What Causes Orchid Bud Blast?

Bud blast can quickly take orchid owners from excited to heart-broken. One moment your Phalaenopsis orchid is covered with fat buds and you’re excitedly waiting for them to bloom. The next moment you find the stalk bare and the tabletop littered with slowly-browning orchid buds. When you’ve waited 8 months or more for your Phalaenopsis to bloom again, the disappointment can be crushing when orchids succumb to premature bud loss. 

Learn What to Look For 

Bud blast, or premature bud loss, is most often caused by sudden temperature or environmental changes; although lack of moisture and root problems can also cause an orchid to drop its buds before they bloom. Also, orchid buds are the most sensitive part of an orchid so be sure you are not handling your orchid with dirty hands—this can also cause problems. If the buds on your Phalaenopsis orchid become soft or turn brown and papery and start to drop from the stalk before they open, look for the following possible causes: 

• Phalaenopsis orchids thrive when daytime temperatures are between 65 and 80 degrees F. and nighttime temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. Below 55 degrees F., Phalaenopsis orchids will drop their buds and flowers in an attempt to preserve the plant. Move your orchid to a warmer location with a consistent temperature.
• In nature, orchids lose their flowers soon after pollination. The production of ethylene gas during pollination triggers this reaction. The ethylene gas produced by ripening fruit like apples, bananas, oranges can also trigger an orchid’s pollination response and resultant bud loss. Keep orchids at least 10 feet away from fruit and flames. 

Check out our orchid care videos for more information about orchid bud loss and how to keep orchid buds healthy.