FCC = First Class Certificate
A flower awarded a FCC has scored over 90 points on a scale of 100 points. It indicates an extremely high quality orchid.
How to Pick a Winner
When looking at a display of Phalaenopsis orchids in bloom, it can be difficult to tell if one plant is superior to another. Orchid growers, naturally, ship plants in good health and peak bloom; but certain qualities can make one plant slightly more desirable than another.
Knowing how Phalaenopsis orchids are judged by professionals can help you look through your local selection and pick a winner. Judges also look for superior position of the blooms on the spikes. Not crowded but very slightly touching so that each bloom is a continuation of the cascade like a waterfall effect. Look for how the blooms stack on the spike. Looking at the pictures here of the FCC winners, which is the highest award given, you can see this.
Tips for Selection
When choosing the “perfect” Phalaenopsis orchid, orchid judges and professional growers look for these characteristics:
Orchid shape (form) should be full and round with curved, smooth-edged petals
Large flower size is a prized hallmark of Phalaenopsis orchids
A high flower count (number of blooms per stalk) is highly desirable, although floriferous plants may have smaller blooms
Thick petals (substance) are preferred as they are associated with longer flower life
Flower petals should be smooth and fine textured
Flower spike growth (inflorescence) should be vertical with a graceful downward arch
by islandgirl3773
3 Comments
The cream of the crop
I’m looking for a phalaenopis that is fragrant, floriferous, with good branching habit and compact. Any suggestions? Tips are highly appreciated 🙏❤️🌸
Two things.
1. It is very interesting how hard it seems to get a score above 90, let alone 90. I wonder if 100 is even possible. Nature is imperfect so perhaps 100 is purposely unobtainable.
2. Smith-Krull must have really known what they had when they named that 95-pointer Phal. John Naugle ‘Krull’s *Perfect*’. 😆