Over the years I have ‘dressed’ countless plants for both shows and exhibitions. In that time I have gathered together implements and necessities to make this job easier.

When they were younger my children always referred to this as my ‘Box of Tricks’. Here are the contents;

• a pair of good quality secateurs;
• a pair of small sharp scissors;
• a good quality craft knife;
• various thicknesses or green florists wire;
• about a dozen or so small green canes;
• paintbrushes of different thicknesses;
• a dozen or so new 4” plastic plant labels;
• a good quality label marker;
• a pen;
• a pair of long handled tweezers;
• a small hand spray with clean water;
• a clean cloth.

My motto has always been – “If I haven’t got it – I don’t need it!”

I also take with me some extra pots and saucers, a small watering can and a small bag of fresh compost.

Here is how I would go about ‘dressing’ a plant for the show bench.

Firstly I would slip the old plant pot partially from the plant and tilting it slightly I would remove any debris from the top of the compost. The plant and its pot are then held securely and it is turned upside down and gently shaken.

After turning the plant upside down I hold the plant at eye level looking inside the branches and making sure that there is no debris lodged in branches, if there is this is removed using the long handled tweezers if they will reach and if not one of the small canes to make it accessible, then the tweezers.

A clean legible label can be inserted at this time.

Having made sure that all the debris has been removed I then check to make sure that there are no branches which have been damaged in transit, hopefully if they have been ‘sleeved’ properly no damage has occurred. If there any branches which are damaged a decision is made on the severity of this and the action that could be taken to affect a remedy.
Sometimes it is possible to wire a branch back into position if it hasn’t completely snapped, obviously if it has completely become separated there is nothing that you can do and you either enter the plant with the damage or you omit the plant – the choice is yours.

To wire a branch back in place you need a piece of stiff green florist wire made into an ‘S’ shape with one end hooked on the damaged branch and gently pulled back into position the other end is then hooked onto any available branch, it is possible to almost completely hide the green florist wire with the foliage of the plant.

If the above happens to you, why not have a word with the show manager, he/she may like you to leave the plant in the show and fill a space on the bench, and obviously the damage will determine the outcome.

The method used for repairing any damaged branches can also be used to move the branches into a position to achieve a better balance to the plant and cover any gaps that may be visible.

After checking that the branches are all intact the plant is placed on the ‘dressing table’ to finish the dressing, here I use a short stick to move the foliage and leaves of the plant. I gently lift the flowers using a stick and place them on top of the plant to where they achieve a better coverage.

Next I check that there is no pollen dropped from the flowers onto the leaves of the plant and if necessary I remove this using a paintbrush dipped in a little water, at this stage check that there are no seed pods either

Finally I give the plant a light watering especially when the show is over two days, I don’t water into saucer, the judge tends to get a wet arm when lifting the plant to judge it – no point in upsetting them.

The plant is now ready to be placed on the show bench where you should turn it to ensure that the best side is visible to the front.

Place the exhibitors card face down with only the cultivar or species name visible, the rest is up the judge’s opinion.

One word of warning it that this whole process of getting your plants ready to show can take a lot of time and it is advisable to carry out as many as possible of the tasks mentioned at home to save time.

The same principles as detailed above are applicable whatever type of exhibit you are showing from a single plant or standard to a hanging pot, basket or half basket.

When showing plants in classes with more than one plant (i.e. three pots 31/2“ (9 cm)) you need to take the same time over each plant as if they were individual plants. When staging these exhibits you should spend time getting the balance of the three plants correct, place two plants of equal size at the back and the smaller one at the front in an arrow type formation.

AFTER JUDGING

After the judges have made their decisions and deliberations and the show organisers have placed the prize cards on the winning plants and exhibit the show will be opened to the public and exhibitors.

Now is the chance to se how your plants have done against the other plants in the show. Treat it the outcome with grace either if you win or lose. If you win don’t gloat – next time you might not win – and if you lose look thoroughly at the other plants and the reasons why you came in the position you did. Next time you show you should have learnt a little more about the art of showing.