What I was planning to take to the National

[edds]

So I was planning to show some plants for the first time at the National (and thanks to those who offered some advice in another thread on here) but it wasn't to be due to family reasons.

So, I thought I'd post up some photos and ask your opinion, views and/or critique. I've tried to show the ugly sides as well as the prettier ones to reflect that in real life someone can look all around the plants!

I'll start by saying that I would have cleaned the pots and topped then off with grit if I was bringing them to the show!

First off is my largest Aeonium 'Zwartkop'. It is just under 3ft tall from the top of the soil.

Next is my biggest Aeonium 'Big Bang'. This is a single plant though the base would have been covered when grit was added - would this have been a problem?

View from above,

Aeonium leucoblepharum Yemen red form

Aeonium 'Orion'. A hybrid that must have a bunch of canariense in it.

Aeonium glutinosum - I was hoping this would have filled out a bit more this summer but the hot weather seems to have reduced the growth.

Then moving away from the Aeonium,
Echeveria colorata 'Desert Harmony'

Crassula capitella ssp. thrysiflora 'Red Pagoda'

And finally an Echeveria cante I raised from seed,

Should I have removed all dead leaves from this or left them as they naturally retain them, I think. I saw in the show a Dudley's looking very impressive with its 'skirt' of leaves.

[el48tel]

So I was planning to show some plants for the first time at the National (and thanks to those who offered some advice in another thread on here) but it wasn't to be due to family reasons.

So, I thought I'd post up some photos and ask your opinion, views and/or critique. I've tried to show the ugly sides as well as the prettier ones to reflect that in real life someone can look all around the plants!

I'll start by saying that I would have cleaned the pots and topped then off with grit if I was bringing them to the show!

First off is my largest Aeonium 'Zwartkop'. It is just under 3ft tall from the top of the soil.
PXL_20220911_130406404.jpg

Next is my biggest Aeonium 'Big Bang'. This is a single plant though the base would have been covered when grit was added - would this have been a problem?
PXL_20220911_125156785.jpg
View from above,
PXL_20220911_125208042.jpg

Aeonium leucoblepharum Yemen red form
PXL_20220911_125355911.jpg
PXL_20220911_125402923.jpg

Aeonium 'Orion'. A hybrid that must have a bunch of canariense in it.
PXL_20220911_125723243.jpg
PXL_20220911_125733965.jpg

Aeonium glutinosum - I was hoping this would have filled out a bit more this summer but the hot weather seems to have reduced the growth.
PXL_20220911_130130616.jpg
PXL_20220911_130140823.jpg

Then moving away from the Aeonium,
Echeveria colorata 'Desert Harmony'
PXL_20220911_130938357.jpg
PXL_20220911_130946540.jpg

Crassula capitella ssp. thrysiflora 'Red Pagoda'
PXL_20220911_130823227.jpg

And finally an Echeveria cante I raised from seed,
PXL_20220911_130638173.jpg
PXL_20220911_130705152.jpg

Should I have removed all dead leaves from this or left them as they naturally retain them, I think. I saw in the show a Dudley's looking very impressive with its 'skirt' of leaves.

I know little about judging etc but I remember David Slade (BCSS judge) saying "clean pots"

[edds]

I know little about judging etc but I remember David Slade (BCSS judge) saying "clean pots"

Thanks Terry. The pots definitely would have had a good clean and be topped off with grit. Some may even have been put in new pots!

[Tina]

What was on display that was placed at the show, that will give you a good idea what to grow.
These whilst nice as a clump aren't that rare or challenging to grow- not meant rudely Edds, I only have 1 Aeonium so no expert.

[Apicra]

As it happened, I judged the Crassulaceae with Ray Stephenson at the National, so should perhaps reply.

Yes, your plants are nice, but would not have won prizes, as would be expected in comparison with other entries in ChrisL's wonderful long list of photos on the Manchester web site. Judges do not just give prizes to plants they like, but follow the agreed balance of meritorious factors embodied in the General Pointing System, which is published in the BCSS Handbook of Shows (freely downloadable from https://www.society.bcss.org.uk/index.p ... ittee.html). Relative to other entries, maturity and difficulty are important attributes. So if winning was to be your motivation for entering, it could have been disappointing.

However, the BCSS needs the National Show to showcase excellence of cultivation and the wonderful wide range plants under cultivation. That Crassula capitella is perfectly grown, but of course not particularly old. Your 'Big Bang' is stunning and would certainly have attracted comment. So if your motivation was to contribute towards making the show better, then, yes please, you should have entered.

Most people start showing at a smaller local shows and the plants shown could well be winners there? There are routines to learn for cleaning plants up so that they look their best and packing them safely for transport. Other entrants are usually happy to offer advice.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble

[edds]

What was on display that was placed at the show, that will give you a good idea what to grow.
These whilst nice as a clump aren't that rare or challenging to grow- not meant rudely Edds, I only have 1 Aeonium so no expert.

Not taken that way at all Tina! That's the kind of feedback I was after.

I'm under no illusions about them getting best succulent or anything like that - they're too fast growing though the big 'Zwartkop' is about 5years old from a cutting. Was hoping they might have placed within their class though? Although there weren't many Aeonium displayed this year and the winner was a hybrid Bronze Medal which clumps up more easily than glutinosum for me.

[edds]

As it happened, I judged the Crassulaceae with Ray Stephenson at the National, so should perhaps reply.

Yes, your plants are nice, but would not have won prizes, as would be expected in comparison with other entries in ChrisL's wonderful long list of photos on the Manchester web site. Judges do not just give prizes to plants they like, but follow the agreed balance of meritorious factors embodied in the General Pointing System, which is published in the BCSS Handbook of Shows (freely downloadable from https://www.society.bcss.org.uk/index.p ... ittee.html). Relative to other entries, maturity and difficulty are important attributes. So if winning was to be your motivation for entering, it could have been disappointing.

However, the BCSS needs the National Show to showcase excellence of cultivation and the wonderful wide range plants under cultivation. That Crassula capitella is perfectly grown, but of course not particularly old. Your 'Big Bang' is stunning and would certainly have attracted comment. So if your motivation was to contribute towards making the show better, then, yes please, you should have entered.

Most people start showing at a smaller local shows and the plants shown could well be winners there? There are routines to learn for cleaning plants up so that they look their best and packing them safely for transport. Other entrants are usually happy to offer advice.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble

Thanks very much for the feedback Derek. Can I ask what meant they wouldn't have won prizes against other Aeonium (if you can remember that detail?). I really appreciate this so I can look at what to do better for next time. I know the pots need a good clean and topping with grit - should I be cleaning the plants in some way too other than removing old leaves?

I'm hoping to show some at smaller shows in the interim but with work and family, haven't had the chance before the National to do this.

[Phil_SK]

Judges [...] follow the agreed balance of meritorious factors embodied in the General Pointing System

the BCSS needs the National Show to showcase excellence of cultivation and the wonderful wide range plants under cultivation.

So if your motivation was to contribute towards making the show better, then, yes please, you should have entered.

Perhaps it follows that shows, judged as they currently are, can't entirely meet the needs of the Society (to showcase a wide range of well cultivated plants).

[edds]

Judges [...] follow the agreed balance of meritorious factors embodied in the General Pointing System

the BCSS needs the National Show to showcase excellence of cultivation and the wonderful wide range plants under cultivation.

So if your motivation was to contribute towards making the show better, then, yes please, you should have entered.

Perhaps it follows that shows, judged as they currently are, can't entirely meet the needs of the Society (to showcase a wide range of well cultivated plants).

The Big Bang and Orion (and a few other newer hybrids I was hoping would have been looking better like Superbang, Pink Witch, Medusa) were definitely ones I was taking so people could see them rather than thinking they were 'good' plants.

[Skribbane]

Apologies to hijack the thread somewhat, I don't know enough about Aeonium to give any meaningful feedback on that front.

Perhaps this is a silly suggestion but maybe a "people's choice" award could be a consideration for the future?

Low-tech version, a small container with each plant, everyone gets a tiddlywink to place by their favourite, to get counted up an hour before close (by whom though... Lot of work!). Better - with less setup, clutter and potential for tiddlywinks getting everywhere - QR codes on the plant entry cards that link to a website where they can vote? The results would be automatically tallied that way too.

There would of course be the potential for cheating (what would be the point though?). It could add an element of interactivity for attendees, and could make an award available for plants based mainly on aesthetic appeal, which I imagine is why many of the non-specialists or non-members attend shows.

It may be lot of additional work on top of everything the hard working team involved with shows do already, so it's just a thought!