HORTICULTURAL AWARD PROGRAM (HAP) RULES
Purpose:
NWAAS HAP (Northwest Arkansas Aquarium Society Horticultural Award Program) is a program open to any active NWAAS member. The goals of the HAP program are:
- Promote the keeping and propagation of aquatic plants in home aquaria
- Gather, explore, and share information about cultivation, care, and plant propagation methods
- Increase the availability of rare or hard to obtain plant species and varieties among club members
- Encourage club participation and bolster our monthly mini auctions with their donated plants
- Post HAP point totals on the NWAAS website leader board to track members' success
Rules and Requirements
HAP differs from the BAP (Breeder Award Program) in that club members must submit photographic proof of plant growth and propagation in their own aquariums or ponds. Photographic proof means showing an earlier photo of the plant species in the aquarium/pond followed by a later photo showing the growth required for HAP submission. Please have rough dates of when the photos were taken.
- Points will be awarded based off the difficulty level and rarity of the plant. See NWAAS HAP Species Point List
- Plants submitted for HAP will be entered in the monthly mini-auction and proceeds will be donated to the club; exceptions may be made for more difficult plant species in the form of a $5 donation to the club and the member keeps their plant.
- If you do not see your plant species on the Species Point List, contact the HAP chairperson and the species will be evaluated and added to the list.
- HAP Submissions must be recorded and submitted using the NWAAS HAP Submission Form
- Report forms including photos should be sent or given to the HAP chairperson either by emailing hap@nwaas.com, the NWAAS Discord Server HAP channel, a forum post in this section or shown at the monthly meeting at the same time as the submission form. Photos should be sent or shown in person.
- Points are awarded for only one reproduction of each species.
- A doubling of the original amount of plant material is necessary to receive credit for reproducing bunch plants or floating plants. Bunch/stem plants should be longer than 4 inches. Ex: If you planted five 4 inch stems of Rotala, you must submit five 4 inch stems grown yourself.
- The reproduction of at least two new plants is sufficient in the case of plants that produce runners (like Sagittaria and Vallisneria);
- Plants produced sexually must be large enough to identify as the same as the parent plant.
- Ferns and plants reproduced by rhizome division (such as Anubias) must be free of the parent plant and at least 1/4 the size of the parent plant.
- Propagation by seed points will be awarded in addition to points awarded for flowering.
- Points for flowering of plants may be awarded for either submerged or emersed specimens.
- Seeds must have been propagated from the breeder’s own plants.
- The aquarist must be a member in good standing (dues paid) of the Northwest Arkansas Aquarium Society.
- Not required, but all participants may give a brief oral report of the details involved in propagation of plants that have been submitted for points. An article written to be published on the NWAAS forum would be greatly appreciated for any plants, especially in class D - F. Articles will be reviewed by NWAAS Board Members before publishing.
AWARDS
A certificate will be awarded to recognize your accomplishments at the following levels:
- Novice Plant Breeder - 50 points, any class
- Aquatic Horticulturist - 100 points, max 50 in class A
- Advanced Aquatic Horticulturist - 200 points, at least one in class C
- Expert Aquatic Horticulturist - 400 points, at least one in class D
- Master Aquatic Horticulturist - 600 points, quality oral report/presentation to the club and written article.
Chairperson's Note: This program is newly reawakened and rules may be subject to change as the program grows and develops within the club. Please have patience and grace as we navigate the first few months of program activation.