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.

Very nice indeed Ludi. As someone who manages to keep a single orchid alive, I appreciate your collection. Mine is a simple phalaenopsis that wasn't my usual fail-and-toss-it. I particularly like the ikebana look that 'Bob Henley' has. Thanks for posting them. tj

I went several years running to NYBG orchid show and several others. it's a treat! Thank God, Tamiami orchid fest was still on in January, but Fairchild orchid show (Miami FL) was cancelled too: that week-end was last the garden was open... and now all the spring gardens in bloom! for nobody... My 2nd phal from Tamiami is still in bloom. it's interesting that in FL they stand for 3 months or longer with ease.

Hey buddy! So Jose bought me an Oncidium Sharry Baby last December. It was crowded in the pot it was in. It was massive to me for the price $30. The owner told me I got a great deal. I don't think he realized how big it was when I snatched it up. It had 2 massive inflos on it. They were over 2 feet tall and they had TONS of side branches and buds. The owner said it was going to be repotted. I went against the opinions of most people and decided to repot it. I stripped off as much of the media it was in and then rinsed it as much as I could. I had a vase that was the perfect size, and I used it for the orchid. I cut off all the dead and damaged roots, and I put it in the vase. I filled it with rain water up to maybe a quarter inch away from the actual pseudobulbs. It not only bloomed and thrived, but after it finished blooming about a month later, it produced more side branches off of the inflos! About 3 months later it started growing 3 more new pseudobulbs! It bloomed again, and since then I have separated one of the new pseudobulbs and I put it straight into a glass jar with about an inch of water. It's thriving now and growing new pseudobulbs. Right now the original plant has grown a huge inflo and has tons of buds. I found another pseudobulb growing off the roots that are submerged in water. I'm going to have to find a wider vase and put it into that. I think I'm going to by those decorative stones you can find in the craft section of Walmart and use those to support the plant. I'll send pics to you in your email.