Suspected: Heat from nearby candles is causing flowers to drop early... Advice?

[Lala]

Hi all, relatively new orchid lover here, based in Ireland.

As you can see from the attached photo my phalenopsis sits underneath a mantle piece with some candles on it.

It’s been doing great in this spot and gets good indirect light in the afternoon. I got this baby from Tesco on sale about 2 months ago. It has been thriving until recently....

Now some of the flowers on the left spike have been falling recently, you can see one wilting and getting ready to go in the photo. It’s ironic as the same stem is growing new flowers that are getting close to blooming.

From searching I couldn’t see any direct impact of candle heat on orchids but think it may be it:

1. Candle heat
2. Energy is going to new buds
3. Natural time to go

Any advice? What do you think?

I can share a better photo in daylight tomorrow if it helps.

Thanks all, delighted to have found this community!

L

[aliceinwl]

It may be age related. If you’ve had the plant with those flowers for a couple of months, it may just be their time to fall. I’ve had a lot of Phalaenopsis, especially, recent purchases start pushing new buds when I bring them home.

[Mountaineer370]

Welcome, Lala! The picture is pretty dark, and I can't see really well, but it looks to me like your Phalaenopsis is well below the mantle/shelf that has the candles on it. I would have a very hard time believing that any significant heat would be traveling down to the level of your plant.

You say you have had this Phal for about two months. It would not surprise me that some of the older flowers are simply drying up and falling off naturally. I have several Phals that will do that while still putting out new buds on the same spike.

[Lala]

Thank you both for your replies!

Apologies the photo is quite dark yes, it’s also angled slightly upwards so the candles are slightly closer than they appear.

I’d like to think it’s the older blossoms at the end of their time however actually these are newer ones that bloomed since I brought it home and repotted 2 months ago. Strangely the oldest (dyed blue) ones are still holding strong!

Thanks again for the responses, I’ll try and post a better photo with daylight.

L

[early]

Welcome Lala !! What part of Ireland, which county. I am a genealogist and know counties more than cities.
When this virus cools off and we can travel again, am looking forward to going to County Donagal and to Derry/ I have family from those two counties.

[Leafmite]

If these flowers were open when you bought the orchid and they are the bottom flowers, I would guess that they it is simply their time. If they are the newer flowers, that is usually a sign something has gone wrong. Unless you can feel the heat from the candle where the flowers are, it is unlikely that the candle is affecting the orchid.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

It's hard to tell how long the flowers had been open when you bought the plant, as Leafmite mentoned. Changing environmental conditions can lead to shortened flower life. The longest flowering will be with warm, humid conditions. The shop may not have been ideal, then it had to get used to the new environment at your house.

With proper care the next flowering should last a long time, which would be normal.

There is a good sticky thread here dealing with learning to grow Phalaeonopsis orchids. From the left yellow menu choose Forums then Beginners. Near the top look for The Phal abuse stops here.

[camille1585]

Please note the original date of the thread when posting! This old thread was revived by a (now deleted/banned) spammer.

[PaphMadMan]

Despite Camille pointing out that this is an old thread, some may find this useful: Incomplete combustion from an open flame like a candle can produce ethylene gas. Ethylene can act as a powerful plant hormone at times, including triggering senescence. So putting lit candles near flowers you want to last for a while is not a good idea. Ripening fruit and compost piles are also sources of ethylene gas.

[theorchidapartment]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Ripening fruit and compost piles are also sources of ethylene gas.

Also came here to say ethylene gas from the candles seemed like a more likely suspect than heat, if related at all, and want to add that if you cook with a gas burner without proper ventilation, it can have the same effect.