The Orchid Garden

Cattleya bud drop?

Question:

Two Cattleya’s in different rooms; 1. tired Cattleya not well shrivelled bulbs. new shoot turned black, now whole shoot is black and dry looking what is it what do I do? 2. Cattleya very healthy looking good bulbs made two new shoots which are now quite plump. Each new bulb has now got a nice long sheath very flat green.. But one has turned pale yellow and now has a dark browntip which seems to be expanding. What do I do next? My orchids are house plants, centrally heated, still being watered, not fed, temperature range, 13 degrees C min to 17/ 20 degrees C day and evening. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Jocy, When I started with Phalaenopsis they would produce buds despite inadequate or inconsistent humidity, but then drop them. If you live in a cold climate as I do, you should also realize that indoor humidity drops severely in January and February when frigid outdoor temperatures keep the heat running overtime. My nose is like a humidistat because the dry air kills dust mites and my allergies clear up. This morning my nose was less congested than it has been since last May. With the heat on so much, you might be giving your Cattleya the same treatment but the humidity will still be dropping. Indoor air is so dry this time of year that all my tropical plants need more water than any other time, despite the fact that many of them are dormant. I have one Cattleya which I mist a couple of times a day. There is a passion flower vine in the window where it sits, and it’s surrounded with large plants such as a palm and an azalea. It’s at the head of my bed so not only does it get transpired moisture from the other plants, but even from me and my cat! After balking at the adjustment to my apartment when I bought it a couple months ago it has perked up and bloomed a second time. The flowers have lasted a couple weeks now and keep my bedroom fragrant. I notice the fragrance increases after watering or misting, so this too might be a good indicator of healthy conditions. I am a novice, too, but I hope this bit of experience is helpful. ~Van Waffle Editor Suite101.com,  Living With Nature – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future.

Response:

Hi, If I understand you correctly I would offer this advice: It sounds like you did the right thing.  It is okay to remove the sheath to allow the bud to form without rotting.  Sometimes water will get inside a developing sheath and cause the buds inside to rot.  In all cases it is a good idea to prevent water from condensing inside a flower sheath either by removing the sheath or slitting it open. Most Cattleya and their hybrids will bloom better on plants with leaves that are *not* very dark green, but are instead on the pale side; a light green. Very dark green leaves may indicate that the plant is not getting enough light to bloom well. On the other hand, if the bud emerges from the sheath and *then* turns yellow and drops off I would suggest that something else is wrong and your description of the problem is not providing an obvious solution… Good luck, Al – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I hoped for some response to my plea for help, but so far no help. In desperation, I peeled the sheath back, and cut it off, finding the new flower bud small, but green.  Has anyone had this problem? Will I have to do this on all the flowers, or is there some easier method? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Chuck — G-D’s Word……   if it’s new, it’s not true; If it’s true, it’s not new I would also like some help please. My catts will form the flower bud sheath, grow to about 4 inches long in healthy condition, then blast by turning yellow,then brown,and die. It was suggested that I cut open the sheath tip to allow air in,which I did, but to no avail. ,which provides a yellow-green leaf.  The only one that I had bloom for me had a darker green leaf. Could I have to much sun on them? [In Portland Oregon?] Thanks Chuck Bucholz — G-D’s Word……    if it’s new, it’s not true; If it’s true, it’s not new I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future. The book forgot to mention the proverbial "it happens, sometimes, without any reason at all".  Another possible cause can be thrips…teensy little bugs that have a particular taste for buds and flowers, but will also chaw on leaves, root tips–whatever the little beasts can get their maws on. Better luck next time! — Prem – Animator, programmer, and orchid and fossil nut extraordinaire… – DNRC Title: Minister of Lightwave 3d Plugin Design Foolishness – Home – http://www.PremDesign.com "We in our foolishness thought we were wise He played the fool and He opened our eyes We in our weakness believed we were strong He became nothing to show we were wrong." "God’s Own Fool" – Michael Card

Response:

I hoped for some response to my plea for help, but so far no help. In desperation, I peeled the sheath back, and cut it off, finding the new flower bud small, but green.  Has anyone had this problem? Will I have to do this on all the flowers, or is there some easier method? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Chuck — G-D’s Word……    if it’s new, it’s not true; If it’s true, it’s not new

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would also like some help please. My catts will form the flower bud sheath, grow to about 4 inches long in healthy condition, then blast by turning yellow,then brown,and die. It was suggested that I cut open the sheath tip to allow air in,which I did, but to no avail. ,which provides a yellow-green leaf.  The only one that I had bloom for me had a darker green leaf. Could I have to much sun on them? [In Portland Oregon?] Thanks Chuck Bucholz — G-D’s Word……    if it’s new, it’s not true; If it’s true, it’s not new I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future. The book forgot to mention the proverbial "it happens, sometimes, without any reason at all".  Another possible cause can be thrips…teensy little bugs that have a particular taste for buds and flowers, but will also chaw on leaves, root tips–whatever the little beasts can get their maws on. Better luck next time! — Prem – Animator, programmer, and orchid and fossil nut extraordinaire… – DNRC Title: Minister of Lightwave 3d Plugin Design Foolishness – Home – http://www.PremDesign.com "We in our foolishness thought we were wise He played the fool and He opened our eyes We in our weakness believed we were strong He became nothing to show we were wrong." "God’s Own Fool" – Michael Card

Response:

I would also like some help please. My catts will form the flower bud sheath, grow to about 4 inches long in healthy condition, then blast by turning yellow,then brown,and die. It was suggested that I cut open the sheath tip to allow air in,which I did, but to no avail. ,which provides a yellow-green leaf.  The only one that I had bloom for me had a darker green leaf. Could I have to much sun on them? [In Portland Oregon?] Thanks Chuck Bucholz — G-D’s Word……    if it’s new, it’s not true; If it’s true, it’s not new

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future. The book forgot to mention the proverbial "it happens, sometimes, without any reason at all".  Another possible cause can be thrips…teensy little bugs that have a particular taste for buds and flowers, but will also chaw on leaves, root tips–whatever the little beasts can get their maws on. Better luck next time! — Prem – Animator, programmer, and orchid and fossil nut extraordinaire… – DNRC Title: Minister of Lightwave 3d Plugin Design Foolishness – Home – http://www.PremDesign.com "We in our foolishness thought we were wise He played the fool and He opened our eyes We in our weakness believed we were strong He became nothing to show we were wrong." "God’s Own Fool" – Michael Card

Response:

I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future.

The book forgot to mention the proverbial "it happens, sometimes, without any reason at all".  Another possible cause can be thrips…teensy little bugs that have a particular taste for buds and flowers, but will also chaw on leaves, root tips–whatever the little beasts can get their maws on. Better luck next time! — Prem – Animator, programmer, and orchid and fossil nut extraordinaire… – DNRC Title: Minister of Lightwave 3d Plugin Design Foolishness – Home – http://www.PremDesign.com "We in our foolishness thought we were wise He played the fool and He opened our eyes We in our weakness believed we were strong He became nothing to show we were wrong." "God’s Own Fool" – Michael Card

Response:

I’m a beginner, and I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve had my Cattleya four months, and I was excited when I discovered  the first three buds not too long ago. A few days later one bud started to turn yellow. I also noticed some clear droplets at the tips of the buds. I went out of town for four days .When I returned today, one bud had dropped. The other two are already turning black. According to my orchid book, bud drop can be caused by temperature fluctuations, reduced humidity, or a change in environment. As far as I know, these factors have remained the same. Any advice will be helpful for the future.

Response:

Filed under: Phalaenopsis Orchid

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