What causes wrinkled edges on blooms?

[quasar17]

Hello,
I have a Phal amabillis that has just bloomed for the first time for me. The flowers have remained sort of cupped or stalled in opening. I am wondering if the cause would be something going wrong with my culture, or is it a sign of something else going on?

[Roberta]

I suspect thrips. they can et into buds and damage them at the edges before they even open. I also see a few spots where the flower has little circular almost transparent spots. Thrips do that too. I HATE thrips!!!

[quasar17]

Thank you for the suggestion!! I will be keeping an eye out for any traces on my other plants as well.

[Ray]

Granted, those photos aren't particularly good for detail, but unless they have been open for a while, judging by the general not-fully-opened state of the flowers, I wonder if it isn't simply underwatering.

The plant relies on hydrostatic pressure to "inflate" the segments. If the plant has not been getting enough water, and/or the driving forces for transpiration losses are strong, it won't contain sufficient fluid to do the job.

[quasar17]

Thanks for the detailed info! That is interesting. I will watch to make sure my plants currently growing buds get enough water.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by quasar17

Thanks for the detailed info! That is interesting. I will watch to make sure my plants currently growing buds get enough water.

Water is the true driving force for plant growth.

In order for any plant to add 1 kg of mass - 6 or 8 weeks for corn in the summer, several years for a cattleyas, and several lifetimes for a tiny pleurothallis colony - it only needs to absorb and process about 10 grams of NPK, but it needs about 200 kg of water. Add to that the fact that a huge majority of the absorbed water is lost through transpiration (as much as 95% of it) and the plant needs to absorb as much as 4000 kg of water to add that kg or mass!