Everything Roses

Rose Exhibits and Shows

A step by step guide on entering rose exhibits.

Now that you finally have a rose garden that you can be proud of, it's time to take the next step and let others appreciate the beauty of your roses.

It doesn't matter if you win, just the experience of seeing other types of roses and meeting people who share your passion will teach you a lot.

Before entering your own roses, take the time to visit a few rose exhibits or shows so you can see how everything works.

If at all possible, try to get permission to enter the preparation room so you can see what experienced displayers do before the judging begins.

Get a copy of the rule book from the American Rose Society, And visit their web site at www.ars.org for more information on rose exhibits and shows.

When you decide that you are ready to enter a show, look for one that's close to home so you can keep your travel time and expenses to a minimum. There are plenty of rose exhibits that offer special judging classes for beginners, so try to find one of those.

Follow this timetable and you'll be ready to face the judges on the day of the show:

Start the selection process by narrowing down your choices to a single rose that you would like to show.

It's easiest to start with displaying one single bloom on a stem. Be sure to select a rose with a straight and sturdy cane.

Begin preparing the rose for exhibit by cutting off all of the buds that are forming between the side of the stem and the leaf.

This focuses all of the nutrients to the single bloom that you are planning to show.

Support the cane of your selected rose by staking it with a bamboo stake and some garden tape or twist ties. This protects the cane and helps to support the rose as it grows.

Spray fungicide when needed and promptly remove aphids and spider mites if they appear. Aphids can be removed by spritzing with insecticidal soap. Spider mites can be treated the same way. However it's best to take care of these garden pests well before you plan to exhibit your roses.

Water your roses as you normally do and apply organics and fertilizer as required.

Put together your toolkit for the day of the show. Most experienced rosarians include the following in their kits: Several soft cloths, Q-Tips, Shears, Plastic wrap, Small-soft artist's paintbrush and the ARS Rule Book.

Cover your selected flower with a small plastic bag that's secured below the bloom with a tie at night.

Then remove the bag before the sun rises in the morning. Do this every night to protect the bloom until you leave for the show.



2 or 3 days before the show

Cut the rose following the instructions in our "Preparing Roses for Display" article. Cut the stem a bit longer than usual because you will be re-cutting the day of the show.

Place the rose in a small florist's bucket. Then cover the bloom with a plastic bag, tie it off below the bloom, and place the bucket and rose in the refrigerator until the morning of the show.





The morning of the show

Remove the rose from the refrigerator, place the container and rose safely in your car, grab your kit, and head for the show!

Whether you plan to grow roses to exhibit or simply for the pleasure they provide, plan to attend a rose show in your area sometime soon.

With hundreds of flowers and varieties on display, your senses will be in for a treat.

Good Luck and Happy Gardening!