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Old 17-05-2004, 11:14 PM
Rob Halgren
 
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Default Question - Bare Root Orchid Plants

wendy7 wrote:

I am with you Rob, bottom line is, how are the judges going to know what you
have used? They would have to do some kind of DNA testing no?



DNA testing wouldn't help, even. Treating with growth regulators won't
effect the genome of the plant. Truth is, there isn't a way to tell,
for sure, if a plant has been treated with growth regulators. The sole
exception being if it had _just_ been treated with a compound, and you
could do some sort of mass spectrometry to detect that compound. Or if
you knew enough about what genes were regulated you could look for them.
But that would never be the case, as the ultimate effects of a growth
regulator are seen well after that compound is applied. If the goal is
bushier plants or more blooms, you have to apply the growth regulator
when the plants are growing or the spikes are forming. That was
probably months before judging.

Anyway, my point is you can grow your plants however you want, there is
no regulation. Give them growth hormones, vitamins, minerals, MSU magic
fertilizer, seaweed extract, worm castings, or llama urine, it doesn't
matter. You could make potions out of eye of newt and wolfsbane whilst
dancing naked under a full moon. Sing arias or play rock and roll.
None of these activites is either immoral or 'illegal' in a judging
sense. The only thing the judges care about is what they see in front
of them.

Weeee! Hey, it is time to go home!

Rob

--
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2a. See rule 1
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more orchids, obtain more credit
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