What causes Phalaenopsis orchids to drop their buds, and what methods prevent bud drop when they have just been brought home?
When it comes to wanting to buy a flower that comes with a sense of luxury, the first one flower lovers will certainly recommend is the "Phalaenopsis", because its uniqueness can be said to be unmatched by any other flower. After it blooms, the petals are round and resemble butterflies dancing. However, how should it be cared for correctly after buying it from the flower shop? How can bud drop be avoided?
In the flower market, an ordinary large 2.8-inch cup Phalaenopsis sells for about 45 yuan. If the variety bought is unique or somewhat rare, the price will even soar to about 80 yuan. So, getting the correct care techniques right from the start when bringing it home is very important. How can bud drop be avoided after it has been grown for a while?
What situations cause bud drop when growing Phalaenopsis? The first is temperature. In relatively cold temperatures (below 10°C), when watering, never directly use tap water to water it, because when it is cold even people themselves shiver, let alone the Phalaenopsis, whose roots are naturally quite sensitive, so how could it endure it? The trick to avoid this is to draw the tap water three days in advance, then place it beside the flowerpot, and wait until the water temperature is close to room temperature before watering. In this way, bud drop caused by water that is too cold can be avoided.
Next, Phalaenopsis is a tropical plant, so in spring and autumn it often needs to be given more air, especially when the weather is good, when it can be moved to the window for ventilation. But note here that ventilation does not mean placing it directly in the draft, otherwise bud drop is also likely. If it is winter, remember to first put a plastic bag over the Phalaenopsis when ventilating, so it does not freeze.
Finally, regarding the two steps of watering and fertilizing, when it is not the flowering period, it does not matter if the soil is a little on the dry side, because too much water easily causes root rot. If the flowering period has arrived, then you can check the soil condition, generally basing it mainly on whether the soil is moist; when the soil feels dry to the touch, it must be watered. Doing well with fertilizing can also prevent bud drop caused by poor nutrition. During the flowering period it needs relatively more energy. If the stems are observed to be thin and weak, then it is recommended to spray it with a little dilute foliar fertilizer each month, and as far as possible do not drench the roots, otherwise the burden on the root system will be increased.