Flower buds falling off Cymbidium spike - Orchid Board

ciaoamalfi · #1 01-07-2011, 04:14 AM

Ciao! I'm new to Orchid Board, and I'm new orchid owner, too. I've always loved them, and this year I received a beautiful deep burgundy colored Cymbidium orchid for Christmas. It had two flower spikes, one very tall and fully blooming and one shorter with buds about to open. In this photo you can see both spikes:

A few days ago I walked by the plant and noticed one of the buds had fallen off unopened. But I saw that one had opened up and everything seemed in order. This morning all the other flower buds have fallen off and the spike just has the one bloom open.

I love this orchid and want to take care of it, but I'm afraid I have no idea what I am doing wrong.

What might have made all the flower buds on that spike fall off so suddenly?? Did the soil get to dry? It's been humid where I live in southern Italy, so maybe when I felt the soil it was just the top that was damp?? We don't have central heating and it's an old stone house, so it stays pretty cool, especially at night. I read online that cool is good. It's not in direct light, but the room is bright. It's not near any of the electric heaters.

Any tips I might follow? Anything obvious I might be doing wrong? Any suggested reading? Many thanks to everyone for any help! Grazie!!

camille1585 · #2 01-07-2011, 04:27 AM

First of all, welcome to Orchidboard!

New plants will often lose buds when they're brought home, but since you've already had the plant 2 weeks it may not be that.
Yes, cool is good for these plants, especially when they're in bud. But from what you write I understand that nights are even cooler than the day Do you know how much the temperature fluctuates between day and night? Rapid and frequent temperature swings will make pretty much any orchid lose its buds.

ciaoamalfi · #3 01-07-2011, 04:40 AM

Hi Camille! Thank you for your quick response and warm welcome to Orchid Board. I look forward to learning a lot more about orchids here!

Hum, I can see how the shock of changing locations could make a plant drop its buds. But I didn't notice anything happening until a couple of days ago, and we brought it home on the 23 or 24th of December.

I think you might be right about the temperature change between day and night. In general, how much is too much for the temp to fluctuate before it causes a problem like this? Right now it's about 17-18°C and at night it is cooler. I'm not sure, but maybe down to about 14-16°C. We did have a cold period last week and had the heaters on more than usual. Perhaps that warmed the house up enough during the evening that the drop during the night was too much?

Poor orchid! :-( Thanks for your help, Camille!

-Laura

camille1585 · #4 01-07-2011, 04:46 AM

It could be the temperature difference, but if it's only a few degrees difference, maybe not. But since you heat more than usual, it could be a wider temperature swing, or also could be that the humidity dropped very low, and if the air is too dry that can also sometimes cause buds to blast.

But now it's too late anyway, the damage to the buds is done. Enjot the flowering spike!

ciaoamalfi · #5 01-07-2011, 04:51 AM

Ciao Camille,
Now that you mention it the humidity has changed a lot in the last week from very humid (also in the house with the windows covered in condensation) to very dry. You're right that it's too late to change anything now ... and at least I have that one little flower on the new spike! :-) I just want to try to learn more about what things I need to consider to take care of the orchid - temperature, humidity and so on. There isn't a lot I can do do control those, but understanding does help. Thanks so much!

-Laura

RosieC · #6 01-07-2011, 03:10 PM

I've had the same happen with both the Cym I bought last winter, and the one I got in November this year.

In both cases everything seemed great for 2 or 3 weeks, then the unopened buds fell.

The plants seem fine, the first one from last year grew masses over the summer. I think the problem does relate to the temperatures in my home. I have a 5C temp difference (so not masses) but it's much warmer I think that Cyms tend to like.

Unfortunately I still don't know the cause so can't really advise, however from my experience it doesn't mean an actual problem with the plant, so just enjoy the flowers it has and don't be too concerned.

WhiteRabbit · #7 01-07-2011, 03:31 PM

My outdoor cyms are subject to a good deal of temperature fluctuation, so I don't think that in itself is likely the cause...
It does happen tho, that the change of environment (from store to home) sometimes causes blast. Is this near a draft, or heat source?

This just happens unfortunately - doesn't mean you did anything wrong, or that your plant isn't perfectly fine.

Gin · #8 01-07-2011, 04:51 PM

Usually it is warm dry air that causes bud drop in Cymbids . Long time ago I had one that went out in the spring and back to the house in fall, it would spike with a lot of buds and they would all blast . After we built the green house it went from outside to a cool corner on the floor in the green house no blast after that . The ones I have now are on my enclosed porch it has a fairly wide Temp. swing . Since it is new that might be the problem ..

to Orchid Board !

ciaoamalfi · #9 01-07-2011, 05:05 PM

Ciao Rosie! Thanks for the feedback. I'm sorry you've had the same trouble! Enjoying the flowers while they last! :-)

ciaoamalfi · #10 01-07-2011, 05:09 PM

Hi WhiteRabbit & Gin! Thanks for the ideas. No, it's not near any drafts. But it was cold last week and we've been using our bigger electric heater, which is definitely dry heat. The heater is in the next room, but it's a small apartment. I'm better that is the culprit! Thanks to everyone for helping me understand. If we use that heater a lot I'll move the plant into another room where the heater doesn't reach as well.

Grazie mille!!!
-Laura