Phalaenopsis 'White Peony' is fresh and elegant; why do the flowers wilt after pollination?

"White Peony" is a Phalaenopsis that blooms in summer. Many flower lovers like to place it in the living room, simply because its flower shape is distinctive and unforgettable.

So what are the characteristics of White Peony? Looking at the petals, they are round, with slightly wavy edges, and the petals are very thin. When it blooms in summer, its flower color is a light pink, and when the temperature is slightly cooler, the flowers turn deep pink. Looking inside the flower, part of the center can be yellow or pale green, and on the tip of the lip there are two extra tendrils compared with the lip of an ordinary Phalaenopsis. Overall, the flower color of White Peony is on the elegant side. After the flower stem opens, it is 7~9 cm, and although the flower count is not very large, a sparse few flowers instead set off a kind of elegance.

The two tendrils on the tip of the White Peony lip mentioned above can easily touch its pollen during its blooming period. If the pollen falls into the flower, it can easily shorten the flowering period, so you should find a way to use a small brush to remove the pollen. So what is the principle by which Phalaenopsis produces pollen? In fact, Phalaenopsis is an angiosperm, and its method of reproduction relies on attracting bees, butterflies, and others to come and pollinate after opening. Therefore, when pollen lands in the flower, the plant itself activates a self-protection mechanism. Once pollination is completed, the plant may trigger this physiological reaction, causing the flowering period to shorten.

In addition, Phalaenopsis pollen can also reproduce offspring through asexual reproduction, because its fertilization process begins to germinate when the pollen combines with the stigma, forming a pollen tube, thereby allowing the sperm in the pollen to combine with the egg in the pistil to form seeds. Therefore, in addition to relying on media such as bees and butterflies, it can also reproduce asexually by itself, by retaining more in the mother plant and then continuing to breed with inherited characteristics. Therefore, many flower growers also choose some of the reproduction methods mentioned above to artificially pollinate Phalaenopsis, propagating the best varieties themselves in order to obtain better-quality varieties and flower colors.

Overall, the pollen after Phalaenopsis blooms is a mysterious and fascinating story of life, and this exactly reflects the uncanny workmanship of nature. Through the process of Phalaenopsis pollen production, we can also appreciate its unique way of reproduction from another angle, and protect it and help it reproduce.