I finally joined an orchid society. I have been keen to do so for ages, but
none close to me had their meetings on a night that I wasn't working. Last
month I managed to beg and swap Wednesday nights off, so I am now the newest
member of the North Shore Orchid Society of Sydney.

I am considering bringing along a couple of plants for novice class benching
at the next meeting in 10 days time. A Neof. falcata blooming for 4 days now
(will it last another 10?) and a Pholidota imbricata, if the two snakes
spiralling off the pseudobulbs for a month now ever turn into inflorescences
(how long does this species take to finally open?)

Most importantly, I was hoping some of you veteran exhibitors could give me
a few tips for successful and polite benching. I have seen tips like
cleaning foliage with a relatively simple liquid (was it milk?) What other
tips for making sure a plant scrubs up to its best.

Also, I imagine taking a pest ridden plant in for judging is a gaffe even
bigger than bringing an incontinent canine to a croquet match - and
forgetting the baggies. I'm assuming (hoping) that most of my plants are
relatively pest, disease and fungus free, but there is a reason that I'm
planning on showing in the novice classes - I *am* novice, and may well have
missed what is an obvious pest to an experienced eye. What extra care should
I take (flushing, spraying with pesticides or an anti-fungal etc)
beforehand. And still on this point, is it people's experience that a judge
or marshal will inspect the plant(s) before allowing them on the bench, or
are these things left up to the vigilance of individual members?

Thanks kindly,
Best, Matthew

Matthew: You've hit the 2 "biggies" right on the head. For appearance,
you'll want to trim off old dead flower spikes and any bad leaves (if you
must trim leaf tips, try to mimic the shape of the natural ending); "peel"
the pbs if they have old dry brown bract material on them [obviously, that
won't apply to your Neof., not sure about the Pholidota, it's been a while
since I've had any of those]; stake the blooming leads if they need it
[probably not applicable this time, but once you've done this, you will
probably do it again with other plants that might need] and clean the
leaves. A 50/50 mix of milk and water cleans well and leaves a soft,
natural-looking shine, but is time-consuming [and will stink if not rinsed
off afterward]. If you run into stains that the milk won't remove, you can
try vinegar or lemon juice, sometimes these work when the milk won't. There
are also off-the-shelf leafshine products which produce a brighter but less
natural effect.

As you are doing all that, you will almost certainly spot any pest or
disease problems. As to whether the Society will have an inspector, they
all vary [and sometimes even within the same Society it varies depending on
who is in charge that month]. If you remain concerned, look around when you
arrive at the meeting, or ask on your way in [there's usually a table at the
door taking attendance and selling raffle tix], for the person in charge of
the plant table or a senior member of the OS, and then ask that person to
take a look at your plants before you put them in with everyone else's.

And do also recognize the reciprocal risk, if there is no inspector -- the
other novices may not have been as considerate as you :(

--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids

http://www.jborchids.com

"sneff" sneff at d2 dot net dot au wrote in message
s.com...
I finally joined an orchid society. I have been keen to do so for ages,
but
none close to me had their meetings on a night that I wasn't working. Last
month I managed to beg and swap Wednesday nights off, so I am now the
newest
member of the North Shore Orchid Society of Sydney.

I am considering bringing along a couple of plants for novice class
benching
at the next meeting in 10 days time. A Neof. falcata blooming for 4 days
now
(will it last another 10?) and a Pholidota imbricata, if the two snakes
spiralling off the pseudobulbs for a month now ever turn into
inflorescences
(how long does this species take to finally open?)

Most importantly, I was hoping some of you veteran exhibitors could give
me
a few tips for successful and polite benching. I have seen tips like
cleaning foliage with a relatively simple liquid (was it milk?) What other
tips for making sure a plant scrubs up to its best.

Also, I imagine taking a pest ridden plant in for judging is a gaffe even
bigger than bringing an incontinent canine to a croquet match - and
forgetting the baggies. I'm assuming (hoping) that most of my plants are
relatively pest, disease and fungus free, but there is a reason that I'm
planning on showing in the novice classes - I *am* novice, and may well
have
missed what is an obvious pest to an experienced eye. What extra care
should
I take (flushing, spraying with pesticides or an anti-fungal etc)
beforehand. And still on this point, is it people's experience that a
judge
or marshal will inspect the plant(s) before allowing them on the bench, or
are these things left up to the vigilance of individual members?

Thanks kindly,
Best, Matthew

And do also recognize the reciprocal risk, if there is no inspector -- the
other novices may not have been as considerate as you :(

You said a mouthful in that last sentence, Kenni. The very first time I
lent an orchid for a display (in the stone age, when I knew nothing!) my
pristine plant came home so loaded with ants that I had to put it in a
plastic bag to protect the car from infestation. Thankfully, just ants. Of
course, these days I'm much more involved (now I chair the society's
displays, at least for the moment), and I keep a close eye for problems. A
few months ago an experienced grower brought a gorgeous Catt; without my
glasses I could see tracks in the flowers. With my glasses, I saw the
thrips.

Someone really should be watching, though as you say, that's not always the
case.

See you in PSL next month.

Diana

Diana: You are not old enough to remember the stone age. Neither am I, but
my grandmother has told me stories G.

I am glad that all you came home with that time was ants, I have come home
from shows with worse on my exhibit specimens. It's not a problem I've had
at the PSL show -- that's a good one, you guys provide proper "care and
feeding" for your growers G, and my ex. there contacts only those of
other professional growers. I'm looking forward to that one, and to seeing
you there.

The "inspector" job is a tough one, and not every OS has a willing member
with (1) the skills, (2) the tact, and (3) the "brass" to handle it ...

--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids

http://www.jborchids.com
"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
link.net...
And do also recognize the reciprocal risk, if there is no inspector --
the
other novices may not have been as considerate as you :(

You said a mouthful in that last sentence, Kenni. The very first time I
lent an orchid for a display (in the stone age, when I knew nothing!) my
pristine plant came home so loaded with ants that I had to put it in a
plastic bag to protect the car from infestation. Thankfully, just ants.
Of
course, these days I'm much more involved (now I chair the society's
displays, at least for the moment), and I keep a close eye for problems.
A
few months ago an experienced grower brought a gorgeous Catt; without my
glasses I could see tracks in the flowers. With my glasses, I saw the
thrips.

Someone really should be watching, though as you say, that's not always
the
case.

See you in PSL next month.

Diana

Hey Matthew
Well you have joined the best Orchid Society in Sydney!been a member for
about 14 years.A great bunch of people with varied collections.
Bring your plants along ,see the registration table and bench your
plants.The novice table is usually on the far wall.
Get there early and catch the culture class always worth listening to the
growers giving their advice.
If you are worried about pests seek out any of the growers there and they
are more than glad to help.
Hopefully we will see you there and say hello.
STUART
"sneff" sneff at d2 dot net dot au wrote in message
s.com...
I finally joined an orchid society. I have been keen to do so for ages,
but
none close to me had their meetings on a night that I wasn't working. Last
month I managed to beg and swap Wednesday nights off, so I am now the
newest
member of the North Shore Orchid Society of Sydney.

I am considering bringing along a couple of plants for novice class
benching
at the next meeting in 10 days time. A Neof. falcata blooming for 4 days
now
(will it last another 10?) and a Pholidota imbricata, if the two snakes
spiralling off the pseudobulbs for a month now ever turn into
inflorescences
(how long does this species take to finally open?)

Most importantly, I was hoping some of you veteran exhibitors could give
me
a few tips for successful and polite benching. I have seen tips like
cleaning foliage with a relatively simple liquid (was it milk?) What other
tips for making sure a plant scrubs up to its best.

Also, I imagine taking a pest ridden plant in for judging is a gaffe even
bigger than bringing an incontinent canine to a croquet match - and
forgetting the baggies. I'm assuming (hoping) that most of my plants are
relatively pest, disease and fungus free, but there is a reason that I'm
planning on showing in the novice classes - I *am* novice, and may well
have
missed what is an obvious pest to an experienced eye. What extra care
should
I take (flushing, spraying with pesticides or an anti-fungal etc)
beforehand. And still on this point, is it people's experience that a
judge
or marshal will inspect the plant(s) before allowing them on the bench, or
are these things left up to the vigilance of individual members?

Thanks kindly,
Best, Matthew

Thanks so much Kenni. I'll definetly use those tips.

And Stuart, see you there next week!

Best, Matthew


"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
. ..
Matthew: You've hit the 2 "biggies" right on the head. For appearance,
you'll want to trim off old dead flower spikes and any bad leaves (if you
must trim leaf tips, try to mimic the shape of the natural ending); "peel"
the pbs if they have old dry brown bract material on them [obviously, that
won't apply to your Neof., not sure about the Pholidota, it's been a while
since I've had any of those]; stake the blooming leads if they need it
[probably not applicable this time, but once you've done this, you will
probably do it again with other plants that might need] and clean the
leaves. A 50/50 mix of milk and water cleans well and leaves a soft,
natural-looking shine, but is time-consuming [and will stink if not rinsed
off afterward]. If you run into stains that the milk won't remove, you
can
try vinegar or lemon juice, sometimes these work when the milk won't.
There
are also off-the-shelf leafshine products which produce a brighter but
less
natural effect.

As you are doing all that, you will almost certainly spot any pest or
disease problems. As to whether the Society will have an inspector, they
all vary [and sometimes even within the same Society it varies depending
on
who is in charge that month]. If you remain concerned, look around when
you
arrive at the meeting, or ask on your way in [there's usually a table at
the
door taking attendance and selling raffle tix], for the person in charge
of
the plant table or a senior member of the OS, and then ask that person to
take a look at your plants before you put them in with everyone else's.

And do also recognize the reciprocal risk, if there is no inspector -- the
other novices may not have been as considerate as you :(

--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids

http://www.jborchids.com

"sneff" sneff at d2 dot net dot au wrote in message
s.com...
I finally joined an orchid society. I have been keen to do so for ages,
but
none close to me had their meetings on a night that I wasn't working.
Last
month I managed to beg and swap Wednesday nights off, so I am now the
newest
member of the North Shore Orchid Society of Sydney.

I am considering bringing along a couple of plants for novice class
benching
at the next meeting in 10 days time. A Neof. falcata blooming for 4 days
now
(will it last another 10?) and a Pholidota imbricata, if the two snakes
spiralling off the pseudobulbs for a month now ever turn into
inflorescences
(how long does this species take to finally open?)

Most importantly, I was hoping some of you veteran exhibitors could give
me
a few tips for successful and polite benching. I have seen tips like
cleaning foliage with a relatively simple liquid (was it milk?) What
other
tips for making sure a plant scrubs up to its best.

Also, I imagine taking a pest ridden plant in for judging is a gaffe
even
bigger than bringing an incontinent canine to a croquet match - and
forgetting the baggies. I'm assuming (hoping) that most of my plants are
relatively pest, disease and fungus free, but there is a reason that I'm
planning on showing in the novice classes - I *am* novice, and may well
have
missed what is an obvious pest to an experienced eye. What extra care
should
I take (flushing, spraying with pesticides or an anti-fungal etc)
beforehand. And still on this point, is it people's experience that a
judge
or marshal will inspect the plant(s) before allowing them on the bench,
or
are these things left up to the vigilance of individual members?

Thanks kindly,
Best, Matthew