What a disappointment when previously bulging buds on orchids dry up and fall off. Anyone who interprets the trigger correctly and acts accordingly can save the noble flower from falling. Read here why your orchid won't let its buds bloom. With this strategy you take countermeasures.
Too much moisture can cause the orchid to shed its buds
Wrong location causes buds to fall - tips for the ideal conditions
Where the site conditions do not come close to simulating the light and temperature conditions in the rainforest, an orchid sheds its buds without further ado. The following overview identifies common location issues and provides troubleshooting tips:
- Cause: Lack of light - Solution: A bright location that is not in full sun
- Cause: Cold - Solution: A place with warm temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius, without a cold draft
- Cause: Dry heating air - Solution: Do not place over an active radiator
In rooms with humidity below 50 percent, every orchid bud dries up. Therefore, regularly spray the tropical beauties with soft water and set up humidifiers in the vicinity.
Wet and dry drop the buds
If the water balance in an orchid is out of balance, it is primarily the buds that have to pay for it. Waterlogging causes root rot, stopping the transport of water and nutrients. In the early stages, the sensitive flower buds dry up and fall off. Please repot the orchid immediately into dry substrate. Take this opportunity to cut off the softened, putrid root strands with a disinfected knife.
Most orchid species cope with short-term drought without any problems. If the condition persists for a long time, the buds will shrivel and any hope of a lush flowering period is gone. So water or immerse your orchids regularly. In summer, one immersion bath per week usually covers the need, while in winter the watering intervals are extended to 2-3 weeks.
tips
Orchids should not be in a room with a fruit basket containing apples, pears, or similar fruit. These types of fruit give off the ripening gas ethylene, which causes the buds to age prematurely. Before they can develop into flowers, they fall off again.