Wilting Flower - question - Orchid Board

quietmorning · #1 06-02-2009, 03:59 PM

(phalaenopsis-baldans-kaleidoscope)
(Link to pic)

Yesterday we had a really hot day - and the house was warm. When my husband came home from work he flipped on the air which reduced the house from about 80 something degrees down to about 70 something - probably a ten degree difference.

My phal is kept in the bathroom where it doesn't get as much of the air conditioning to prevent extreme temp changes.

She has two spikes, one is in full bloom, one still has a bud at the very end. The spike with the bud at the very end has a very wilted flower - the oldest of the bunch, I believe.

Is this due to perhaps the temp change from yesterday? Or perhaps it's just time for it to begin to fade? It was absolutely lovely yesterday. If it's due from the temp change, is there anything I can do to help it get over it's shock?

Thanks!

Beth

dounoharm · #2 06-02-2009, 04:45 PM

it sounds like it wilted from age...altho severe temp changes can cause wilting flowers, i believe it would affect all the flowers and not just one....so age is probably the best bet....when they fade, they do fade fast...

quietmorning · #3 06-02-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dounoharm

it sounds like it wilted from age...altho severe temp changes can cause wilting flowers, i believe it would affect all the flowers and not just one....so age is probably the best bet....when they fade, they do fade fast...

PHEW!!! I'm tempted to cut it off and try to press it before it gets too far gone - if it stays on the plant will it prevent that last bud from blooming?

Thanks! What a relief! (I cannot absolutely believe how obssessive I've gotten over this one!

)

Brenda Aarts · #4 06-02-2009, 05:23 PM

I agree that it is probably age of the flower. I also think that being that your are so obsessive about this one, you should treat yourself to a few more orchids to spoil. Once the flower is wilted and detracting from the plant appearance I just snip off the flower at the base of the stem with my finger nails, the remaining buds will open when they're ready.

Zoi2 · #5 06-02-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brenda Aarts

I agree that it is probably age of the flower. I also think that being that your are so obsessive about this one, you should treat yourself to a few more orchids to spoil. Once the flower is wilted and detracting from the plant appearance I just snip off the flower at the base of the stem with my finger nails, the remaining buds will open when they're ready.

:iagree:
Joann

quietmorning · #6 06-02-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brenda Aarts

I also think that being that your are so obsessive about this one, you should treat yourself to a few more orchids to spoil. Once the flower is wilted and detracting from the plant appearance I just snip off the flower at the base of the stem with my finger nails, the remaining buds will open when they're ready.

I'm already picking out my next orchids! I PROMISED myself (and my husband) that I wouldn't get any more orchids until the bathroom is finished. The fumes in the house with stripping paint with a heat gun is pretty bad - I move the one orchid I have right now into the kitchen when I strip. BUT when this bathroom is finished, it will have at LEAST one more phal, a cane orchid, and two mini's. If I can get away with it, I'll have five more phals, two cane orchids and four mini phals. . . heh. . but we'll see what we have room for. As I finish each room, it will get its own orchids. I have to be careful, though, light is a real issue with this house. I can put a few plant lights in, and plan to have my husband build me a wall plant shelf for lights, but much more than that, we'll have to do some pretty significant wiring. This is an old old house (built in 1857).

So for now, I haveta be patient. Dernit.

I was wondering when to take the flowers off. . .pinching them off when they wilt will allow me to press them. . .

dounoharm · #7 06-02-2009, 08:29 PM

i understand the issues of light in an old house...i live in a log cabin, and there is no light whatsoever!! so i built a greenhouse!!! lmao

quietmorning · #8 06-02-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dounoharm

i understand the issues of light in an old house...i live in a log cabin, and there is no light whatsoever!! so i built a greenhouse!!! lmao

I've been looking at green houses VERY seriously!!

If it's possible, I'd like to build one on the upstairs balcony. . .that would make it right next to my office . . .and accesable from the inside. We might as well, the whole upstairs balcony has to be redone any way.