Orchid question
7 views
Skip to first unread message
Sue Meuth
Apr 10, 2009, 7:29:13 PM4/10/09
to orchid...@googlegroups.com
I have a Phalaenopsis (Lady McBeth) orchid with two stems, which have several flowers on each stem. The flowers are doing great but the buds (of which there were MANY) are falling off. What would be the cause of this and how do I correct it? I do not believe that I am overwatering the orchid and it is sitting on a breakfast table which receives partial afternoon sun.
This plant was just purchased earlier this week from Home Depot.
Sue
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
dennis...@aol.com
Apr 11, 2009, 12:40:34 AM4/11/09
to Orchid Doctor
Dear Sue:
It is not likely you are overwatering. Having just purchased the plant
earlier in the week you have not had the time. To make sure you don't,
read my page on watering technique (found by clicking on "techniques/
culture"). But you have no idea what was done to the plant in its time
at the dreaded Home Depot. They are not known for taking good care of
their nursery plants; and the orchids are often overwatered, given too
little light (or too much), kept way too cold at night, subjected to
very low humidity, and manhandled by the customers.
Assuming the plant was not stressed to the point of bud drop before
you purchased it, here are a few things that might be the problem:
1. Chilling the plant too much on its way home from the store
(Phalaenopsis are not able to tolerate temperatures below 55 for very
long, and would prefer to be no cooler than 60 most of the time).
2. High levels of volatile organic compounds in your house.
3. High levels ot ethylene act as a plant hormone which can cause bud
drop or flower loss within days(never place orchids near
bananas,apples, or fireplaces which are sources of ethylene).
4. Direct drafts from heating registers or air conditioners blast the
buds with uncomfortably extreme temperatures and very low humidity.
Finally, though very late afternoon sun in an otherwise bright window
might be ok, Phalaenopsis prefer very bright light with at most a few
hours of early morning sun (which is gentle). So your bud drop might
be stress from this, especially if the store location it was in was
dim, making the sudden change a stress.
Hope this helps!
Dennis
It is not likely you are overwatering. Having just purchased the plant
earlier in the week you have not had the time. To make sure you don't,
read my page on watering technique (found by clicking on "techniques/
culture"). But you have no idea what was done to the plant in its time
at the dreaded Home Depot. They are not known for taking good care of
their nursery plants; and the orchids are often overwatered, given too
little light (or too much), kept way too cold at night, subjected to
very low humidity, and manhandled by the customers.
Assuming the plant was not stressed to the point of bud drop before
you purchased it, here are a few things that might be the problem:
1. Chilling the plant too much on its way home from the store
(Phalaenopsis are not able to tolerate temperatures below 55 for very
long, and would prefer to be no cooler than 60 most of the time).
2. High levels of volatile organic compounds in your house.
3. High levels ot ethylene act as a plant hormone which can cause bud
drop or flower loss within days(never place orchids near
bananas,apples, or fireplaces which are sources of ethylene).
4. Direct drafts from heating registers or air conditioners blast the
buds with uncomfortably extreme temperatures and very low humidity.
Finally, though very late afternoon sun in an otherwise bright window
might be ok, Phalaenopsis prefer very bright light with at most a few
hours of early morning sun (which is gentle). So your bud drop might
be stress from this, especially if the store location it was in was
dim, making the sudden change a stress.
Hope this helps!
Dennis
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages