Orchid flower buds turning black and dropping: causes and solutions

Differentiation timing of orchids at maturity

At maturity, orchid flower bud differentiation takes about one year. Different orchids, after different nutritional cultivation, have their flower buds emerge from the soil.

The length of the flowering period and the order in which it occurs vary. For Cymbidium kanran, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium sinense, Cymbidium goeringii, Chun Jian, Lianban Lan and others, after the flower buds emerge from the soil, the period of growth, bud swelling and differentiation is relatively long. This process takes about half a year. For Sijilan, Xiahanlan and others, from the flower buds emerging from the soil to blooming takes only about one month, a shorter time.

Preventing and treating orchid bud drop during vernalization

Whether or not there is a vernalization period, attention must be paid to the management of water, fertilizer and light. There are many reasons why orchids drop and die, and most are caused by too much fertilizer, too much watering, and poor ventilation. Once flower bud differentiation begins, there is no need to fertilize; only topdressing is needed, because at this time the plant has sufficient nutrients, so the amount of fertilizer applied must be watched.

During the flowering period, pay attention to the management of fertilizer and water to promote the growth and swelling of flower buds. Moreover, the ambient temperature during the vernalization period is generally relatively high, so frequent sterilization and disinfection are needed to ensure normal growth of the orchid. Once the orchid's flower buds emerge from the soil, attention must be paid to the issues of fertilizing, watering and light, taking great care to prevent the orchid from dropping its buds.

Paying attention to fertilizer and water for orchids during the bud-swelling period

During the bud-swelling period of orchids, in autumn and winter, fertilizer needs to be added to keep the flower buds swelling and growing with sufficient nutrients. Keep the interval between disinfection and fertilizing at about 7-10 days; it must not be too frequent or too concentrated. Keep the plant in sufficient light, otherwise insufficient photosynthesis will lead to root rot.

In addition, attention must also be paid to controlling water and fertilizer before flowering. When the flower buds are relatively small, pay attention to watering to ensure the quality of the flowers. If you are not entering an orchid show, just let it grow naturally and do not deliberately adjust the orchid's routine care.

Points to note for orchids during the growing period

During the growing period, orchid fertilization should be mainly nitrogen-based, as this can promote plant growth, improve the orchid's disease resistance, and ensure the conditions for flower bud growth. Therefore, whether an orchid can bloom normally is closely tied to its day-to-day care in the earlier stages.