the "ground," various green leafed plants for accent foliage, and then I am placing my orchids on boxes of different heights in sort of a natural setting. Then I will add some Spanish moss here and there. Any more ideas?

4. I am clerking on Friday night. What should I expect? Do I need to dress up for this or are jeans fine?

Thanks for your help in advance. I also have calls in to some of my society members with the same questions. I'm kinda new in the society so they are probably going "who is this chick on our answering machine???"

:D

One of the biggest flaws that I have seen beginners make is having flowers other than orchids in their display. Foliage plants are fine (even encouraged as they add an extra dimension) in the display just make sure there are no flowers on them.

Hi Teresa! You're going to have a blast. Also, I found it was a great way to get to know other members in the society - working the whole weekend, I now know people much better now.

re: clerking - it was easier than I expected -- it was my first time and they had labeled me "head clerk" hahaha. We were short on clerks, so it was a little nutty. Sometimes I guess there is a dedicated ribbon clerk who is in charge of making sure the ribbons get on the correct plants, but we had to do that w/in our group. As head clerk, I was in charge of recording the plants that won the ribbons for the registrar. Each alliance has its' own set of clerks. I was happy that I got two fairly easy alliances, so there weren't hundreds of plants to choose from.
Our clerking was during the day, so it was pretty casual. I would think if your preview party was after the clerking, it might require a bit more dressy attire.

re: displays - what I heard most in clerking (one of our tasks was judging the displays!) was that, at least in our society - color was key! Plants were expected to be arranged by color so that your eye wasn't darting all over the place, but that there was a nice flow. Also, they liked some height in the displays.

Take lots of photos, please! I cannot wait to see what you come up with! :D

Thanks so much for the tips! Yes, in the rules it says we can't have any other flowers than orchids in our displays. Also it says we can't use any fake flowers, and we can't enter more than 3 plants per class. I don't think that will be a problem for me though. I have lots of foliage plants. A crazy pothos, areca palm, philodendrun, dwarf scefflera, and ficus I am planning on using. I have an idea to make my display nice and tall too. Good tips, thanks! :-dance:

Teresa, I know you're very creative, so good luck and have fun and yes do take lotsa of pics for us, will you? :D

DON'T DO IT!!!
just kidding. i have a lot of fun doing the shows out here. clerking was fun, too. i was often a 'pointer', meaning i'd run ahead, find the plants to point them out to the judges so they needn't waste time looking for them.

Good luck with your exhibit, I've no real ideas as to your display BUT what is very important is the Plants

Clean plant in clean pots that's very important.

I clean the leaves with a homemade solution 5 ml olive oil, 20 ml water 3-5 drops of detegent then gently mix the solution. I use it to clean the leaves it does a good job and it makes them a little shiny which catch the eye....

Displays are lots of fun to do. The main rule to remember is 'Keep it Simple'. Use floiage plants but be careful not to use ones that will detract from your orchid flowers. I only use green plants...nothing with varigated or really big compicated leaf patterns and don't use so many that the background overpowers the orchids. Use your colour and hieght so that you develope a pleasing flow to the display. I try to keep individual genus grouped together as much as colour flow will allow. Try to have a focal point as well.

I use small crepe paper tags for my name tags. Cut them as small as possible and use a colour that will not stand out. Printing them off on the computer is a great idea. I write mine out neatly using silver or gold pen.

My displays are all done using a natural theme. Be careful using spanish moss....it can be done but does distract if used to heavily. I prefer using green moss...looks more natural.

I usually help with judging and or clerking and do wear jeans at times but add a blazer to dress it up a bit. Mostly I wear dress pants though.

Have fun and be sure to post lots of pictures. Good luck!!!!!!! :clap:

Teresa,

All the above tips that people shared with you are very important!

I will add one more subject that most judges look for. They always look for a flow of colors no matter how big the exhibit. IE: whites to yellows to orange to red to blue or green to black!

I guess (being the oldest of the group! LOL) I can tell you from my experience (four AOS Show Trophies) and many exhibits. My first exhibit (in the middle 1970s) was a 25 square foot floor exhibit that won an AOS Show Trophy. This stunned me and spurned me to do many more over many years.

Do Well, but most of all definitely enjoy it!

Thanks so much for all the tips, keep them coming! I hadn't really thought about color flow. That may be the biggest challenge for me. I have 8 orchids blooming right now (nine if that #@$%&* warce would open!!!!). I have a white phal with a little yellow in the center. I was thinking I could group that with my Paph Mem Larry Heuer because it is yellow. Then maybe I could tie those two into the next group with my Den Spring Dream because it is white with yellow and purple, then I could make my next group the purples, I have a phal, a phaius tank, and a paph maudae vini color type to put in that group. I am stumped on what to do with my one red phal though. Hmmmm....I think it might make a nice focal point somewhere. This is already fun and I haven't even started yet!

Generally, I follow the flow but I tend to add accent plants as well. You want white/lighter flowers at the top, then flow the colors in a direction, I usally use a circular one so the dark colored flowers are at the bottom. I also usually use my most "eye catching" plant in the very center as this catches the eye then draws it towards the whites up top. When I watch people look at the display it never fails, they point and drool over the center plant then their head does a clockwise scan stopping at each corner's accent plant then back to the center plant.

As for setting up, I usually build a frame work of plastic crates then cover that with a big sheet of black cloth. Then I choose plants by color and wrap their pots in black cloth and set them in place along with any drift wood or rocks I'm using. Then I fill in empty areas with ferns and foliage plants, also wrapped in black cloth. As I am placing plants, I tend to cover much of the black cloth with green sheet moss...but that's just me.

For tags, I would use black construction paper and write on it with a silver paint marker. We have a new system in the local societies where entry tags and labels have been combined and provided and it has really been catching on. It also speeds up registration as you email your plants and their classes and they just print them out for you.

The only other advice I would give is go for a more natural or formal look than an "artistic" one. It is just personal preference, but I dislike displays with a comical theme and gaudy props that take away from the plants. Also, if a plant looks really lush, show it off and don't hide it. But if a plant looks like the cat got a hold of it, bury it behind black cloth and a fern and focus attention on the flowers.

I have a display to put in tomorrow as well, I'll take pics during set up for a hands on of how I build them.

Here's a few pics of my past displays, if you have any more questions please ask.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/jonbar2/shp2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/jonbar1/DSC05207.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/jonbar1/ag.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/jonbar1/109_0906.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/jonbar2/buf2.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/jonbar2/buf1.jpg

Jon

Jon, your displays are beautiful. The last one is particular is my favorite.

Teresa--good luck!

--tien

This is something I prepared for the Greater Lansing Orchid Society Study Group. Maybe it will be of help:

PREREPARING ORCHIDS FOR SHOWS

During Formation Of The Spikes:
Once the spike starts to form, place plant so that the spike will grow toward the light, then don’t change its orientation.
Be sure the plant is pest-free.
Try not to change the growing conditions: humidity, light, temperature, etc., as any changes in these can cause buds to blast.
As the spike grows or flowers form, stake them for presentation. There are various opinions and techniques on this issue.
Sometimes the plants themselves need staking, especially Cattleya and Dendrobium.

Immediate Preparation:
Remove dead plant material: dried up sheaths, yellow or brown leaves, anything that will distract from the flowers. Use a different sterile tool for each plant if you need to cut into living tissue.
Double check the plant for bugs or disease.
Clean the leaves: Some people use a soft cloth and water or soapy water. Others use lemon juice or milk on a cotton ball.
Clean the pot.
Double check the way the plant is staked. Remove any dead or dying flowers. Adjust foliage, if necessary.
Place the plant name and parents (if you know them) on a piece of paper, along with your name, and tape it to the bottom of the pot. Then remove the plant tag and store it in a safe place.
Water your plant(s) thoroughly.
Make a list of the plants you are submitting, with your name on it, and submit it along with the plants to the Exhibit Committee or the person who is collecting plants for the show. It is helpful for registration purposes to make notes on this list regarding flower color, especially for Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums, and Cattleya families because color is a factor in determining the entry class for these orchids.

WOW Jon. I don't know what else to say those displays are all beautiful! Thanks for the specific tips on color orientation. Our society offers 3 trophies in the novice category. There is 1/2 table with 1-5 plants, 1/2 table with 6 or more plants, and full table. I think I will be going for the 1/2 table with 6 or more plants, so my exhibit won't be quite as large as the ones pictured here! Our society exhibit will be huge like that, though. I love the way you have incorporated the driftwood, that's fabulous. I have a few cool pieces of wood (not driftwood, but branches) that I have been saving. Maybe I can do something with those. Rigging this thing up by myself is going to be very interesting...'

Where do I find that green sheet moss? Can I get this at HD? I might be making a trip there tomorrow morning.

For small quantities of sheet moss I would try a florist or arts and crafts store. Our HD doesn't carry it, but they only carry one isle of houseplants...
Definitely use the branches, and any stones you may think would fit with the display. Tabletops allow a lot of creativity, as you don't have that worry of "where will I put all these #$^% plants". Good luck, I think you will do well!

As for clerking, I go casual and wear comfortable shoes...you will be walking around a lot. It is a great learning experience and a good chance to get to know some local judges. It can get hectic, but I always enjoy it.

I almost forgot my favorite part of putting in displays...you get to be there when the vendors are unloading! It's amazing how many plants don't make it to the first day of the show...

Jon

Here is a picture of my last table top display. It's not a great picture (blurry) but it may give you an idea for a table top display.

http://forum.theorchidsource.com/attachments/100-0041_IMG.JPG

And another display that I did a month ago. The first display won Best Amateur display and also won the COC award. This one was second in with all the big society displays.


http://forum.theorchidsource.com/attachments/2%20Wendy%20Soos%20display%2006.jpg

Wendy - I love what the grassy phrag foliage (the ecuadorense(?) and the tetzlaffianum) add to the displays, really nice natural looking texture!!

Ok Wendy, fess up second photo bottom righ flower, what is it? Estella or Iona? Or something else? Great displays!


Jon I am once again humbled by your artisitic eye and creativity!

T, have so much fun today! You are a quick learner(being a teacher), and can fly by the seat of your pants. Good luck and buy something for your self.
:devil:
TADD

:Thnx: Everyone thanks for your tips and well wishes! Now....off I go!