Floriculture & House Plants

Content

Awards

Purple - $2.00  Blue -$1.50    

Red - $1.00  White - $.50

FLORICULTURE

GENERAL INFORMATION 

  1. The cultivar or variety name must be included on all entry cards. FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE CULTIVAR OR VARIETY WILL DROP THE ENTRY ONE RIBBON PLACING. Proper identification is the responsibility of the exhibitor not the Extension office personnel. Horticulture does not need to be listed out on the fair entry sheets. Entry tags available by request or at one of our offices. One entry per class number per exhibitor. Exhibits entered under an incorrect class number or containing an incorrect number of flowers will be lowered one ribbon placing. In classes 23, 44 & 45 do not duplicate entries with the classes listed by using other cultivars or varieties, or entry will be dropped one ribbon placing. For example: 4-H’ers with two cultivars or varieties of marigolds can only enter the marigold classes and cannot enter the other cultivar or variety in any other class. A perennial is defined as a plant of which the crown overwinters. An annual is a plant that grows from seed each season, whether self-seeded or planted by the gardener. A biennial is a plant that germinates, grows and overwinters as a crown, blooms the following year and dies. Foliage will be considered when exhibit is judged. Use plain jars or bottles for cut flower entries. At State Fair containers will not be returned. 
  2. CUT FLOWERS: All 3 or 5 stems of cut flowers should be the same cultivar and color, do not mix cultivars and colors. Containers will not be judged; however, they should be CLEAR GLASS CONTAINERS that won't tip over (No plastic containers at State Fair) and of adequate size to display blooms. Any exhibit not in a clear glass container will be dropped one ribbon placing. NO SCREW ON LIDS OR SCREW ON RINGS AND FLATS MAY BE USED.  To hold flowers in place it is suggested to use tin foil or a type of plastic wrap with holes poked into it or frog lids. Containers may not be returned from State Fair.
  3. FLORICULTURE, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS & HOUSEPLANTS: Can exhibit up to 10 total classes, however, can only show a maximum of 4 classes for State Fair. ANNUALS & BIENNIALS - FIVE stems of a single variety (cultivar) unless otherwise noted in parenthesis. 
CLASSES

G770001       Aster

G770002       Bachelor Buttons 

G770003       Bells of Ireland

G770004       Browallia

G770005       Calendula

G770006       Celosia (crested or plume, 3 stems

G770007       Cosmos

G770008       Dahlia 

G770009       Dianthus

G770010       Foxglove 

G770011       Gladiolus (3 stems)

G770012       Gomphrena 

G770013       Hollyhock (3 stems) 

G770014       Marigold 

G770015       Pansy

G770016       Petunia 

G770017       Salvia

G770018       Snapdragon 

G770019       Statice

G770020       Sunflower (under 3" diameter – 5 stems, 3" or more in diameter- 3 stems)

G770021       Vinca

G770022       Zinnia 

G770023       Any other annual or biennial (under 3" diameter - 5 stems, 3" or more in                                     diameter - 3 stems

PERENNIALS

FIVE stems of a single variety (cultivar) unless otherwise noted in parentheses. 

CLASSES 

G770030       Achillea/Yarrow 

G770031       Chrysanthemum 

G770032       Coneflower 

G770033      Coreopsis 

G770034      Daisy 

G770035      Gaillardia 

G770036      Helianthus 

G770037       Hydrangea (3 Stems) 

G770038      Liatris (3 stems) 

G770039      Lilies (3 stems, not Daylilies) 

G770040      Platycodon 

G770041      Rose (3 stems) 

G770042      Rudbeckia/Black-eyed Susan 

G770043      Sedum 

G770044       Statice 

G770045      Any other perennial (under 3" diameter - 5 stems, 3" or more in diameter - 3 stems; do not duplicate entries in classes 30-43

G770046      4-H Flower Garden Collection of 5 different cut flowers. Flowers are to be cut, not potted. Each flower in the collection should be exhibited with the number specified for classes 1-45. Display in a box or other holder not more than 18" in any dimension. Boxes will not be returned at State Fair. Do not duplicate entries in classes 1-45 with any in the group collection. 

EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS 

CLASSES 

G770050       Flower Notebook - exhibit a notebook containing pictures of flowers grown in Nebraska. There must be at least 10 different species of annuals and/or biennials and 10 different species of perennials hardy to Nebraska. Bulbs may be included in a separate section. The notebook must be the result of the current year’s work. You may show more than one cultivar of the same species, but they will only count as one species. Pictures from garden catalogs, hand drawn pictures, or photographs may be used. Each species/cultivar must be labeled with the correct common name and scientific name; the height and spread of the plant and the growing conditions (example needs full sun and dry sandy soil) the species prefers. Bulbs may be included in a separate section. In addition to this information, bulbs should also be labeled as spring or summer flowering. Give proper credit by listing the sources of pictures and information used. The 4-H’er’s name, age, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the notebook. 

G770051       Flower Garden Promotion Poster - individual poster promoting vegetable and/or flower gardening, size 14” x 22" either vertical or horizontal arrangement. Poster may be in any medium: watercolor, ink, crayons, etc. as long as they are not 3-dimensional. Posters using copyrighted material such as the cartoon "Garfield" will not be accepted. Entry card must be stapled to the upper right-hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster. 

G770052       Educational Flower Garden Poster - prepare a poster no larger than 24" x 24" x 2" (3-dimensional if needed) either vertical or horizontal illustrating a skill or project you have done or learned about in a 4-H flowers or houseplant project. You might show a special technique you use or equipment you have incorporated in your garden. Refer to 4-H horticulture project manuals but use your own creativity. Entry card must be stapled to the upper right-hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, years in the flower project(s) and county must be on the back of the poster. 

G770053       Flower Gardening History Interview - neatly handwritten or typed account of a gardening history interview whose flower garden has inspired you. Maximum of 4 pages of text and 2 pages of pictures (include 1 picture of the person you interviewed) of their flower garden if the individual is still gardening. Protect with a clear report cover. The 4-H member's name, age, and county must be on the back of the report cover. 

HOUSEPLANT

Container Grown Houseplants - The choice of container and soil quality will be considered in judging. Each houseplant must be identified by listing the names on the entry tag or on a card attached to the container. Identify each plant individually if more than one cultivar or variety. Houseplants should be grown in the display container for a minimum of six weeks. Plants grown as houseplants must be used. Neb Guide G1853 (http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1853.pdf) includes a listing of common houseplants found in Nebraska. NebGuide G2205G1853 “Guide to Growing Houseplants” (http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g2205/build/g2205.htm) and NebGuide G837 “Guide to Selecting Houseplants” (http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g837/build/g837.htm) includes a listing of common houseplants. Containers of annual flowers or annual plants (i.e., petunias, geraniums, impatiens), will be disqualified and will not be judged

  1. Entries in Classes 60-66 must have been designed and planted by the 4-H member. 
  2. Any container plant, (flowering or foliage potted houseplants, dish gardens, fairy or miniature gardens, desert gardens, or terrariums) shall be in containers no larger than 12 inches (use inside opening measurement) in any dimension of length or width. No combination of pots may be used.  All potted plants are to be in a one pot container.  Any container grown plant in Classes 60-66 that is does not follow these guidelines will be dropped one ribbon placing.
  3. Classes 60-65 exhibitors must have and provide a saucer to catch drainage water. The 4-H members name, age, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the bottom or back of the container and saucer. 

CLASSES 

G770060       Flowering Potted Houseplant(s) - That are blooming for exhibition. Container may have one or more houseplants in container. Label with name for each plant. Non-blooming plants will be disqualified. 

G770061       Foliage Potted Houseplant - One variety of tropical or cacti or succulent plant.

G770062       Hanging Basket - Of flowering and/or foliage houseplants. Container may have one or more houseplants in container. Label with name for each plant.

G770063       Dish Garden - An open/shallow container featuring a variety of houseplants excluding cacti and succulents. Label with name for each plant.

G770064       Fairy or Miniature Garden - Consist of a miniature “scene” contained in an open container and featuring miniature or small, slow growing houseplants. The garden needs to have an imaginative theme and miniature accessories, i.e., bench, fence made from tiny twigs, small shell for a bathtub, etc. Label with name for each plant.

G770065       Desert Garden - An open/shallow container featuring cacti and/or succulents grown as houseplants. Label with name for each plant.

G770066       Terrarium - A transparent container, partially or completely enclosed; sealed or unsealed. Label with name for each plant.