Sometimes an unexpected misfortune comes to the owners of tropical beauties: the buds of an orchid fall off. At first glance, there can be no reason for bud shedding. But there must be some unaccounted for factor. Perhaps there was a draft in the apartment that orchids do not like. We left for work on a cloudy morning and did not shade the flower, and in the afternoon the sun appeared and the plant got overheated.
What does a sluggish plant look like?
Withering is the process by which a plant loses its firmness., stamina, vitality. Leaves and flowers become soft, turgor disappears, the color changes to dark green. The top of the plant slopes downward.
Young shoots and stems become like a rag. The orchid stops growing and outwardly shrinks in size. We do not notice when one flower has wilted. But it becomes especially pity when both flowers and buds wither. Therefore, it is important to take urgent measures to eliminate the causes.
What is wilting?
The wilting process means the loss of hardness, elasticity of leaves or flowers. In this case, the leaves become like a rag, the turgor disappears, they are soft, dark green. The upper parts of the flower, young shoots, stems are inclined downward. Growth stops, the flower decreases in size. It is especially offensive if the buds wither. In this case, urgent measures should be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
When is this process not natural?
There is no eternal flowering in nature. Therefore, wilting, and after the falling off of the flowers, is a natural process. Inflorescences of one variety are pleasing to the eye from two to three weeks, others - several months. Determining when the aging period began is easy: flowers fade gradually, the first blooming begins. They fall mainly from the very bottom of the peduncle. The natural aging process is gradual, and if the flowers wilted all at once, it means that something is wrong here.
Why did the petals all dry up at the same time?
Blooming orchid inflorescences stay on the peduncle for 2-3 weeks... Rare varieties delight the eye for more than a month. With natural wilting, the flowers fall off gradually, according to the degree of aging. First, the inflorescences that bloom first wither. However, if all the petals begin to disappear at the same time, this should alert. Drying of the buds on the peduncle also indicates the presence of obvious health problems in the orchid.
We offer you to watch a video about why orchid flowers wither and fall:
Stress and damage
A change in habitual conditions can also be the reason if the flowers have fallen off the orchid. In this case, the flower is put back in place or they try to recreate the conditions that it had before the rearrangement, because then it will begin to come back to life and bloom again. It is because of this that orchids are not rearranged, and during flowering they are not touched at all. From poor access to light and inappropriate air temperatures, the plant can also get stressed and begin to crumble.
If the buds of phalaenopsis fall off, then you can put fruits and vegetables next to it. They contain ethylene gas, which, on the contrary, is beneficial for growth and promotes the early blooming of buds. A cut bouquet has a similar effect, which gradually begins to wither.
You may be interested in:
How to properly prune an orchid after flowering: basic pruning rules Orchids such as Phalaenopsis bloom twice a year. The period lasts about two weeks, and its other kind ... Read more ...
The reason that the orchid sheds flowers is that then the flowering period for it quickly ends and the plant subsequently withers. To prevent such accelerated aging from happening anymore, apples and other fruits and vegetables are not placed next to phalaenopsis.
The reason may be articles and damage:
- Brown and black spots appear on flowers and buds if they are hooked.
- You can damage the leaves during transportation if the pot accidentally fell or the plant was found by pets.
- Due to such damage, the leaves of the flower turn yellow, and the flower itself dries up.
You need to carefully look after the orchid and protect it from injury, because nothing can be done with the damaged parts, and all that remains is to cut them off.
From what do the buds fall without opening?
It's hard to watch when the unblown flowers begin to dry up on your pet and fall off. There are many reasons for this non-standard orchid behavior. It is important to understand them carefully.
Improper watering
Lack of moisture for an orchid is possible only in the absence of watering.... A tropical flower needs a minimum amount of water to maintain its vitality. The liquid is a kind of solvent for minerals that are in the soil and nourish the root system.
However, it should not be overused with watering. Excessive moisture is fraught with the development of rot and associated infectious diseases. The feeding function is inhibited, the diseased plant draws moisture from the buds and flowers. An orchid damaged by rot loses roots, foliage (is it possible to save an orchid without roots or without leaves and how to do this, read here, and in this material read how to grow orchid roots). Buds wither after the leaves.
We suggest watching a video about falling flowers on an orchid due to improper watering:
Read about how to save an orchid damaged by the bay here.
Lack of lighting or sunburn
In the summer season, the opposite is true. The bright sun can play a cruel joke. Scorching rays, and even at high temperatures on the streets, leave dark spots on the leaves and inflorescences. The so-called thermal burns.
We suggest watching a video about falling flowers on an orchid due to insufficient lighting:
Overheating of the root system
The homeland of orchids is the tropics, so it is not surprising that they love warmth.... In the wild, they hide from the sun in the shade of the large trees they grow on.
Unfortunately, they often overheat in apartments. There is no need to leave plants near a heating radiator in winter, and in summer under direct rays or a stream of hot air from an air conditioner.
High ambient temperatures cause moisture to evaporate from the ground. The roots dry up, weaken. In a short period of time, flowers wither and buds crumble.
Draft
Arranging airing in rooms is a useful thing. Thus, air circulation is ensured. However, ventilation and draft are different things. Draft is dangerous even to humans, not to mention plants. Cold air flow is a common cause of sluggish flowers.
We suggest watching a video about falling flowers on an orchid due to a draft:
Low humidity and high air temperature
The combination of these parameters leads to negative consequences for the orchid. If she is in a room where the sun shines brightly and the temperature is high. Of course, the flower is hot, and a large volume of liquid evaporates from the green mass.In addition, an exotic plant cannot be fully saturated with water, hence lethargy, loss of turgor, death of unblown flowers. Maximum humidity level 30-40%.
We suggest watching a video about falling flowers on an orchid due to low humidity:
Stress
A change of residence for orchids does not go unnoticed... Indeed, at the same time, lighting, air humidity, temperature become different. And the capricious plant will react immediately. For a while, it can stop blooming, discard buds. However, in the future, provided that the exotic likes the new conditions, everything will work out. Orchids just need a period of adaptation.
Hypothermia
When caring for orchids, you need to be especially careful in the winter.
It happens that after humidification, cold air enters the flower, when a wet plant is taken out onto the balcony, a window is opened for airing, or it is placed on a standing windowsill. Hypothermia is quite dangerous.... Since the vessels are destroyed, passing through the center of the leaf plate and to the roots. Stimulates a similar development of rot diseases.
General hypothermia of the orchid adversely affects the leaves, roots, flowers.
Insect damage
Another common problem for orchids is pests.... This happens quite often, so the owner should regularly inspect the leaves and roots.
Resetting flowers after purchase in the store
Moving for a plant after buying from a store to an apartment can be called a strong stressful condition. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the orchid reacts to this by losing flowers and buds.
Causes of the phenomenon
Color reset after in-store purchase may be due to several reasons:
- the plant has been exposed to stress due to moving;
- when purchased in the winter and insufficiently correct packaging, frostbite of delicate buds occurs;
- the orchid in the store bloomed for a long time, and the reset of flowers in the apartment is just a natural aging of the corollas.
An orchid can shed flowers after purchase for a variety of reasons.
TIP! In order for an orchid to please with its flowering for a long time after purchase, it is necessary to choose specimens with the least number of opened buds.
Risk reduction
To help the orchid cope with the stressful condition associated with the purchase, you should thoroughly consider the possible risks and try to foresee all difficulties.
The plant is better to acquire in the summer and in calm weather.
When buying in winter, you need to stock up on special packaging material and transport the tropical beauty by car. Upon arrival home you need immediately place the plant in a permanent place and leave it without watering and with sufficient lighting for acclimatization.
What to do - step by step instructions
Before proceeding with radical measures, you need to try to normalize the microclimate parameters:
Change the location of the orchid or shade the scorching sun.- Cover working radiators heating if the pot is placed on a windowsill.
- Increase moisture readings with a household humidifier.
- Pour warm water over the orchid if there are visible signs of drying out.
- Eliminate the ingress of cold air and drafts.
- Make sure there are no harmful insects on the flower. It is possible to notice sticky traces of a worm on the leaves.
If the above preventive measures have not yielded positive results, it is possible that the problem lies in the excessive moisture of the substrate, then it follows:
- get the orchid out of the pot;
- rinse the roots with running water;
- remove unhealthy, rotten areas with a sharp tool;
- treat open wounds with activated carbon;
- leave to dry for a while;
- change the substrate for the orchid, not forgetting the drainage layer 2 cm thick;
- in the future, water only after the soil has dried.
The better to process: folk or chemical means
The symptom of falling flowers and buds in an orchid may be due to the appearance of an unwanted guest... Mealy black nest is a small pest, up to 5 mm, oval in shape. Leaves a thin cobweb on infected surfaces, a sticky mark. It is difficult to deal with it, but it is possible. If the flower has minor damage, that is, the infection is in the initial stages, then folk remedies will help:
- soap solution;
- tinctures on citrus peels, garlic, calendula;
- onion;
- essential oils.
At later stages, it will not cope in any way without chemistry, copper sulfate and similar fungicides. Sure, folk methods are simple to perform, neither toxic nor harmful, but not always effective.
Next is a visual video with an example of how to get rid of mealybugs with the help of laundry soap:
How to help if the buds quickly crumbled without opening?
Orchid growers need to know how to help with bud shedding. This is a very sad sight, and most likely, the reason is serious. After all, experienced people are unlikely to make mistakes in care during the budding period. therefore for amateurs, it is advised to first check the conditions for keeping the exotic... The next stage is the definition of the disease and the methods of treatment:
- prepare a sterilized pruning tool;
- remove the plant from the pot;
- leave the roots in warm water for a couple of hours;
- carefully inspect and feel the entire root system;
- remove damaged areas with a pre-prepared tool;
- sprinkle the slices with an antiseptic that does not contain alcohol;
- if there are suspicions or visible symptoms of infectious diseases, treat the flower with a systemic fungicide;
- transplant the orchid into new soil and, if possible, into another pot;
- if everything is in order, the condition of the flower will not deteriorate, you can water it in a week;
- feed with a weakly concentrated solution of mineral fertilizers after 2 weeks.
Expert advice on handling faded orchid arrows
What to do with a faded orchid arrow must be decided according to the circumstances. Mandatory full pruning is recommended only when an infectious disease is detected. However, some experts are inclined to believe that in other cases it makes no sense to save it:
“An old peduncle can sometimes produce lateral flowering or resume growth along the main axis. But usually such flowering is not lush. In my orchidarium, I immediately cut out the exposed arrows so that the orchids direct forces to build new ones. "
E. Borodulina, orchid grower with 10 years of experience
How to prevent falling in the future?
In order to save the beauty from various troubles in the future, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the rules of care.
Avoid heat in the place of growth.- Comfortable temperature + 22-25 ° C.
- The difference in temperature differences should not exceed 4-6 ° C.
- Duration of daylight hours is 14 hours.
- In winter, it is necessary to supplement the illumination with phytolamps.
- Natural lighting is required diffused.
- It is desirable to maintain high humidity, but not more than 80%.
- Be sure to regularly ventilate the room.
- Reduce watering during bud development.
- Do not spray the flower during the flowering period.
- Use filtered water.
- You need to fertilize orchids during the growth of the peduncle.
- Top dressing should be used with a predominant content of potassium and iron.
Indoor pet directly depends on natural moments: sun, water, temperature, soil. But no less important is human care and attention, as well as the ability to understand the signals that he gives.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Orchid bloom - always
a joyful event for a florist... But in some cases, the buds on the peduncle do not open.
To prevent undesirable development of events, it is necessary to know the reasons for this phenomenon. Following all the recommendations will allow you to grow a healthy, regularly blooming orchid.
Orchid bloom duration
Each orchid specimen has its own, only inherent flowering schedule: the beginning of bud formation is often shifted by months, flowering can occur at any time of the year and more than once per season.
Orchids do not have clear flowering periods.
IMPORTANT! The timing and duration of orchid flowering depends on its type and conditions created for the plant in indoor culture.
Even with proper care, the duration of preservation of the decorative appearance of flowers varies significantly, but on average is about 3 months (a separate corolla can bloom for up to a month). Young orchids most often fade in a month, some adult plants take up to six months and more (if the flower has released several peduncles, which subsequently bloomed in the second circle).
Why are the buds of the orchid not blooming?
With proper plant care, the period during which the normal formation of the bud takes place, can last for several months.
The budding period can last for several months.
it happens in several stages: the first buds bloom alternately and soon wither, then the buds that were formed a little later bloom. The time lag between bud formation and the beginning of flowering can last for several months, the average life span of flowers is three months.
How long does bloom last
Having bought an orchid in the store, with blossoming flowers, it is not immediately clear: how long the process has already lasted, and how much is still left. therefore it is better to purchase a plant with buds.
The flowering time varies from 1-10 months. It all depends on the variety, growing conditions. On average, an adult exotic blooms in a row for about 3 months, and a young one - 1 month. Thus, the orchid may well bloom several times a year, and recover during breaks.
For example, the common Phalaenopsis blooms all year round... Cymbidium - from October to February, and then also in summer. Dendrobium bloom falls in October and lasts until January.
Plant care before flowering
To prevent the occurrence of a number of problems associated with orchid flowering, you need to know what factors affect this process.
Lighting
Illumination is one of the main conditions for good growth and flowering of an orchid:
- suitable places for the plant diffused sunlight, since direct rays can cause burns on the leaves, overdrying of the roots and drying out of the buds;
- during periods of short daylight hours, it is recommended to install illumination with phytolamps.
Supplementing with phytolamp.
Weak illumination of the orchid in the winter and autumn seasons determines the lack of flowering during this period.
Watering
One of the most common causes of bud death is violation of the irrigation regime:
- with low watering, dry roots compensate for the lack of water by redistributing moisture from other parts of the plant, including the buds;
- excessive watering leads to infection and decay of the root system.
With the further spread of root rot, the development of the peduncle is delayed and it dies off along with the buds that did not have time to open.
Substrate
When preparing a substrate for transplanting, orchids are guided by the conditions in the room, primarily humidity and light. To do this, add to the soil mixture more or less moisture-absorbing sphagnum moss.
Watering and feeding rules
When the flowers fall due to the gulf of the plant, this means that damaged root system... The orchid should be transplanted, while treating the roots (remove damaged areas and disinfect). After that, do not water for about 10 days, and then carefully observe the watering regime - once a week, allowing the substrate to dry out.
The flooded orchid should be transplanted first.
If the transplant is not carried out, then the flooded plant that has lost color should first dry, and then gradually enter into the correct watering mode.
When dropping flowers from drying the soil, the orchid first unsoldered by immersing the pot in a vessel with waterand then normalize the irrigation schedule.
The same rules apply to feeding. If the orchid threw off the flowers from overfeeding, then an attempt should be made to flush excess fertilizer from the soil or replace the substrate.
CAUTION! After transplanting a plant that has interrupted flowering due to excessive fertilization, fertilizing should not be applied for 3 to 6 months.
The lack of nutrition, which led to the fall of the buds, should be replenished gradually. It is necessary to conduct adjusting the feeding schedule, and apply them once a month with watering, using half the dose indicated on the package.
If not all flowers have blossomed
To establish the reason orchid care should be analyzed. If the buds on the orchid peduncle have not bloomed, wither or dry out, this may be caused by the following reasons:
- frequent changes in the location of the flower;
- incomplete drying of the substrate between waterings;
- short daylight hours;
- low air humidity;
- drafts;
- orchid pests;
- moisture on the buds when spraying an orchid.
Pay particular attention to proper feeding of the plant... During the growth period, the orchid needs nitrogen fertilizers, in the phase of peduncle development, fertilizing is necessary containing potassium and phosphorusthat stimulate the normal development and flowering of buds.
Preventive measures
In order for the orchid to be full of strength and health, so that it does not have a reason to get rid of buds and peduncles, experienced orchid lovers are advised to adhere to the following rules:
- the temperature of keeping plants in summer should be from +22 to + 25 ° С, and in winter from +16 to + 18 ° С;
- maintain diffused lighting;
- optimal air humidity for orchids is 50-60%;
- provide regular ventilation, avoiding cold drafts;
- the soil should be renewed no more than once every 3 years;
- watering once a week after the soil is completely dry;
- the water for spraying and irrigation should be warm (2 degrees warmer than in the room) and clean;
- fertilizer should be applied only to healthy plants once every 2 months;
- with a lack of air humidity, carry out up to 5 sprays per day.
Causes and their elimination
There are many reasons why an indoor flower sheds its buds. First you need to decide on what exactly this is happening.
Insufficient lighting
If the orchid has dropped unopened buds or the flowers wither, having already opened, this may indicate its incorrect location. Sunlight is what a flower needs. In this regard, some believe that if the plant is placed in direct sunlight, it will develop well. This is a big misconception. Direct sunlight contributes to burns on the leaf plates of orchids, and also damages buds and flowers... But you do not need to hide them in the shade, because the lack of sun also affects them badly. The buds may not bloom and soon fall off altogether.
To save yourself from this problem and save the ovaries that have not yet disappeared, the plant should be rearranged to another place, where it will be comfortable. Almost all flower varieties love light shade and diffused lighting. If it is not possible to give the orchid enough sunlight (for example, in the winter season), additional artificial lighting can be made to support it.
Unfavorable thermal conditions
These flowers do not like both heat and intense cold. If the buds do not open or wilted, it is possible that the grower acquired the plant in the winter. When it is transported from the store, it should be carefully insulated as it will freeze.If the orchid is frozen over, the symptoms will not show from the beginning. They may appear a little later. The plant simply throws off the flowers, and the flower can freeze in the summer if the air conditioner is constantly running in the room. This factor is often not taken into account by flower growers. It is important not to place the orchid near direct currents of cold air. Another nuance that contributes to the discharge of buds is overheating.
If you put the plant near the battery in winter, the flowers wither, barely opening. It is tropical, therefore it does not like any heat source near it.
And also batteries and heaters cause the air to become dry, which also affects the health of the orchid.
What to do if an orchid has fallen flowers?
The orchid perceives any change in the comfortable parameters of keeping it as a stressful state, and can react drying and dropping flowers - the plant enters the survival phase and eliminates all factors that interfere with this process. And since it takes too much energy to bloom, the buds and flowers of the orchid only interfere.
It is not possible to stop the process of flower loss in a number of situations. Aging of a plant (over 7 years old), which does not have enough strength to open the formed buds, or drying of flowers after pollination by random insects are natural and do not harm the plant. Orchid laid routine care until a new needle is formed.
Older orchids often lack the strength to open their buds.
Is also irreversible dumping buds and the flowers that began to bloom because of the following reasons:
- death of roots from overflow;
- frostbite of the aboveground part;
- a sharp change in conditions of detention.
All peduncles should be removed.to facilitate the recovery process of the orchid, and adjust the maintenance regimes.
All other factors of improper care that caused the tropical beauty to refuse flowering can be quickly corrected in order to stop the falling of the buds and restore the interrupted flowering.
Have a positive effect elimination of violations of the irrigation and feeding regime, correction of temperature indicators, air humidity or illumination... It is also necessary to remove bouquets of flowers and fruits from the orchid - the ethylene that they produce does not contribute to the opening of the buds.
With a quick diagnosis of the causes of the dropping of buds and orchid flowers and the prompt change of the wrong aspects of the content, it is possible in some cases to achieve the continuation of the flowering of the tropical beauty.
Such a favorable outcome can be hoped for with very minor and short-term breaches of conditions, as well as with timely elimination of ethylene exposure from fruits or cut flowers.
If negative changes in the conditions of detention were not detected in time and acted for a long time, then this leads to the complete fall of buds and flowers that have begun to bloom.
A plant affected in this way needs an assessment of its condition and enhanced care and restoration measures.
Finding out the reason
To ensure proper care and regain regular flowering it is necessary to find out the reason for the discharge of flowers and buds... This is achieved by visual inspection of the plant and analysis of all care regimes.
At the first stage, the possibility of pollination and the age characteristics of the "daughters of the air" are assessed. If the symptoms fit one of these points, then the orchids are left alone and wait for the next peduncle.
Otherwise, they consider possible care errors that cause a stressful state in the plant:
- lighting primarily affects the discharge of buds. For normal flowering, an exotic beauty needs bright and diffused light for at least half of the daily time.This is especially true during the cold season;
For the full development of an orchid, a lot of diffused sun color is required.
- temperature fluctuations in any direction are capable of causing the fall of both blossoming flowers and closed buds. In summer, the cause may be overheating or burns of the plant, which is in direct sunlight for a long time. In winter, there are much more such factors: sharp changes in temperature indicators due to a nearby central heating battery;
- cooling the roots and the plant itself, standing next to a window glass or on a cold windowsill (readings below + 15 ° C are not desirable);
- the influence of drafts.
Vegetables and fruits that produce ethylene.
- moving "daughters of the air" from place to place - not the best option for capricious beauties. This can provoke a refusal to bloom.
After establishing the cause that led to the loss of flowers, you should immediately begin to adjust the growing conditions.
Growing conditions
It is not always possible to return to the normative indicators of care after the dumping of flowers to restore the damaged peduncle, but accurate execution of all modes will contribute to the early formation of new flower arrows.
Optimal illumination
It is created when the plant is located on the east or south side of the house with mandatory shading in the summer noon hours, which will save the orchid from burns. In the cold season, backlighting is required fluorescent lamps, especially in the evenings.
Exotic beauties are light-loving flowers, they respond positively to the creation of bright, long-lasting and diffused lighting.
Temperature regime
For comfortable growing of orchids, it should ideally correspond 23 - 27 ° C... To prevent sudden temperature changes, the plant is placed away from batteries and window panes, in winter it is good to provide a warm buffer on the windowsill. And be sure to protect the tropical guest from cold drafts.
Air humidity
Should be increased to optimal readings (55 – 70%) using humidifiers or containers of water. Regular "foggy" spraying of leaves in the morning will have a beneficial effect. It is possible to apply the principle of a double bottom in a pot.
Proper watering
It is regulated by visual observation of the orchid: if there is no condensation on the inner surface of the pot, and the protruding roots have slightly changed color to a grayish tint, then it is time to water again (about once a week, but with mandatory correction due to temperature changes).
Determining the need for watering.
ATTENTION! Water for watering orchids should be warm and settled. Never pour cold water on the "daughters of the air"!
Assessing the condition of the peduncle
If, after the massive fall of flowers as a result of care errors, the peduncle does not dry out, retains an erect position and a green color, and the dormant buds at its base look alive and healthy, then there are prerequisites for re-flowering on the same arrow... It is only necessary to adjust the plant maintenance regimes.
A situation is possible when the top of the peduncle has dried up to half, and then a green stem with swelling dormant buds - meristems - remains.
In this case the dried part should be removed, leaving an insignificant dry area (if cut to a living stem, the stopped drying process may resume).
After normalization of care schedules kidneys can give a new arrow or babies.
Checking the advisability of keeping the green arrow
In the case when the flowers have fallen, what to do next with the arrow depends on whether it has dried or remained green. Preserved after discarding flowers the arrow can still benefit the orchid, since there are several dormant buds at its base. Under certain conditions, meristems are capable of the formation of new peduncles, which gives reason to hope for re-flowering.
Moreover, meristems can participate in the vegetative reproduction of the orchid, having formed one or more children. Therefore, it is not recommended to remove the green peduncle immediately after all the flowers have fallen - you should wait for the possible awakening of the buds.
Find out the timing of the final removal of the peduncle
Some peduncles, after the end of flowering or unwanted discard of flowers and buds, are capable of forming new arrows on their stem for more than one year. therefore the timing of the final removal of such peduncles can be postponed for several years.
Sometimes a new arrow may begin to grow on a dried peduncle.
TIP! Any peduncle in a healthy orchid should be cut off only after it dries completely naturally.
The green healthy arrow can be removed if necessary: if the plant is severely weakened and requires time to rest and recover.
When can you not help?
As mentioned earlier, there are some reasons why the plant does not want to bloom and sheds buds. Each of them is a stressful situation. Some growers are wondering when it is possible to save the remaining buds of the plant, and in which cases you need to wait for new arrows. Let's consider some situations in which the buds cannot be restored.
- If the orchid is frozen over and has a cold burn, it will take a long time to recover. At first, the petals of the orchid flowers suffer from this injury, since they are extremely delicate. In this case, it is impossible to save the buds, you should wait for the next flowering period.
- It is impossible to help a plant, the conditions of which have changed dramatically. For example, an orchid was grown in a greenhouse, and then given to the home. In order for the flower to get used to it and move away from stress, long-term adaptation is needed. It is necessary to wait for the restructuring of the internal processes of the orchid.
- If the flowers begin to fade, then the plant is old and this is normal. Helping the orchid in any way is useless in this case.
- If the unblown buds fell off after the death of the roots, the root system should be restored. Peduncles must be removed.
Important! In other cases, if the buds begin to turn yellow or the flowers dry up, blooming due to improper care, you can help the plant.
Possibility of re-flowering
If minor mistakes were made in the maintenance of the orchid and it dropped flowers - what to do next? In this case the plant will need a certain time to recuperate and normalize life processes... Only after this, and subject to the elimination of defects in care, it is possible for the tropical beauty to bloom again.
For the reappearance of buds after the flowers have completely fallen off, a certain time and compliance with certain conditions:
- elimination of all mistakes made in orchid care regimes;
- restoring the strength of the plant with the help of careful implementation of the rules of care;
- plant growth of green mass - in monopodial species, the formation of a new peduncle is possible after regrowth of the next leaf;
- preservation of the old peduncle from which the flower has fallen, and the presence of viable meristems on it;
- normalization by the plant of the flowering times inherent in each species, subject to their violation.
It is common practice for most orchid species to re-bloom at intervals. at about 3 months... Having finished the first flowering or dropping the buds for any reason, the plant begins to build up the aboveground mass, which helps it gain strength. After that, a new flower arrow appears or the meristem wakes up on a peduncle that has lost flowers.
But if the first flowering occurred at a time uncharacteristic for a particular species, then the next formation of peduncles will occur no earlier than the plant adjusts the timing of its flowering.
Prevention measures
Some do not know what to do and how to care for a plant that is only laying buds during budding. There are some helpful tips to help prevent problems from occurring.
- If the flowering period occurs in winter, it must be maintained by means of artificial lighting. It needs to be turned on for 3-4 hours in the evening, which will allow the orchid to bloom.
- It is easy to protect the flower from burns in the summer. You just need to protect it from a large amount of sunlight. It is better to remove it from the window sill and rearrange it on the shelf that will stand in front of the window. And you can also place it in the back of the room.
- To prevent the buds from being affected by the hot air in winter (heating from the battery), flower pots are hung over the windowsills by means of shelves. It is worth buying a special stand or covering the heater with a damp cloth.
- If the inflorescences do not open due to the fact that the room has poor humidity, then you should purchase a household humidifier. He will spray the room with warm water. Some people place the flower in a container containing wet pebbles, moss or expanded clay. But you need to raise the pots, otherwise the root system will come into contact with the liquid and begin to rot.
- When a flower stalk is laid, growers should reduce watering. When the flowers are in full bloom, the normal mode returns. Care must be taken to ensure that the plant does not dehydrate.
- When the peduncle is laid and grows, you need to feed the plant with a variety of fertilizers. When the flowers begin to bloom, you do not need to feed the orchid, as this is not necessary.
The need for a transplant
If the plant drops its color as a result of problems with the root system, then the question arises about the need to transplant the specimen. Orchid roots can be affected by various factors.
Improper watering leads to decay (with frequent watering) or drying out (with insufficient moisture) of the underground part. The roots are gradually dying off, they do not have enough strength to provide the green mass with water and food.
The plant is forced to give up flowers in order to survive. In this case, transplanting and root treatment is vital.
Sometimes when improper selection of substrate a whitish dry plaque forms on the protruding parts of the root and the edges of the flowerpot. it alkalization sign, which can lead to the fall of flowers. To improve the growing conditions for the plant, a transplant is indicated.
Advice
It is worth adhering to the following tips, so as not to harm the orchid:
- you should not immediately start treating the plant without understanding the reasons; if you do not know exactly what exactly caused a particular problem, you will not be able to save the flower, you can only destroy it;
- it is better to study the useful recommendations of experienced professional florists and try to properly care for a beautiful plant;
- you need to constantly monitor the health of the orchid and react in time if something goes wrong;
- it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of specific species and varieties of orchids.
>
Common varieties of indoor orchids
Most often, hybrid varieties are grown in room conditions: they are more adapted to life in an apartment, and it is easier for them to provide a suitable environment for a long life and flowering. Some varieties are able to bloom all year round: flower stalks replace each other, and the plant, with proper care, constantly pleases the owner with beautiful buds.
You can list some of the most common members of the Orchid family:
- Phalaenopsis is a familiar orchid with elongated dark green leaves and curved peduncles. Phalaenopsis, with sufficient sunlight and a comfortable room temperature, can bloom all year round, this is one of the most convenient hybrids for growing.
- Oncidium is a light-loving variety with large buds, the shape of which resembles butterflies. Hybrid orchid varieties are usually grown in rooms as they require less sunlight.
- Miltonia is an amazingly beautiful orchid species that is often grown in greenhouses. Miltonia have a curved stem and large flowers, the diameter of which reaches 8 cm. Externally, the buds resemble pansies due to their unusual color. This is a rather capricious flower, it is often grown by orchid breeders.
- Cymbidium. In nature, these are large orchids with large buds and narrow bright leaves. Miniature hybrid varieties are more often grown in rooms. Their advantages are unpretentiousness and long flowering, each flower can live up to 12 weeks.
These are just some of the varieties that can be found both in greenhouses and conservatories, and in ordinary apartments. Novice growers need to figure out the optimal watering and illumination regime. To provide the orchid with good flowering conditions.
Can the arrow be saved if it has fallen?
Attempts to save the lost buds and the arrow starting to dry out are pointless. Yellowing in the lower part of the peduncle indicates that biological processes stop in the tissues and there will be no recovery. Dry peduncles are a source of reproduction of diseases and pests, so they are cut off and the wound is treated with charcoal.
If you carelessly handle the orchid, you can accidentally break off the flower arrow. If part of the shoot is damaged, the rest will continue to bloom. The plant is already programmed to form buds and does not need to stimulate flowering.
After completely breaking out the arrow from the base, the orchid can give a new shoot with buds. In this case, flowering will simply be delayed for several months. Compliance with the rules of care will help to tune the plant for a new formation of buds. It is advisable to increase the length of daylight for this time.
Additional stimulating activities will help accelerate the onset of flowering:
- ensuring a difference between day and night temperatures of 5 degrees;
- spraying the plant with a solution of succinic acid;
- processing of the waiting kidney with cytokinin paste after its preliminary release from the upper layer.
If the peduncle has broken completely and there is no waiting bud from below, the arrow is removed without waiting for it to dry out naturally. The cut is covered with garden pitch to prevent infection from entering the trunk.
Why buds:
Are they not blooming?
Reasons there is plenty of non-blooming:
- Lack of lighting;
- Fertilization (during the period of budding and flowering, phalaenopsis do not feed);
- Moisture ingress during spraying;
- Waterlogging;
- Hot room temperature;
- Permutation during flowering, etc.
Falling down?
Phalaenopsis has at the level of genetics blooming flowers with the onset of a dry summer period. But this is in the tropics.
We have winter at this time, therefore, for orchids in our conditions, at the genetic level, there is certain stress.
There are many reasons for the fall, but mostly they are caused by stressful situations.
When do you have to come to terms with the loss of flowers?
Death of roots
When death of the root system, if possible, then it is the roots that need to be reanimated. You should forget about flower stalks during this period.
Natural aging
Not worth demanding from a flower that has aged in a biological, natural way, good flowering.
There is nothing to be done with nature, the plant has no strength left for reproduction, you should put up with it.
Changes to conditions of detention
Another reason not to wait for flowering, since orchid do not like changes in conditions.
Due to the harsh climatic conditions, the orchid may die.
In addition, usually after the purchase, the orchid is also transplanted.
It takes time to adapt.
Severe hypothermia
Transportation during cold seasons, drafts or inaccurate ventilation - bud reset guarantee, flowers and stop at the bookmark of peduncles.
And with severe hypothermia, it is generally necessary save the plant itselfforgetting about flowers.
The difference between natural wilting and dropping flowers
The falling of flowers in an orchid is not always caused by negative reasons. If there is a gradual and smooth wilting, which begins from the lower tiers of the peduncle (from the corollas that bloomed first), then this means natural aging process of flowers.
In this case, there is no reason for excitement - the plant should be provided with normal care and expect the next flowering period.
But if the flowers and buds dry and fall off instantly and simultaneously, and the plant loses its decorative effect, then this a sure sign of violation of favorable conditions of detention tropical beauty.
It is necessary to immediately determine the cause of the trouble and try to minimize the negative consequences.
Change of location
After he was brought from the store or moved to another place in the same room, all the petals may fall off, as he is very sensitive to a change of scenery. In this case, it is either rearranged, or the same microclimate is set as it was in the previous place, only then it will gradually recover and bloom again. Therefore, it is undesirable to move it frequently indoors. This can only be done during a dormant period.
What to do to prevent buds from wilting
Based on the reasons discussed above, we can determine why the orchid sheds its buds. All that a plant needs is conditions that are as close as possible to its natural habitat. At the same time, it is worth remembering also about the ability of phalaenopsis to adapt to lower temperatures, to a lower level of illumination and to drier air.
If an orchid has fallen flowers or buds after purchase, do not be discouraged. Follow these guidelines:
- Transplant is required! Many practicing flower growers recommend replanting even a flowering plant within the first week after purchasing it in the store. Done right, your new orchid will be stress free.
- Keep an eye on the balance of light, air temperature and humidity.
- Ensure proper watering and after the first transplant let sit for 4-7 days before the first watering.
- Do not use any fertilizer during the flowering period - neither store nor homemade.
- Post-transplant stress can be reduced with an adaptogen such as Epin's solution.
Remember that the orchid will dry the buds only if it is not properly maintained. This can be an excess of direct sunlight, insufficient lighting, which often happens in the winter season.
This is also possible in stressful situations: Phalaenopsis do not tolerate even minimal movements, since they get used to receiving the light of the sun only on one side.
Have you come across the fact that the buds of an orchid do not bloom? What did you do to fix the problem? Share in the comments!
What measures to take
To avoid such situations, you must adhere to a few simple rules for keeping orchids:
- try to immediately determine a suitable place and, if possible, not move it around the house too often;
- in winter, the orchid should not overcool - if the room is cool, you should install a heater, but not next to the plant; it is better to temporarily remove the pot from the cold windowsill;
- prevent drafts in the room where the plant is located;
- monitor the condition of the orchid and substrate - periodically spray the leaves, remove fallen inflorescences in time;
- do not flood the plant, especially during the period when the flower arrow is blooming; in hot weather, shade the flower from direct sunlight, regularly ventilate and humidify the air.
It is not recommended to place the pot near withering bouquets in vases and fruits - some of them (apples, citrus fruits) emit ethylene, which can also cause buds to fall off. Follow these simple requirements and your orchids will definitely bloom, and their flowering will be lush and long.
Flower processing options
Why do orchid leaves wither: causes and methods of dealing with them
One of the main reasons that an orchid can throw off unblown buds are various diseases that manifest themselves as spots and bumps on the leaves: they can turn yellow and dry out. It is possible to fight them by carrying out processing of flowers to prevent the development of pathologies and the reproduction of parasites on them.
Supplementing orchids with lamps
There are many types of pest treatment products on sale, both special chemical (including numerous fungicides against fungal infections), and biological products, organic compounds. In addition, you can use the centuries-old folk floriculture experience.
Chemicals
These are means of a quick and very effective response. They are divided into 4 hazard classes, they must be used strictly for the intended purpose and the dosage must be observed, otherwise you can harm both yourself and the green pet. The most popular among orchid lovers are drugs such as:
- Fitoverm;
- Inta-Vir;
- Aktara;
- Tanrek;
- "Confidor".
More effective, but also more toxic are "Actellik", "Karbofos", "Vertimek".
"Fitoverm" - a chemical preparation for the treatment of orchids
Fungicide "Fitosporin" works well against fungal infections of orchids, which can also be used for prophylaxis during plant transplantation and subsequent pruning.
Along with chemicals, bio-preparations for protecting flowers are produced. Plants do not accumulate them, pests do not develop resistance. In addition, biological agents serve to enhance the immunity of orchids. Florists recommend fast acting preparations:
- "Bicol";
- "Bitoxibaccillin";
- "Lepidocide";
- "Verticillin";
- "Aversectin C";
- "Nemabakt".
"Lepidocid" - a biological product for processing flowers
Folk remedies
If you don't want to resort to chemistry, you can stop at folk remedies for processing flowers:
- Soap solution: from 1 liter of water and 1 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap (or grated household soap), with which the stems and foliage are wiped.
Additional Information. Ordinary dishwashing detergent will work as well.
- Tobacco tincture: for 1 liter of water, take up to 40 grams of tobacco, ground into dust, insist for 24 hours, then strain and spray Phalaenopsis from a spray bottle.
- Infusion of an onion, mashed and poured with 1 liter of boiling water, insist for 7 hours and apply to the leaves and stem. The course is 3-4 days, you should not get carried away, otherwise the plant may dry out.
- Dried citrus peels (100 grams) are poured with a liter of water and infused for a couple of days, with this infusion the diseased plant is sprayed every few hours for a week. Dry orange and tangerine peels can be used to cover the soil in a pot.
- The well-known hydrogen peroxide is used to treat orchids and other indoor plants in order to disinfect foliage and substrate from microbes, mites and insect pests.
Advice. When using this drug, moderation and caution should be observed, otherwise the plant will begin to wilt before our eyes.
Orchid has faded - next steps
The stem of the orchid should not be cut, because it is thanks to it that the plant continues to exist and develop. The peduncle itself is removed when it acquires a completely yellow color.
When the orchid has faded and the flower stalk began to turn yellow, some orchid connoisseurs rush to cut it off immediately. Haste can be fatal to your plant. Wait and observe the flower: it is best to make sure finally that your orchid has really faded.
Usually, in such cases, you should carefully examine the tips of the stems, where you can find a very tiny living sprout among the lateral branches of the plant. If it is intact and has a healthy green color, then we can say with complete confidence that the flowering of your orchid has not yet ended, and there is a possibility that new young buds may soon appear on it.
Such a sluggish flowering during the period of falling of all flowers or a few months after falling of inflorescences is an infrequent and unstable phenomenon, because even with very diligent and high-quality care, the orchid may simply stop blooming.
And it is worth noting that only flowering in early summer gives hope for the formation of a baby from a peduncle.
Why can it fade quickly?
Among the main reasons for falling buds, the following should be highlighted:
- Not enough light.
- Overmoistening or insufficient watering.
- Insufficient air humidity.
- Finding a flower in a draft.
- A sharp change in temperature.
- Changing the place where the plant stands.
- Diseases or pests.
- Being close to fruits and vegetables that are a source of ethylene (apples, bananas, etc.).
When to transplant
Plants are transplanted in the dormant stage
To save an orchid, it must be transplanted (not done at the budding stage).
The previously rotten roots are cut off, and the surviving areas are treated with a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate, the pot container is disinfected before filling the soil.
After the procedure, the flower is not watered for 1.5 weeks.
When transplanting, some growers are faced with a dry whitish bloom on the roots. This is a sign of alkalization of the soil, which also causes the dropping of buds and the lack of flowering.
If the orchid drops buds
When a plant suddenly begins to shed its buds, it is necessary to analyze the conditions of its maintenance and try to find out exactly the reason. Only in this case there is a chance to help the orchid, and in some cases even prevent its death.
Incorrect temperature conditions
The orchid is extremely sensitive to the temperature of the content and can respond by dropping flowers to the following non-compliance with the requirements:
- Hypothermia. The death of a flower occurs at temperatures below +5 degrees. In winter, it is enough to hold the orchid on a cold windowsill, and it will begin to shed its buds.
- Overheat. Keeping on the windowsills during the heating operation or under the rays of the scorching sun leads to a sharp drying out of the soil and injury to the roots.
- Sharp jumps in temperature. During flowering, a decrease in temperature by more than 4 degrees serves as a signal that the warm season is over and it is time to retire. The plant begins to free itself from flowers, even if they are in the stage of full disclosure.
- Drafts. Careless airing of the room in cool weather leads to hypothermia of the orchid.
Insufficient lighting
An observant grower may notice that the set of buds begins with increasing daylight hours. As it grows in size, the plant needs more and more light. If there is not enough sunlight, the buds will begin to fall off.
So that the plant does not experience stress from a lack of light, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Grow a flower on eastern windowsills. In this case, he will get the first, most precious morning rays.
- Some types of flower can grow on northern windows, but in this case additional lighting will be needed.
- On the southern window, the plant can get sunburn, so it will have to be shaded from 11 to 15 hours. The exceptions are the varieties Vandam and Dendrobium: the southern windowsill will not hurt them.
- In cloudy weather in winter, daylight hours are increased to 10-12 hours using phyto- or fluorescent lamps.
Air humidity
In the natural environment, wild flowering occurs during the rainy season. The flower feels most comfortable at a humidity of 60% and above. In a drought, the plant begins a dormant period. Consequently, a decrease in moisture level is perceived as the onset of a dry season, and it ends flowering.
To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to control the humidity in the room, especially on hot days and during heating. The critical indicator is 50%. Dry air will not only cause the buds to drop, but also affect the overall health of the plant.
You can increase the humidity in one of the following ways:
- install an automatic humidifier or an artificial fountain in the room;
- place open containers with water next to the plant;
- put the pot on a pallet with expanded clay filled with water;
- spray roots and leaves in the morning.
Improper care
Timely watering and feeding is an important condition for proper care. The alternation of overdrying and waterlogging is destructive. The soil in the pot should be constantly slightly damp, but not wet. An indicator of the optimal water content in the soil is condensation on the walls of the pot. If bubbles are visible, watering is not required yet, as soon as they disappear, it is necessary to add a new portion of water.
An important condition for the correct development and flowering of an orchid is a sufficient amount of micro and macro elements. In the planting substrate, they end quickly, so additional feeding is needed. With a lack of nutrition, the plant does not have enough strength to form buds and bloom. The frequency of dressing is once every 2 weeks.
Experienced florists advise using the following special formulations:
- Agricola - a gel-like product for root dressing (5 ml per 1 liter of water).
- Zircon - strengthens the roots, stimulates the formation of buds (1 ml per 1 liter of water).
- Epin - a source of vitamins and protection of the plant's immune system. Once a month, it is used for irrigation or full immersion.
- Dr. Foley - the preparation contains a complex of amino acids and vitamins. Fully provides the plant with nutrition.
- Brexil Combi - a specialized preparation for plants lacking iron.
Diseases and pests
A common cause of orchid flowers to drop is disease or pest infestation. The plant reacts sharply to root diseases:
- Gray rot. Gray spots appear on the lower part of the plant, gradually the plaque spreads to the entire aerial part. The cause of rot is waterlogging of the soil combined with low temperatures. Nitrogen overfeeding can also cause illness.
- Root rot. The first sign of the disease is the browning of the leaves. Orchid roots soften and stop absorbing water and nutrients.
For the treatment of orchids, drugs Fundazol, Topsin are used. Processing is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 20 days.
A common cause of dumping buds is mealybug infestation. When this pest appears in the axils of the leaves, a white bloom appears, similar to pieces of cotton wool. Then the foliage begins to turn yellow, the flowers fall off. The worm is cleaned off with a cotton swab dipped in an alcohol solution, then the orchid is sprayed with an insecticide.
Peduncle prevention and rescue methods
To prevent buds and flowers from falling off the orchid, you need to install it in a permanent place immediately after purchase. The best window for her will be on the northwest side. The room should be at least 22 degrees. In this case, you need to monitor the humidity.
Having provided the flower with such conditions, you can enjoy the beauty of its inflorescences for a long time. And the subsequent flowering will not be long in coming.
And if the flowers have already begun to wither, what to do? First of all, check if watering is required. Then determine the correspondence of temperature and humidity. Make sure there is sufficient daylight.
Conditions for successful flowering
So, you have found dead flowers - what can you do to avoid a similar situation in the future?
Correct lighting in the autumn-winter period
No one will dispute that natural, diffused sunlight is an important element for orchid development.
But, whatever the location of the windows in the room, if it is not located in tropical latitudes, in the autumn-winter period, the amount of daylight hours will be significantly lacking.
Not only the duration of illumination in the cold season is lost, but also its strength. For the full development and flowering of orham required daylight hours from 10 to 12 hours.
If flowers wither on your orchid - what to do? In various sources and recommendations of some experts, there is an opinion that additional lighting with lamps helps to cope with the lack of illumination... In a sense, yes.
For hybrid forms of orchids, which are adapted for growing at home, it is quite enough to install a fluorescent lamp at a height of half a meter from the plant. The more whimsical types require a professional approach.
Exactly a sufficient amount of light is a source of energy and strength for a tropical beauty. And neither fertilizers, nor watering, and no other tricks will help compensate for its lack. On the contrary, with a lack of lighting, the use of any stimulants can only harm the orchids. The photosynthesis and "respiration" of the plant are significantly slowed down and, accordingly, the processes are slowed down.
For home-adapted orchid species in the autumn-winter period, an ordinary phytolamp will be enoughaimed at the top of the plant. If it is impossible to purchase special lamps, fluorescent lamps can be used.
Important! It is necessary to position additional lighting lamps so that they do not heat the plant.
Since most types of orchids grown by amateur flower growers bloom in winter, additional lighting is required. Otherwise, the peduncle will not develop and, accordingly, will not bloom.
Location selection
The fall of the buds, provoked by overheating, in most cases is due to the wrong location of the plant. Bright summer sun getting on the bud, it dries up, and it falls off from lack of moisture and nutrition. The same fate occurs with the root system, which delivers moisture and nutrition to the bud.
The bright sun dries up the orchids.
Orchi overheats in the cool season hot air flowcoming from heating devices. The buds fall off without blossoming.
When choosing a location for a tropical beauty, one should provide for the presence of direct sunlight and predict the flow of hot air from the batteries to the windowsill. You need to shade the plant from the sun, and cover the heating device or redirect the flow.
Maintaining air humidity at the required level
The consequence of an increase in the temperature in the room due to bright sunlight or heating devices is dry air. Dry air provokes buds and flowers to wilt, followed by dropping. The tissues of buds and flowers are very sensitive and vulnerable. Desiccation leads them to death.
During budding and flowering, indoor air humidity should not fall below 60%. Special air humidifiers or pallets located next to the plant with moist inert materials (expanded clay) that can hold moisture for a long time will help to maintain the humidity at the level.
Some experienced florists recommend carrying out spraying on the leaves in a "foggy" way, protecting buds and flowers from moisture getting on them. An important aspect of spraying is clean, filtered water.
Reducing watering
Growing in natural tropical conditions, the main impact on biological rhythms comes from the ambient temperature and the change between the wet and dry periods. Therefore, the ejection of peduncles, flowering, occurs during a period favorable for insects, which are the main pollinators of orchids - little or complete absence of precipitation... The maintenance of orchids at home is based on this rule.
Those. for epiphytes, a decrease in the incoming moisture immediately after the end of the growing season is a signal and impetus for flowering. Reduction of watering in the last phase of development of young shoots gives almost 100% guaranteed to bloom.
Important! Reduction of watering at the end of the growing season initiates the ejection and development of the flowering arrow, if the correct watering was carried out during the laying of the flower bud and a new growing season did not begin. In most orchids, the time interval between the laying of a flower bud and the ejection of a peduncle is sometimes quite long.
Timeliness of dressings
To ensure full and long-lasting flowering, orham you need good nutrition... A couple of weeks before the start of budding, you need to provide the plant with a sufficient amount of complex fertilizers containing in the base phosphorus and calcium.
The best option are liquid forms of fertilizers, since, unlike various tablets and sticks, they completely spread over the structure of the substrate, filling the entire volume of the container.
Liquid fertilizers are preferred for orchids.
The timeliness of the introduction of additional nutrition will provide the plant with energy for the entire flowering period, in which feeding is not recommended.
Causes of natural wilting
The slow and gradual wilting of the buds is a natural physiological process. In this case, there is no reason for excitement: the plant will accumulate strength and after a while will bloom again.
Shorter flowering times and faster bud wilt may be related to plant age.... If it is over 7 years old, it will not bloom for more than 2 months. The chance to get an old copy, which will fade very quickly, exists when buying it hand-held. In this case, creating ideal conditions and observing the rules of care will not help.
Feeding rules during the budding period
Why does an orchid drop flowers, except for a bad microclimate. This could be due to a lack of nutrition. You need to feed orchids with special fertilizers that can be purchased at flower shops. Top dressing is divided into root and foliar.
When rooted, the pot is placed in a container with a nutrient solution for 20 minutes. Otherwise, the plant is sprayed.
Usually, you cannot do without top dressing if the plant has not been transplanted for a long time or blooms too often.
One way or another, but usually it is not possible to stop the process of dropping flowers and buds. This happens quite rapidly, and before you have time to take action, you will see that all the flowers have fallen from the orchid. It is much easier to provide the flower with conditions under which it does not want to stop flowering.This is the surest way to never ask why flowers are falling and what to do.
The main reasons why Phalaenopsis buds fall
The answer to the question of why buds fall on an orchid is quite simple. This is non-compliance with the conditions of keeping and growing. Any discrepancy between the microclimate in the house and the one that the orchid requires can lead to such sad consequences as the loss of buds and flowers. Let's dwell on each aspect in more detail.
Low humidity
Although phalaenopsis does not require high humidity, and it feels comfortable at 40-50%, a drop in air humidity below this mark will lead to a deterioration in its well-being.
Outwardly, it is not immediately possible to determine the cause, since the plant does not fade sharply. However, the process of dropping the buds will be almost impossible to stop.
As a rule, this happens during the heating season, when the heaters evaporate all the moisture from the air. This leads to the fact that the flowers of the orchid fall. Therefore, in winter, it is recommended to additionally humidify the air by any available means: humidifiers, containers with water, spraying.
Violation of the irrigation regime
Lack of watering is a fairly common reason why orchid buds fall off. But it is worth noting that, unlike a lack of moisture, the need for watering can be diagnosed fairly quickly. The measures taken in time will save the flowering and preserve the remaining buds.
The appearance of the plant is visible when it needs urgent watering. The leaves are not very attractive. They become dull and may dry out. The buds and flowers themselves lose their elasticity and become softer to the touch. You can notice that they begin to hang, look not in the direction of the light, but down.
In this case, you urgently need to water the plant. Place the pot in a container of water for at least 30 minutes. Then you can spray the leaves. After that, immediately return the flower to its usual place. If measures were not taken too late, then the flowers will be transformed again and become fresh.
Lack of lighting
Phalaenopsis orchids are demanding on the amount of light and the length of daylight hours. In low light, they simply won't bloom. With an increase in daylight hours by at least 1-2 hours, the flower realizes that it is time to start blooming. However, if daylight hours ended up being less than 12 hours and does not increase further, then flowering will stop.
This will serve as a signal for the phalaenopsis that the time for flowering has not come, and he will shed the buds. This behavior can be difficult to predict. Therefore, it is better to make sure in advance that the light comes to the flower for at least 12-14 hours in a row.
Temperature violation
With slight or short-term temperature drops, the orchid does not shed its buds. But if the room was stable at +23, and then you decided to lower the temperature there to 19 degrees, and it stays at this mark all the time, then the flower will most likely consider that the warm season is over and it is time to prepare for the resting phase.
The temperature for resting phalaenopsis is about 18 degrees. That is, the closer to this mark, the higher the risk of stopping flowering.
But even very high indicators do not bring benefit to phalaenopsis. Already at 30 degrees, the process of wilting of flowers begins. So it is important to find the optimal temperature and maintain it constantly.
Drafts
Sometimes the reason why an orchid drops flowers is not at all clear. It seems that the conditions are good and stable. But suddenly, the buds begin to fall off.
You need to understand that Phalaenopsis is a rather capricious and wayward plant. There is no direct connection between a draft and bud fall. However, the flower may not be comfortable - the air may be too cold, or vice versa, too hot. As a consequence, flower loss is possible. But it's worth noting that this is a fairly rare reason.
Aging
It may be that the orchid has grown old and its energy reserve is not enough to complete the flowering stage. The situation is quite unusual, since with proper care, timely transplants and treatments, this can be avoided.
Stress from changing conditions
Unblown buds often fall off if the conditions for keeping the flower are changed. It is not uncommon to observe how flowers fall from a recently purchased plant. And the reason for this is usually the change of scenery.
This can be avoided by providing the flower from the first day with excellent care and a microclimate as close to natural as possible.
It is also undesirable to rearrange the flower inside an apartment or house. If you want to do this, then you need to wait for the completion of flowering and transition to the resting phase.
But this often happens when you want to put a blossoming flower in a more prominent place. And the result is the opposite - after a few days he loses all flowers and buds.
Diseases
He, like any plant, due to insufficient ventilation in the room, improper watering and sharp fluctuations in air temperature, can get sick with viral or fungal diseases, or even pick up insect pests. The most common diseases are:
- Powdery mildew - Greens and buds are covered with a light bloom.
- Root Rot - Leaves and roots turn brown.
- Gray rot - White fluffy spots appear on flowers and leaves.
- Mealybug - A raised white bloom appears on all parts of the plant, after which the petals fall off, and the leaves turn red or yellow and wither.
- Whiteflies - These white insects are easy to spot with the naked eye; in a short time, the leaves become variegated and wither.
If you do not take action in time, then this beautiful plant will no longer be saved. It is better not to resort to folk remedies, but immediately use special chemicals.
The reasons
Orchid buds are not just like butterflies. Thanks to this unique shape, it lures pollinating insects to itself. Its flowering, depending on the species, lasts from 3 to 7 months. After the end of flowering, the flower falls into a dormant period, during which it accumulates strength for the next flowering. The flowering frequency depends on the composition of the soil, the amount of applied nutrients, watering, humidity and temperature in the room. If at least one point of leaving is done incorrectly, then the indoor flower begins to shed its buds.
If an orchid has recently been purchased from a store or moved to another room, then it usually reacts to this by dropping the buds. Do not worry, after a period of adaptation and proper care, it will bloom again soon. Another important reason for the reduction in flowering is its age. On average, they live no longer than seven years, after which they lose the ability to produce flowers.
