Update: Please help! I'm such a klutz!!

[lori.b]

I'm hoping to send this first bloom seedling to an orchid show later in October. The flowers are opening quickly enough that I'm pretty sure there will be at least 3 fully open. Unfortunately I accidentally tore off one of the petals on the lower bloom, as you can see in the enclosed pictures. That particular flower is also a bit crooked and not quite right looking. There are five more buds above that lower one so I'm wondering if I should remove the lower bloom and hope that the remaining five will be open enough or should I send it to the show as is? What would you do? Your opinions are greatly appreciated. BTW the name of the plant is Paph. Haur Jih Isabel (Hung Sheng Eagle x sanderianum).

 

[big923cattleya]

There is no way to hide your unfortunate mistake.
I am an AOS judge and here is what I/we think of when we see a spike with a missing flower. Why is it missing? Was it removed because of an accident like yours? Or was it removed due to bad form, color or another problem. We would pass on it and not consider it for an award no matter how good the other flowers are. It could have been because that blossom affected the flower presentation.
Your best bet is if there is ribbon judging, just enter it for a ribbon. It is a system with easier rules and less restrictions.
This of course depends upon if there is judging and by whom.

 

[lori.b]

There is no way to hide your unfortunate mistake.
I am an AOS judge and here is what I/we think of when we see a spike with a missing flower. Why is it missing? Was it removed because of an accident like yours? Or was it removed due to bad form, color or another problem. We would pass on it and not consider it for an award no matter how good the other flowers are. It could have been because that blossom affected the flower presentation.
Your best bet is if there is ribbon judging, just enter it for a ribbon. It is a system with easier rules and less restrictions.
This of course depends upon if there is judging and by whom.

Thank you SO much, that is very useful information for me. I was leaning in that direction but didn't want to bring up my conundrum with the AOS judges I know here as they will likely be at the show. The show will have both ribbon and AOS judging so I'll send it along and see what happens. Hopefully the damaged petal can be staged in a way that won't draw so much attention to it - our ladies who do the out of town displays are geniuses!

 

[big923cattleya]

You are welcome.

 

[Morja]

I'm not helpful otherwise, but that is a pretty hybrid!

 

[Ozpaph]

I encourage people to always take whatever they have to shows. It adds to the overall spectacle of the show and increased patronage. People will admire your plant for what it is even with a broken petal etc.

 

[Roots]

I also can't speak to shows but that is quite an impressive spike full of blooms. I love the way the petals curl in the bloom about to open.

 

[lori.b]

I also can't speak to shows but that is quite an impressive spike full of blooms. I love the way the petals curl in the bloom about to open.

Thank you. I'll post a better picture when it's in full bloom.

 

[tnyr5]

Ribbon judging is much more forgiving than AOS judging. I would enjoy it till the show, then pull off the lowest flower. Worst that happens is it won't get a ribbon. I suspect it probably still would, just maybe not 1st place.

 

[lori.b]

Ribbon judging is much more forgiving than AOS judging. I would enjoy it till the show, then pull off the lowest flower. Worst that happens is it won't get a ribbon. I suspect it probably still would, just maybe not 1st place.

The show is still two weeks away so I guess I still have time to make that final call. If all five of the remaining flowers aren't fully open I'll probably send the plant as is, but I may just change my mind at the last minute! I'm so annoyed with myself for being so clumsy because the plant is a big strap leaf paph (28" leafspan) so I suspect it'll be a while before it's back in bloom. Thankfully there's a new growth already started though. Arghhhhhhhh.........

 

[big923cattleya]

In all three Judging Centers that I have been associated with, they all used the same ideas at ribbon judging.
Ribbon judging can be thought of as a Class Schedule. Let us say as an example, you have a large flowered standard white Cattleya. To win a ribbon, you need your Cattleya to be the best white Cattleya entered in that particular show. If it is the only one entered in its class, a blue ribbon is awarded. I personally like to award ribbons.
If that class has four white Cattleyas entered, you just need to be one of the best three to get a ribbon.
Of course, there is no way to know how many get entered, take a chance.

In summary, your Paph does not need to be a great Paph, just one of the best entered in it’s class!

 

[lori.b]

In all three Judging Centers that I have been associated with, they all used the same ideas at ribbon judging.
Ribbon judging can be thought of as a Class Schedule. Let us say as an example, you have a large flowered standard white Cattleya. To win a ribbon, you need your Cattleya to be the best white Cattleya entered in that particular show. If it is the only one entered in its class, a blue ribbon is awarded. I personally like to award ribbons.
If that class has four white Cattleyas entered, you just need to be one of the best three to get a ribbon.
Of course, there is no way to know how many get entered, take a chance.

In summary, your Paph does not need to be a great Paph, just one of the best entered in it’s class!

That's a great explanation. I like ribbon judging too and have participated in a ribbon judging team at a few shows. It's a fun way to see what's in the show. I've also been the "runner" for the AOS judging team so have seen and heard that part of the judging system. I like to volunteer for that at our local show because it's a really good learning opportunity for me and all our judges are very friendly so it isn't intimidating at all. But yes, the AOS judging has much higher standards.

 

[big923cattleya]

Exactly and I am pleased that you have a good time.
I should have said this though in my explanation. In ribbon judging you just have to be the best white Cattleya in the show. BUT for AOS judging, you have to be the amongst the best Cattleya Bob Betts ever seen. Or you have to be as good as the best Bob Betts’s ever awarded! Big difference!

 

[hkunberger]

I encourage people to always take whatever they have to shows. It adds to the overall spectacle of the show and increased patronage. People will admire your plant for what it is even with a broken petal etc.

I would definitely encourage you to take it to the show. People love seeing those long curly petals and it’s a good looking plant. I think your “mistake” will easily disappear in the overall display.
Don’t make her miss the ball just because one of her curls got snipped off.

 

[lori.b]

I would definitely encourage you to take it to the show. People love seeing those long curly petals and it’s a good looking plant. I think your “mistake” will easily disappear in the overall display.
Don’t make her miss the ball just because one of her curls got snipped off.

Lol, she had a bad hair day thanks to her clumsy mama! The other buds are opening nicely and their long curly petals are quite eye catching. The torn one isn't so noticeable now.

 

[big923cattleya]

And I hope that you have learned a lesson. One that we have all had to learn. We should never touch our flowers. Our hands are clumsy, fat fingers that are not suitable for fine delicate work.
This is why I learned to keep a fine paint brush handy, long handled go have me gently work it in to straighten out a petal that might be hung up when unfolding. When you think about it, using our fingers is not a good idea.
I have also used long, slender sticks, like chicken skewers to free hung up flower parts. But take heart, we all have done this before. It is hard perhaps but I still, after years and years, stop myself from using my fingers. They are so handy but potentially so damaging when it comes to orchid flowers.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Been there, done that!

 

[lori.b]

Here are the flowers fully open now except for the sixth one at the top. I'll be packing it up tomorrow to send it over to Vancouver Island for the show on the weekend. The torn petal doesn't stand out like a sore thumb now that the rest of the flowers are in bloom so we'll see what the ribbon judging team thinks. I'll let you know the outcome.

 

[Roots]

I have to say that is a spectacular show your plant is putting on. Good luck at the ribbon judging.

 

[lori.b]

I have to say that is a spectacular show your plant is putting on. Good luck at the ribbon judging.

Thank you, that's very encouraging. It's a first bloom seedling with a 28" leaf span so I hope it'll at least do well in that category. I guess it depends on how many other plants are entered. Fun, fun!