Please fill out the form below if you have read and agree to all of the rules regarding the competition:

ENTER HERE: COMPETITION ENTRY FORM

Alternatively, you may also email info@emeraldcityorchids.com with subject "terrarium contest inquiry". We will get back to you shortly with either form of inquiry.

Terrariums entered may not be smaller than approximately 2 gallons or larger than approximately 45 gallons. Excessively wide, tall or odd shaped terrariums may be denied entry on the basis of space or display limitations. 

Terrariums must contain a minimum of one (1) plant.

Terrarium appropriate animals are permitted.

Part of the competition is sustainability. Contestants are not permitted to touch their terrariums between end of setup and show ending. If a contestant needs to adjust, fix, or modify their terrarium in any way, or an obvious structural failure occurs, points could be deducted from their score in any relevant scoring categories.

Winner of the Best in Show isn’t official until Sunday at 5 pm, when the judges will submit any scoring penalties, which must be also be unanimous in decision.

Contestants may not have signage in their terrariums. Judging will be anonymous, but after judging is completed, we will place a sign by each terrarium with the contestant name and any emails, @s, or websites you want published. 

Entry as a contestant for the Terrarium Competition is $40. Entry fee is non-refundable, limit one terrarium entry per person. The contest is free for visitors to attend.

Best in Show award is $500

People’s Choice award is $250

Awards for honorable mentions include store credit and free terrarium equipment!

We will provide a shelf space in the competition area with access to one standard electrical outlet, one surge-protector power strip and access to Tacoma municipal tap water.

Setup period for the terrariums takes place Thursday, Dec 5th 9AM to Friday, Dec 6th 10AM. Setup during our normal hours 9-5pm Thursday is preferred, but we will have staff available after hours Thursday and early morning Friday for setup.

All terrariums must be completed, functional (all components working), and ready for judging by 10AM Friday morning. Judging will take place on Friday at noon.

Work space will be shared by all contestants and may therefore limited to a few square feet of table space and the adjacent floor area. 

Multiple people may help initially load in heavy terrariums and components, but only one person may remain to construct or assemble any given terrarium. 

Terrariums may be 100% pre-assembled plug n play units or built entirely from scratch, as long as it is done by one person occupying a neighborly amount of workspace and within the allotted time. 

The competition display hours are Friday to Sunday (Dec 6-8) from 9am to 5pm.

Terrariums will be judged on Friday at 12PM. A second and final judging will occur 5 pm Sunday (Dec 10).

Judging will be conducted by a three person panel of qualified terrarium aficionados, each of them respected voices in the terrarium community. 

Winner (predicted) of the Best in Show and other honorable mentions will be announced Friday (Dec 8) at 11 am in the nursery holiday event area and on social media.

Scoring will be on a 1-5 point or 1-10 point scale for a variety of categories that might include overall aesthetic composition, quality of plant material, bio sustainability, lighting, innovative use of equipment, hardscaping, plantscaping, water control, non plant accents (animals, decor, other embellishments), etc. Some categories will be more heavily weighted than others. Highest total score wins Best in Show. 

Contestants will be provided with their judges score cards and any notes the judges may write. 

People’s Choice Award will be a tallied hand written ballot system, one ballot issued to every person from the general public attending the weekend event. Voting will end at noon on Sunday (Dec 10). The winner will be announced around noon on Sunday in the nursery holiday event area and on social media.