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why do buds turn pink?

14 years ago

I repotted my phal this spring. It was in bud so I posted and asked if I should wait til after it flowered. I was informed that phals don't mind being potted when still in bud. I knew I would be busy this summer and probably not get around to it so I repotted. Mine did mind. All the buds dried up and fell off. Good news is that it didn't mind the repotting because it is now in bud again. The question I have now is why are the new buds turning soft and pink? This time there were only 3 buds, one fell off after it turned pink and one is quite large but still green. The other one is just forming. I just checked and the one that is forming now has turned a deep pink color. I fertilize weekly weakly as told that's what they like. Am I missing something? Marg

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Comments (6)

crueltyfre
14 years ago
Is it a pink flower?
Lori
xmpraedicta
14 years ago
When buds turn pink and soft, it generally indicates blasting. Maybe there was a change in conditions, like a draft or a sudden drop in temperature that initiated it. :( Hopefully you figure out what it is and get a good blooming...blasting is unexplainable sometimes.
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marricgardens
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, the flowers are a medium pink. The first set of buds were green and the larger one now is green. However the 2 small ones are a deep pink color. I'm going to research 'blasting' that calvin suggests. The plant is in my sunroom and I keep it out of direct sunlight. It may have gotten a draft when I opened the door to go outside. Right now the remaining bud seems to be healthy. Keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks. Marg
jane__ny
14 years ago
I never fertilize when a plant is in bud/bloom. Sometimes it changes the pH of the water and can blast the buds or cause the flowers to drop.

Jane
marricgardens
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the info Jane. This is my first orchid and so far it seems to be doing well. I'm hoping to get it to flower again. I'll stop fertilizing and see what happens. Marg
blackeyedgurl
14 years ago
Don't move the plant until it starts to actually bloom. Even a slight change can cause bud blast. In my personal experience I haven't had this problem, but with some of the fussier Phals it can be. They make bloom fertilizer to support a plant through blooming and to encourage blooming. So the fertilizer is unlikely the reason for the bud blast. Although even fertilizing weakly weekly, you should be doing a full pot flush once a month. Just flush and water with plain water to help cleanse out the salts that accumulate.

As stupid as this sounds, something as simple as an apple near the plant can cause bud blast (so don't keep orchids near baskets of fruit, the gas released by apples kills the buds).

Also: the buds will turn a darker and darker pink until they open. I would only be concerned if they drop off before they open. If you can find no surface reason for the bud blast. I would be suspicious to see what's going on with the roots. Often times a plant will go into a blooming cycle during a time of stress, but the blooms won't make it to open. If the plant has rotten roots, all the magic in the world won't cause it to bloom. If this ends up the case, cut the flowering stem off, cut off the mush, repot and water a bit less frequently.

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