The Mystery Challenge

We had a great response to the Mystery Challenge at the meeting yesterday! There were many plants on show, some of which were really superb! Well done to everybody who participated and special congratulations to Felicity whose plant was voted "Best on Show", and Doug who won the "Best Novice" award.

Show fever is running high now - just 4 weeks to go!! Most members who are intending to show are starting to panic quietly! We have had good weather this year, and the plants have responded well, some of them a little too well! For those plants that look as if they will peak before show week, I suggest that you feed as aggressively as possible to keep them growing strongly and keep the new buds coming. - There is no way to retard bud development when once it has begun so rather try to spur it on to even greater levels!

It is worth making a note of which cultivars have come into bloom early as you can time their flowering more accurately next year! Also note those that don't bloom in time for the show for the same reason!!

I'm looking forward to seeing many beautiful plants on show!!

Count Down to the Show!

My apologies once more - I am still not well and have been taking things very easy! I must say that I am delighted with the way the plants are growing - even though they have not had all the attention they might have liked. Long may it continue!

The show is looming as a reality in our lives now so I thought you might like to see my pinching schedule for the rest of the year. This only applies to mature plants that may be suitable for showing in December. The young plants continue to be pinched as needed until they are good big round plants, at which point they can be left to flower.

Pinching Schedule

22 August - 104 days to the show
Penultimate pinch large doubles

29 August - 97 days to the show
Last pinch for Triphylla types

5 September - 90 days to the show
Penultimate pinch for semi-doubles and small doubles

12 September - 83 days to show
Last pinch for large doubles

19 September - 76 days to the show
Penultimate pinch for large singles

26 September - 69 days to the show
Last pinch for Semi-doubles and small doubles
Penultimate pinch for medium and small singles

10 October - 55 days to the show
Last pinch for large singles

17 October - 48 days to the show
Last pinch for medium and small singles

This is only meant as a guide and weather conditions must be taken into account! If it stays very wet and cold late into the season you might need to leave longer for the plants to come into full flower after the last pinching. We will only be able to judge this as time moves on!

Good luck and I hope to see many plants on the show this year!!