Cause and help for bud dormancy and premature wilting of orchid flowers
It is their flowers that make orchids such special beauties. But when the first buds finally announce the next flowering phase after a long wait, they can “fall asleep” and drop off before they open.
This is a bitter disappointment, as orchid owners often have to wait until the next flowering period before new buds are formed. It can also happen that flowers wilt after far too short a time, even though the orchid is normally in bloom for weeks or months.
Why do orchids wither prematurely?
Here you can find out which factors influence the buds and flowers of orchids and what you need to pay attention to in order to ensure successful flowering.
Flowers dry out or waterlogging
The fact that buds and flowers dry out is often the reason why they fall off (prematurely). In this case, the plant’s water balance may be disturbed.
As buds and flowers play no role in the survival of the plant, they are the first to be shed in emergency situations. Action must be taken at the latest when the first buds appear wrinkled in order to prevent an entire flowering phase from failing.
The formation of buds heralds the end of the growth pause and the start of the flowering phase. Now the orchid’s water requirements increase again and regular watering is essential for successful flowering.
But be careful: waterlogging also leads to bud and flower shedding, as too much moisture causes the roots to rot so that the plant can no longer absorb enough water and suffers from drought stress.
Humidity, heating air or cold as the cause
However, it is not only the plant’s internal water balance that is problematic, but also the humidity.
When orchids produce buds in the late winter months, our heating systems are still running at full blast and often create an excessively dry indoor climate that endangers flowers and buds.
Make sure that the humidity on the plant is at least fifty percent and that heating air does not rise directly on the orchid.
But it’s not just heaters that are critical for orchids in winter, they also react sensitively to the cold. Make sure that your orchid is not exposed to cold draughts when airing.
Light requirement may be the reason
The orchid’s light requirements also increase with the start of the flowering phase.
Light is the engine of their metabolism, which runs at full speed during the flowering period.
If the spring sun is still too weak, the orchid cannot afford the energy-intensive flowering and has to shed buds or flowers in order not to be weakened.
A bright windowsill facing east or west, where direct sunlight only enters in the morning and evening, now provides the right amount of light.
Harmful gases as a possible cause
If orchids lose their buds despite perfect care, harmful gases may be the cause.
This often affects plants in the kitchen, as the ripening gas ethylene is emitted from fruit bowls, especially if they are filled with many apples. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that causes fruit to ripen but buds and flowers to “fall asleep”.
Nearby gas connections or solvent vapors in freshly painted rooms also have a lethal effect on buds and flowers.
Do not relocate or repot
Orchids are divas that may react sensitively to a change of location. Once the flowering phase has begun, it should stay where it is, otherwise you risk losing buds or flowers.
The orchid should not be repotted now either. In this energy-sapping phase, a change of location and substrate means great stress for the plant, which in the worst case can result in a complete lack of flowering.
