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Show Table Rules

Updated and Approve July 25, 2024

1. Exhibitors must be members in good standing of the Maryland Orchid Society.
2. Each membership, whether single, dual or family, will be considered one exhibitor.
3. Exhibitor Points will be given at each of the 10 Monthly Program Meetings, for In Person, and Virtual Show Table, or in combination. Each member exhibiting one or more plants will receive one point [1] per event.
4. Exhibitors may also earn Exhibitor Points by exhibiting one or more plants at the Maryland Orchid Society Show or by lending plants to the Society to be used in our away shows or exhibits, one point [1] per participation. Plants loaned for shows or exhibits do not have to be owned for six [6] months.
5. At the end of the year, the Exhibitor Points will be totaled, and one [1] seedling/plant will be awarded for each three [3] Exhibitor Points at the September meeting.
6. Exhibitor Points will not carry over to next year.

In Person Show Table

1. Exhibitors must own the plant or plants for at least six [6] months in the Competitive Classes [A-M]. All plants should be groomed and free of pests.
2. Each exhibitor must fill out entry forms, listing all plants. Use one entry for all plants shown in each class. A fillable PDF is available on the Maryland Orchid Society website.
3. Plants to be judged must be on the Show Table by 7:30 p.m. Plants brought in after this time may not be judged. This is in fairness to the judges who must start judging promptly so they can finish and enjoy the program with the rest of us.
4. Show Table classes are:
   1. Novice — The Novice class is intended for those who have been growing orchids for less than three years. Any type of orchid can be entered in this category. Novice growers may also enter plants in other applicable categories.
   2. Homegrown — The Homegrown class is for those who grow orchids in any area that is not considered a greenhouse. Plants of any genera may be entered in this class.
   3. Greenhouse — The Greenhouse class is for exhibitors who grow their plants in greenhouses of any size. Plants of any genera may be entered in this class.
   4. Cattleya — The Cattleya class is for Cattleya alliance plants, such as Cattleya, Laelia, Brassavola, and Sophronitis species and their hybrids may be entered in this class.
   5. Phalaenopsis — The Phalaenopsis class is for the Phalaenopsis alliance plants, such as Phalaenopsis species and their hybrids may be entered in this class.
   6. Oncidium Alliance — The Oncidium Alliance is intended to be used for this type of species and hybrid plants. This alliance includes Oncidium, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Brassia, and other related genera.
   7. Paphiopedilum — The Paphiopedilum class is intended for Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and other slipper orchid species and their hybrids.
   8. Dendrobium — The Dendrobium class is for the Dendrobium alliance plants. All Dendrobium species and their hybrids may be entered in this class.
   9. Species — The Species class is open to plants of any genera. Jungle-collected and seed-grown plants are both acceptable. The only requirement is that it must be a species, not hybrids.
   10. Miscellaneous Hybrids — The Miscellaneous Hybrid class was created to provide exhibitors another place to exhibit plants which cannot be entered in classes D, E, F, G and H. Plants of these classes must not be entered in the Miscellaneous Hybrid class.
   11. Miniatures — Plants entered in the Miniature class may not exceed six inches in any dimension, excluding the inflorescence. Species and hybrids are both acceptable.
   12. First Bloom Seedlings — The First Bloom Seedling class is for plants that are blooming for the first time. Both species and hybrids are acceptable. No mericlones may be entered in this class, only seed grown plants should be exhibited in this class.
   13. Fragrance — The Fragrance class will be judged for the most pleasing fragrance. This is an open class.
   14. Non-Competitive — For education, jewel (foliage) and an opportunity to display plants that arrive too late for other classes. In this class, members are encouraged to exhibit plants that cannot be exhibited in any other class (e.g., owned less than six [6] months, grower not wishing to compete, etc.)
5. The judges will award First, Second and Third place ribbons in each competitive class. First place will receive three [3] Ribbon Points, second place will receive two [2} Ribbon Points, and third place will receive one [1] Ribbon Point. Each exhibitor may not receive more than one [1] ribbon per class. Only one [1] First Place Ribbon per class will be awarded. At the end of the program year, the awarded Ribbon points will be tabulated and the top three "point getters" in each class will receive cash prizes. In the case of a tie, prizes will be duplicated. The year for Show Table prizes will be September through June.
6. After judging all plants on the Show Table, the judges of that evening will consider all the plants that received first place awards in each class. They will award one with a special award called "Judges' Choice of the Evening." This special award will earn the exhibitor a bonus plant to be given at the conclusion of the Show Table review.

Virtual Show Table

1. Plants must have been photographed in bloom since the last meeting.
2. Exhibitors must email a picture along with the typed name of each plant to the Virtual Show Table Coordinator. The name of the orchid must be typed in the email or be part of the photo file name. No photos of plant labels will be allowed.
3. Entries are encouraged by the evening before the scheduled monthly meeting. Photos included in the presentation are at the discretion of the coordinator.
4. No Exhibitor Points will be awarded at the July or August Virtual Meetings. Members exhibiting in these meetings are encouraged to participate and speak about their plants in the presentation.

1. The Coordinator Contact Information will be in the Monthly Meeting notice.
2. Prepares a Presentation with the pictures of the plants, plant names and their owners' names.
3. Records monthly participation (except July and August) and reports to the Show Table Chair at the end of the Program year the names of individuals who earned Exhibitor Points.
4. Provides a presentation for each of the 10 Program Meetings and the July and August Virtual Meetings.
5. Provides the presentation to the Social Media Coordinator