Cluster Catt' flower adjustment

[Roy]

Ok, one pic atm I set up today as a start but I think looking at it now, says everything.

The spacers are stiff, old plastic labels that are still flexible. As can be seen, I cut V shapes in the ends & I make multiple copies of the same length & multiple lengths.

The longer ones fit to the lower flowers as the stems are usually the longest & shortest to the top end.

It is "very" wise to fit these spacers in during the warmth of the day & the buds definitely have to be at a stage where the part of the spike they attach to has stopped growing length wise.

The spacers are here for depiction only, I haven't placed the correct ones in as yet. Depending on the number of flowers, narrower labels could/should be used. It you have a spike with a large quantity of buds, great care not to damage buds must be taken.

Some cluster Catts have extremely short stems, bud to spike. These are near impossible to help bud spread, lost cause basically. All you can do is try.

Rlc. Waianae Leopard 'Ching Hua' & some of its progeny would be the worst for this.

[Chris in Hamilton]

Thanks for the tip Roy! I think my mistake has been waiting until the flowers were opening before I put the spreaders in. I also left them in when the plants was being displayed I made mine from cloth wrapped wire that blended in with the stems and thought that would be okay.

---------- Post Merged at 07:08 AM ----------

Okay, plastic coated wire. Your's look easier to make.

[Roy]

If you left them in over here when plant displayed, it would have been disqualified from Judging. Spacing has to be done in the bud stage for sure, useless when flowers open which is what you found.

[Chris in Hamilton]

Yes, disqualified from judging. I know better now but my logic was that if you can stake the spikes spreading the flowers artificially should be acceptable.

[Dorsetman]

Sometimes, life is too short... And I tell myself thatI have too many orchids . If I halved my collection I could give them all twice as much time, each... But can I do that ? No......
But for those who can, and do, I am full of admiration.

---------- Post Merged at 10:04 PM ----------

Yes, disqualified from judging. I know better now but my logic was that if you can stake the spikes spreading the flowers artificially should be acceptable.

You got caught out using scaffolding ? Naughty, naughty !
But just don't start me off about judges and judging ! There is a proverb... Those who can , do. Those who cannot, teach. Those who cannot do either, like to sit in judgement ....