Calvin, this IS very fascinating. Now the way I understand it there's a rhizome and it has a pseudobulb at the end (the leaves grow from the top of the pbulb), then there's a bit more rhizome and another pbulb. So when you speak of eyes at the base of the pbulb that can grow into new pbulbs, they will grow a new piece of rhizome and then the pbulb on that, right? And as long as it can grow straight ahead, most of those eyes will remain dormant? This trick you speak of sounds really interesting! I assume a backbulb is an old psuedobulb? So cutting through the rhizome creates a similar effect to pruning any other plant. You have removed the end bud so the side buds take over to continue growing, just here the cut-off forward part is rooted so it keeps growing too. This is really amazing, but it makes a lot of sense! Now, when you cut through the rhizome and do not re-pot, the junction between what is now two different plants is still almost touching, right? And then the one towards the back is going to branch out around the front one. This certainly does sound like a big plant and a lot of room! But it's great information to have in the back of your mind so you can draw on it if you ever can! What sorts of things are used as inorganic material? Are there drawbacks to using them to pot your orchids, or since it's just to stabilize the plant and hold a small amount of moister and nutrients, does it really not matter what it is? Thank you so much for sharing you experience and insight with me. I really appreciate your willing to make things clear for me. P.S. If all my questions are getting to be obnoxious just tell me to go buy one and see for myself!! ( :

Interesting that the photos were mostly Phals. I'm often wondered what would be on display in the Northern parts of the USA. Recovering from a pitiful small local orchid three day show. I haven't got any pictures and if i do get any they will be posted on the gallery. But here are the classes and orchids placed 1,2. Maybe more variety if you can grow things outside all year. Champion Orchid - Dtps. City Girl x I-Hshin Actor Reserve Champion Orchid - Pot. Burana Beauty Champion Laeliinae Orchid - Pot. Burana Beauty Champion any other Orchid - Dtps. City Girl x I-Hshin Actor Novice and Junior Champion Orchid - Odcdm. Wildcat ÂBloodshot Special Award - Coelogyne fimbriata Class 1. Cymbidium 1 Cym. Cherry Cola ÂTikitere 2 Cym. Morialta ÂMorialta Falls Class 2. Laeliinae Hybrids 1 Blc. Mt. Sylvan x Prophesy 2 Laeliinae Hybrid Unknown Class 3. Laeliinae, Intermediate Hybrids 1 Blc. Brent Cooper 2 Blc. Toshie Aoki x C. Arizona Class 4. Laeliinae, Miniature Hybrids 1 Pot. Burana Beauty 2 Pot. DalÂs Buddy ÂNeva Class 5. Laeliinae, Cluster type Hybrids 1 Blc. Little Suzie ÂFae Jones 2 Blc. Little Suzie ÂFae Jones Class 6. Paphiopedilum Hybrids 1 Paph. Puddleham 2 Paph. Java Pink Class 7. Paphiopedilum Species 1 Paph. leucochilum 2 Paph. insigne Class 8. Australian Native Species 1 Ptst. grandiflora 2 Den. schneiderae Class 9. Australian Native Hybrids 1 Den. AvrilÂs Gold 2 Den. Elegant Autumn Class 10. Dendrobium Hybrids 1 Den. Makapuu Ann 2 Den. Chao Praya Candy Class 11. Vandaceous (incl. Phalaenopsis) 1 Dtps. City Girl x I-Hshin Actor 2 Dtps. Fong-TienÂs Love Messenger Class 12. Oncidium Hybrids 1 Onc. Sharry Baby ÂSweet Fragrance 2 Onc. S. y N. Pecas Class 12a Oncidium Intergenerics 1 Miltassia Charles M. Fitch 2 Dgma. Skywalker . Class 13. Orchid not specified 1 Zygoneria Adelaide Meadows 2 Cochleanthes Amazing Class 14. Species Americas 1 Phragmipedium longifolium 2 Onc. ornithorhynchum Class 15. Species Other Areas 1 Cymbidium iridiodes 2 Coelogyne tortile Class 16. Novice & Junior Cymbidium 1 Cym. Culpaulin ÂDolly Class 17. Novice & Junior Laeliinae 1 Blc. George King ÂSerendipity 2 Lc. Little Susie ÂJoy Class 18. Novice & Junior Paphiopedilum No Entries Class 19. Novice & Junior Australian Native 1 Den. Unknown 2 Den. Colonial Surprise x Others Class 20. Novice & Junior Any other Orchid 1 Odcdm. Wildcat ÂBloodshot 2 Den. Woo Leng ÂBlue LipÂ

I think what people need to understand is that there are two parts to judging at a show. The first is what is termed ribbon judging. All plants maybe entered for ribbon judging, this is a beauty contest. They must be entered in the correct category. If there is AOS judging at the show -- and even if there isn't -- AOS judges, accredited, probabionary and students, form teams, you are assigned a team and usually a clerk or two. This is looked on as a learning experience for the clerks -- so they may with the team captains explanations and guidance be asked to make the selection, if the judges don't like it then we'll tell you so, and overrule the clerks, oh I can think of one clerk here that I think is as good as most judges. If you catch it in time you can even correct a wrongly entered plant. This is all done before the show starts. Ribbons and trophies are awarded, in fact I have an expensive one from a paph that's day it was. I have a blue vanda, not awardable that won its class 3 years in a row at the local show - then retired. Next as the judges and clerks progress they make mental notes of plants they would like to see for AOS judging, I have seen plants pulled from vendors tables at big shows, one even awarded. Basic rule, they can be judged only once on that flowering, that is why you will see some plants marked not for AOS judging, or if it already has an award, the person doesn't want to pay if it gets one more point on this go round, and the current owner pays though they get no credit for it. After ribbon and display judging plants are marked- usually with paper dots or some such thing and the judges retreat to AOS judging. Plants are pulled from the displays and then debated over -- there are cultural awards but usually they are looked at for the standard FCC,AM and HCC, FCC is 90 pts plus AM 80-89and HCC 75-79, the plants are scored by each judge on the team and an average done. If you get an award and that clone has not been awarded before then you get to name it, such as "Lucky Chance" which was given to a vanda species won at a raffle, if there is no name, then you also can name it, that goes to the RHS, oh you pay, but I named a cross after my teenage son who didn't appreciate that he is recorded as an orchid. It used to be $35 if you got an award, they have recently changed it and you get a discount if you pay on line. If you get the award your plant's pic is taken, used to be you got a slide of it, again now they have gone digital, and a lovely certificate. After judging, plants are returned to the display. Plants maybe brought for AOS judging and not entered. They are generally set on the back tables. SWOGA rules are a little different on show set up and have some other awards, but they are not AOS awards, which are the ones that make a plant maybe worth some money. AOS awards are sought after but there are some famous plants such as Phrag Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' that is a tremendous parent was not and never will be awarded, and I can think of some phals that are that way. When people are buying a plant, it helps if the parents are awarded you can look up the parent even. There are also a number of judging centers, AOS list them on their web site, typically they meet once a month, they have lectures, raffles etc. While I am told it used to be very formal, they are trying to encourage the public, you may ask the chair if you can sit in on a judging -- not of your own plant -- and he will most likely try to assign you to a team whose leader or members are given to explanations. I know when we have visitors we bend over backwards, on our own we can be very perfunctory. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATIONAL. Insects -- ugh -- well we don't outright throw them out - for one bug -- but please you are subjecting everyone to your infestation. Insect damaged flowers are not judgable and that is what we are judging. Not the plant, unless you are trying for cultural -- then its out period -- how can we give you a cultural if a slug has obviously been there. It took me awhile to figure out the rules and I still haven't got them all by a lot, the AOS has a rule book and guides, but the easiest way is to clerk a few shows or attend a judging center. Oh all judges usually get is breakfast and at a big show lunch. It always seemed strange to me that if you get an AOS award you pay. But it is still a great honor, and a chance to give an honor to someone by naming the clone or even cross after them.

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA and the North American Clivia Society is hosting a Clivia Show and Symposium from 3/17-20. Anyone can enter their plants to exhibit (please contact apetravich@longwoodgardens.org) and the show can be viewed on Saturday and Sunday with admittance to the gardens and the conservatory: Adults: $18 Seniors ages 62+: $15 Students ages 5-18, or any age with valid student ID: $8 Children ages 4 and under: Free My own opinion - the acres of beautiful greenery, flowers (the orchids will be blooming!), plant collections, etc. in the conservatory are worth every penny to enjoy at the end of a long winter. For those wishing to attend the conferences and tours or how to prepare plants for the show, more information can be found at www.longwoodgardens.org/CliviaConference.html