I went to a TBOS seminar last month and it was interesting. One of the speakers brought up a very good point that generated some animated discussion. Let's assume you live in cooler Michigan.. and grow fabulous cool loving plants , that get awards. Now let's assume you now live in Miami Florida and grow the same plant.. is it fair to judge it against that Michigan plant.. ( being that it's harder to grow in Florida).

Bill, thanks for your interesting write ups!!
Looking at the Rlc Mark's Valentine, I see the same spots on the back of the leaf too.
Fascinating to "see" you judges at work, the last one is a beauty and I do see the differences between this one and the other two Paphs.

Lindsey, I would think it is always that challenge to grow any Orchid with reasonable success at cultural opposites. Sometimes I would call it an unfair advantage when I see a totally gorgeous Den anosmum with flowers like a waterfall grown in Vietnam or Hawaii and I look at my measly 2 canes a season. What can I say, I am just jealous!! Totally not fair to hold them next to each other!!

Lindsey, a very good point! But I can honestly say that that exact point has been raised numerous times on teams that I was on both in Florida and New York.

Ursula let me say this. If I am looking at an anosmum with 175 flowers on 22 canes in Florida, one growing in a more difficult climate might generate the same score in my mind that had 82 flowers on 14 canes. My score would reflect for my evaluating the plant in an easier climate. I appreciate how difficult it is to grow warm in cooler and cooler in warm. I would like to think that we are all that way but I know that I mention this in my evaluations when appropriate.

The other point they brought up was judges..judging plants that they themselves don't grow. Having clerked for judges at numerous shows...I've seen how the team defers to the more expert grower of a particular genera..but if you are only comparing to previous awards , it shouldn't really be an issue...except perhaps in cultural awards...correct?

Ursula and others, I hope that you are learning and understanding a little about what goes into evaluating a plant. I am thrilled that you see my points and you are developing a better eye for what good.
Go back and look just at the petals on Mint Chocolate. The right one is very nice but the left one is a little" wonkie!!!" That is a very important word in judging flowers.
Then look at the petals of Uneme. They are almost mirror images of one another.
The left petalnis usually a little larger on a Paphiopedilum flower I was told because as they are formed within the bud, the left petal encircles or wraps around the right petal and pouch making it a smidge larger! Interesting.
I hope you all get something out of this. When you go to a show and look at 15 plants of the same cross in bloom, in a short period of time, you will instantly know which flowers are superior. At least that is my goal.

Our training is supposed to be universal. We are suppose to be able to evaluate anything and score accordingly. But on occasion an expert in a field, say Ken Roberts, will have a little more knowledge and offer up some valued info. But as a judge it is up to us, using experience and our own knowledge to realize when a good, valid point is being made and when it is just BS.
But let me point out this, today on my team we had a judge from Ohio, two from Michigan, one from Toronto and me from New York, via Florida and now in Michigan. We all came out of different centers, had slightly different training, and grow different things. Yet we scored that Paphiopedilum 81, 83, 83, 85, and 86. The average of 83.6 going to 84 shows you that in this case the system worked. We all arrived at a similar score. A point here or there is nothing! We have to score within a 6 point range. If we don't we are given the direction to rescore. If it is still more then 6 points, the plant goes to another team.
I hope I have helped you with your questions but I take this very seriously. I'll freely admit to being a timid judge in the beginning, maybe rating myself a C-. But now after 23 years in the program I feel that I am a solid A to A+. I eat, sleep, drink orchids and I love to share my insights.
I know it may put some people off by intimidation perhaps but I can't worry about that. If I can help one person realize what makes a better orchid and how to grow a better plant, I go to sleep feeling like I have really helped some one to understand.

Bill, this is truly much appreciated!

Thanks a bunch!

You have the heart of a teacher, Bill, and I find this thread interesting, even though I will never attempt to show an orchid. It's always nice to know what they should look like.

I totally agree. Usually, I buy plants because they are 'pretty'. But since my club does a couple of judged displays a year and my colorful Catts are always in demand for the display...now I'm curious as to why I don't ever get the 'Best In Show' ribbon
clerking for the judges really gives great insight as to what makes a good bloom, or an especially well grown plant. . . and I hope that makes me a more discriminating buyer of pretty plants.

Bill, I don't think you intimidate anybody on this forum. We have so many knowledgeable people on this site that it is truly an experts panel. And I love he fact that not only you but many of the members give great advice. On more that one occasion I have copied yours or some one else's post and pasted into Word to save for reference. Thank you all

Thanks Ted

Okay, I decided to order two 3-tier indoor light stands today from Gardeners Supply. They are 681/2" high by 51" wide with LED lights. The three growing levels are 5 square feet each or 15 square feet per stand.
I will have 30 square feet of indoor space. This will easily hold all of my smaller things, Pahiopedilums, Phragmipediums, small Cattleyas and some miscellaneous stuff. I estimate that I will have 5 square feet remaining.
Now that means 12 Dendrobiums and 10-12 larger Cattleyas will need space. They won't be coming in until perhaps mid-October at the latest. They have a two-tiered plant stand that would house taller plants more easily. But come early October I should have a better idea of exactly what additional space I'll need.
Trays within are 2" deep and supposedly will not leak. Looking forward to them arriving. I anticipate bringing warmer things in by the third week in September, brrrr!! Plant stands will be ready by then.

A good friend has those tiered stands from Gardener's Supply and she loves them, they are very sturdy.

Thanks Alice a whole lot. I wondered just how good they were, you know sight unseen and stuff. But your comment put that to rest. I won't give it a second thought because they will be just fine!
Thanks again

Another month and we will be busy bringing in everything! Summer in NJ goes by way too fast for me. Bill, it looks like you are well prepared!

That sounds great, Bill. Looking forward to seeing your new setup!

Okay, here we go. My first Paphiopedilum to flower for me in Michigan. This is Paphiopedilum Delightfully Venus. It is a cross of Paphiopedilum Magical Venus X Venus Knight.




In lieu of warmer growing Catasetinae, I am growing lady slippers now. They like it cooler. I never had a great deal of success blooming these orchids but look forward to having them produce for me here.
Three species figure prominently in the background of this hybrid, one is Paphiopedilum venustum. Venustum often has spatulate petals with some rather large spots on the petals. The others are wardii and sukhakulii. This hybrid has 4 AOS awards to date and was registered by Chin Hua in 1999.
I put in an image of the small plant in a 3 1/2" square pot. It is in a seedling mix of orchiata, charcoal and sponge rock. I just love the "hairs" along the entire edge of the petals. I think the flower is beautiful and about 4" wide.