Show had to be moved back and date is tentatively in 9 wks - maybe. Not yet known is venue is free that weekend.

Though there's time now, I'll take my chance leaving the hole since it's not many points lost. Otherwise I'd be worrying whether that gap will fill -- and -- I don't like to sweat the small stuff in life...

Can't really move the plant from where it is -- it's a good foot wide and space is an issue. So while the lighting's not ideal there, I can probably get a heat mat for it to help with blooming. Although...it's on a reservoir so that won't work, will it? So I stop the wick watering and start doing it by hand I guess...

Am I over-complicating this, or is Showing actually this complicated?

I was going to disbud and repot it this weekend and just hope my timing will work out. This one now has an 1"+ neck on it -- probably should put under plastic for a bit as cutting it down will be stressing it.

Do not put a heat mat - 9 weeks is a long time ahead... we usually disbud variegated plants till 7-8 weeks before the show. The flowers can easily be pass the prime then - but there is nothing you can do - since the light is on a low side - it will not replenish the blossoms if you remove them now.

Okay, Plan C won't work. Maybe back to Plan B with a bloom-less plant? Or maybe Plan D and give it to someone who can nurture it with ideal growing conditions.

Perhaps my original Plan A is best which is just to leaveitbe and Forgetaboutit... continue to enjoy growing it anyway for it's pretty leaves and size. (I know, I have seen much prettier leaves...)

It does bloom for me though not very profusely. And -- a little experiment -- I recently added a (daylight CFL) floor lamp that aims on it, so maybe my luck with it can change. If it works, I might find another nicer variegated AV to take it's place one day. Something like...say...a Picasso!

Would have tried that coin trick to flatten down those 2 top leaves if I had taken it to show. Though for low light conditions it does grow flatter than I'd expect...

Hope it works out with the venue, whatever you decide. Your AV is very sweet. Joanne

Since you were planning on entering it as a bloomless plant anyway, why not see how the blooms look before showtime and if they are obviously on their last legs remove them and do as bloomless? If Irina thinks you would be better off entering as bloomless, then I'd enjoy the flowers while they are then and then remove them a day or two before the show.

Irina thinks that it is better to enter it with blooms. But thanks to the unfortunate decision to move the show 9 weeks forward... all these buds will be open and spent... Enjoy it at home - and give it your personal blue ribbon award!

Some serious set backs caused some unavoidable delays. I think things are back on track now.

Okay I think I'll remove that leaf after all and just sit back and relax now.

Before you put your feet up, do plant that leaf!

I would let it be. 1 point is nothing. And hopefully in 9 weeks it will still have some blossoms so you can strategically cover the hole. The design is judged as a whole, so there is no separate judging of the AV in a design. It should be fresh, well grown and attractive - and be a focal point of an arrangement. You do not need 30 blooms on it, you just need them fresh. Or if in your schedule requires non-blooming one - you can always remove them.

Judges never give 100 points. If all and all it is perfect - they will say - it probably has some dust .... in your case - it has a nick - so it can be 99 - you can get the best design if everything else is good.

No, 1 point is not much but I decided to proceed like I'm not going to show it. Leaf, flowers and buds removed. This week I will repot and bury neck, then tent with plastic for some intensive care.

It's also going to the window sill for better light. Since it's warm there, too, I'm not expecting the new growth to be as variegated. I just don't think it'll put out many blooms and it will take even longer to recover from repotting due to the neck surgery I'll be doing. So...no show.

Joanne, was about to kick up my feet but after seeing your comment my first instinct was to run to the garbage, hahaha. Yup. Started riffling through it. Then I remembered and stopped. I already have a cup with 4 leaves just waiting for me to put down. This week I'll finally get around to them. :-)

Hi, DViolet, I was ever so politely going to suggest that now is the perfect time to bury that "crepey" neck! I watched an old video on You Tube on which Martha Stewart interviews Paul Sorano of Lyndon Lyon's Greenhouses. He gives a demo of repotting an AV with a neck. The video is only about 8 minutes but packed with info. Now I have to follow my own advice. Joanne