new phal buds turn black

[manisha]

Hi All,

I recently bought very healthy phal but after 3 days the bud of phal looks some-what black or is abt to dry.

Please tell me what could be the reason it is drying or turning black ? What care should i take so that this is not repeated. Same thing happened to 1 of my dendrobium also.

I have attached pics of my phal.

Thanks,
Manisha

[WhiteRabbit]

Change in environment can sometimes cause buds to blast.

The spike looks good - it's possible it may branch from lower nodes.

[manisha]

shall i cut the dried bud from top only.. so that it can spike from other end.

---------- Post added at 02:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 AM ----------

even it cut the spike from bottom will help.. in getting new spike.. because orchid is very healthy.

[MattWoelfsen]

I wouldn't do any surgery. As you say, it is a healthy plant, it will dry off the damaged area and grow somewhere else.

[Bill U.]

I agree. I wouldn't do anything out of normal care at this point. These plants are extremely determine to flower once they have that spike initiated, so I would think that it will put out a new growing tip somewhere else along the spike. I go by the saying "if it's green, don't be mean. If it's brown, cut it down" meaning that I don't cut anything until the spike itself has died back most of the way.

[manisha]

as Bill and MattWoelfsen are suggesting.. not to play around.. i will better do nothing to my healthy orchid..

[james mickelso]

Most likely some mechanical damage. Pinched or bent. It will push another bud from the next lower node. My concern is the state of the media in which it is potted. Looks awfully wet. Not just from recent watering but it looks like it stays too wet all the time. Back off on the watering. Same with the dens. Orchids don't need to be watered as much as most folks think. I water once a week at most. Winter sees larger pots watered once every two weeks and less. Smaller pots once a week. Very small seedlings every few days. Judge the dryness before watering again. This isn't bud blast. This is rotting from the inside. Bud blast in phals and dens usually appears as reddish or yellowish buds which fall off.

[manisha]

james mickelso .. i make note of concern and will update with pics..