For many gardeners, it becomes a real mystery why an orchid does not bloom. Phalaenopsis, which is distinguished by its special unpretentiousness, can not give flowers for a long time for many reasons. To make the plant bloom, you need to understand why flower stalks are not formed.
Material Content:
Why the orchid does not bloom: natural causes
Not always the lack of flowers on the plant suggests that something is wrong with him. Quite often, an orchid does not bloom for natural reasons, and in this case, you should not interfere with the processes.
The main reasons for which the lack of bud formation are:
- active vegetation. In spring, orchids enter a period of particularly strong growth. They are intensively gaining root and green mass, as in natural conditions, and at the same time they do not bloom, since all the forces go into rapid development. As soon as it stops, the laying of peduncles and buds will begin;
- flower feature. Some orchids release the arrow and form small buds on it, but do not open them until 3 months. Such a phenomenon is normal for them and does not require intervention. Such an individual feature is rare enough, but all the same, it can take place.
Also, orchids do not bloom if a baby is formed on the peduncle, on which all the forces of the plant go. In this case, one can count on the appearance of flowers only after the grown-up baby is separated from the mother plant, and it will rest and restore strength.In other cases, the absence of flowering, as a rule, signals the mistakes of the grower made in caring for the crop.
Improper plant care
With improper care, quite often the plant begins to very actively grow green mass, and at the same time will not produce peduncles. In such a situation, eliminating errors allows you to restore flowering and stimulate the orchid to produce new peduncles.
Irrigation
In the natural habitat of orchids during the rainy season there are no pollinators, and therefore the plant does not spend power on useless flowering. If at home the orchid is watered excessively intensively, then it perceives what is happening as the rainy season that has begun and therefore does not release arrows. The same effect is observed if the plant is watered with cold water.
If the plant is watered strictly only after the substrate is completely dry, as evidenced by the lightening of the roots almost to whiteness, then soon the orchid will release an arrow and will bloom. If desired, during watering, you can also feed it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, which stimulates flowering.
Lack or excess of light
Lighting for orchids is of the utmost importance. For flowering, it is equally dangerous to have too dark or, conversely, bright lighting. For phalaenopsis, direct sunlight is unacceptable, which instantly drains the roots and leads first to a general deterioration of the state of the plant, and then to its death.
If there is little light, the flower also does not release the arrow, but at the same time it fully gains green leaf mass, since its formation is possible even under inappropriate conditions.
If the orchids are too light, it must urgently pritenit or rearrange in another place. If there is a lack of light, it is necessary to organize illumination, which is carried out using ordinary daylight lamps or LED lamps. After the orchid recovers from stress caused by improper lighting, it will begin to bloom.
Errors in fertilizing orchids
Fertilizing the orchid, we must remember that all feeding is divided into:
- fertilizers that stimulate the development of green mass;
- fertilizers that stimulate flowering.
If they are confused, then instead of peduncles, the orchid will produce more and more leaves.
All nitrogen fertilizers are used during the growing season, when it is important that the plant gains a lot of roots and leaves, but does not lay a shooter. Such a period falls in the spring.
In order for the orchid to begin to bloom actively, it is fertilized with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, which give an impetus to the formation of a flower arrow and buds. It is impossible to use them at the time of vegetation or restoration of the orchid after damage to the roots, since by provoking the formation of flowers at this moment, phalaenopsis can be ruined.
Diseases and pests as a reason for not blooming
When an orchid is affected by viral infections or parasites, it will not bloom. The grower should inspect the plant for pests on its leaves and signs of fungal and bacterial infections. If they are found, the plant needs to be urgently treated with a drug that is suitable to eliminate a specific problem. After that, let the flower recover. As soon as the orchid gathers strength, it will begin to release arrows and form buds. As a rule, it takes at least 6 months to normalize the condition of the flower.
Of particular danger to orchids are putrefactive diseases. If they are not detected in a timely manner, then it will be impossible to save the plant, and it dies, decaying in the neck. The appearance of rot is usually associated with excessive watering when water enters a leaf outlet that does not dry out.
What to do and how to make an orchid blossom?
Before you make an orchid bloom, you need to examine it - and not only the aboveground part, but also the roots. If they are completely healthy and well developed, orchid stimulation can begin.If there is any doubt that the plant is in good condition, you should not risk it.
A solution of succinic acid (2g / 2l of water), which is used for irrigation, can provoke flowering. 2-3 times of this treatment are enough for the orchid to produce a flower stalk. You can also wipe the leaves of the plant with a solution.
Treatment with epin also gives a good result. With a solution (3 drops per glass of water), the orchid is sprayed every morning until it releases the arrow. Also, once a week the plant is watered with this solution.
Imitation of the rainy season helps push the flower to form arrows. For this, the pot with orchid is dipped for 3 days in warm water (temperature +35 degrees), and then left without moisture for 2 weeks. The flower perceives such a change in the irrigation regime as the end of the rainy season and begins to form arrows.
Before applying chemical compositions to stimulate flowering, it is worth trying a focus with watering, since it is the safest and most natural for an orchid.
Is it possible to transplant a flowering plant?
Is it possible to transplant a blooming orchid, often interested in many beginner gardeners. An orchid transplant at the time of flowering is extremely undesirable, as this will be stress for her, which can have a very negative effect on the plant. If for some reason the orchid needs to be transplanted before it has blossomed, the arrow with the flowers, however sorry it may be, must be cut off. In this case, the transplant will not cause harm, and the arrow will reappear soon.
In general, orchids are considered unpretentious plants that can bloom up to 3 times a year. In order for them to grow well, they need to provide the right care, which will take into account the natural needs of the plant. If the orchid does not bloom, you need to find the cause of the problem and fix it.
