My first orchid show....

[c.whitcomb]

Friends, I have attended my first ever orchid show here in Milwaukee's Michell Park Domes..... it was amazing. the real-life blooms are even more stunning than photos. prize winners stunned me again and again with their deep deep colors and flawless cultivation. i saw a lot of vandas and phalenopsis and phrags too, with some cattleya's, though not as many. never having seen i cattleya in bloom, i was fairly stunned by the size of some, and ever more pleased with the intense fragrence surrounding them. i nearly resisted the urge, but in the end came home with a mini catt, SLC. Love Castle 'Kurenai,' with purple blooms and do i detect a hint or orange in there too? the catt's were potted a lot tighter than mine, which i thought were pretty comfy -- mine is in at least a 7 inch pot and the one i brought home today, about the same size, is in a 4 incher. for this reason i think i may repot mine in the spring, in hopes that a tighter pot will help encourage more growth.

i was amazed to see some plants with creased leaves (too much sun, right?) with ribbons on them anyway, and thought they must've been pushed hard to bloom.

i was incredibly stunned by the variety of SMALL orchids. the magnifying glass laying out next to some did give me a little chuckle, but the plants themselves were quite charming.

all in all it was a little more than i could take in at once. the growers were overwhelmed too, it seemed, and i had only a little time to chat, but i learned a lot by proxy: watching how plants potted, in what medium, how dark their leaves were, which varieties were most common. i did expect to see more catt's, maybe thier cultivation is harder than i thought, or else they're just not as popular among collectors.

anyway i am THRILLED http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/ima...gnt/cheers.gif with the experience and feel as if i have been re-hooked.

now i just have to make sure i can keep things in good shape over our FasT approaching winter. i am considering a lamp above the plants. heat worries me too -- i have no shortage of radiators to keep them near, but the temp doesn't fluctuate at all and i worry i won't get cool temps to promote flowering. well, i guess i'll figure that out in the upcoming weeks.

-colin

[jay]

Colin,

Glad you got to your first show. I am really looking forward to see a couple this year. Do you have any pictures of your new Catt? Please share with the rest of us.

One explanation for what orchids you did see at the show would be what was in bloom/season. Remember that different orchids have different growing and blooming seasons.

The wrinkled leaves I believe are usually a sign of lack of water. I believe when exposed to too much sun then you will see red pigmentation in the leaves then the leaves will begin to pale due to loss of chlorophyll.

jay

[c.whitcomb]

Originally Posted by jay

One explanation for what orchids you did see at the show would be what was in bloom/season. Remember that different orchids have different growing and blooming seasons.

I did not think of that. excellent point though. yeah most of the denobriums i saw were den-phal ...er.... crossbreeds or something like that.

anyway, the domes themselves are cool though... the perfect cure to milwaukee's winter blues.

[Tobi]

Colin,
I'm so glad you had the opportunity to go to a show. I'll never forget the
first one that I attended. I was so overwelmed by the spectacular displays.
Everything was so beautiful. Got me hooked for life as an orchid geek.

[PhalPal]

Congratulations on your first show!!! I'm with Tobi; i will never forget my first experience at a major show. I have now been to many and still feel like a kid in a candy store!

[c.whitcomb]

thanks you guys. your support keeps me alive sometimes when i'm freaking out about my plants. actually it has probably kept some of my 'chids alive too!

-colin

[Anton]

And you have NO photos to show, shame, shame, shame.

[kktbva]

Hi,

I'm a newbie and never been to an orchid show. I just learned that there will be a show in Washington DC in early October. I'm really looking forward to go to the show. I don't know what to expect, just know that I will spend some money !!!

Kathie

[Tobi]

Hi kathie and welcome to the forum. I know you'll thoroughly enjoy yourself
when you go. 3 things to make sure you have with you:
1. Credit card, checks, or cash
2. Camera
3. Lot of time!!

Enjoy yourself

[linda_shel]

Sounds like you had a great time.

[patticake]

I'm looking forward to my first show in April! Tobi has told me of one that we're (my husband and I) are going to try and attend. I can't wait! As far as photos go, I'm going to post some soon myself- It's been hard with moving etc.- I just got a new camera for Christmas, and have taken some great photos! The card reader that I got doesn't work. I have to get a different one and have my son come over to help me get some pics on! I can grow some great plants, but I'm computer challenged!! I'll try to become photo-literate soon- Thanks for all the advice and for the patience in waiting for some of us to figure out the camera-photography part!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by c.whitcomb

i was amazed to see some plants with creased leaves (too much sun, right?) with ribbons on them anyway, and thought they must've been pushed hard to bloom.

Hi Colin,

Congrats on your first orchid show! I remember the first one I attended. In spite of the fact it was a relatively small show, it was one of the most amazing things I'd seen. I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

The pleated leaves don't come from too much sun but instead from a lack of mositure while that particular part of the new growth was forming.

It's not suprising that a plant with pleated leaves might receive a ribbon since the primary emphasis is on the flower rather than the plant. That's not to say the health of the plant is not important. In the US judging system a plant must be in good health but pleated leaves do not disqualify it. It also depends on how many plants were entered in a particular class.

I hope your great experience will encourage you to attend this show again next year and possibly attend other shows as well!