It makes sense to me from a Darwinian standpoint that flowering plants in an ecosystem may derive an advantage by being triggered to flower if other like species began flowering independent of photo period or temperature related flowering cues. Sort of like Keeping up with the Joneses. I am not aware of compounds that can induce flowering in plants not connected to the same vascular system. There is scientific evidence for a "florigen", though for may years the idea of a florigen molecule apparently was the source of some ridicule amongst plant physiologists. A florigen is a compound that when present in plant tissues can induce differentiation of apical meristem tissues into flowering meristem. In brief if you had 2 identical plants subjected to different growing conditions, one favorable to flowering and one not, taking tissue from the flowering plant and grafting it onto the non-flowering plant can induce "precocious" flowering in the non-flowering host plant. Pretty cool, huh? (Plant physiologists please forgive for any misrepresentation, I am actually better versed in cellular function of things without cell walls) The sand in the Vaseline is that in this case the plants have to have contact with the vascular tissues of, not just be in the immediate vicinity of a flowering plant. Having said that, I do know that ethylene in vanishingly small concentrations can induce fruit ripening, and I have always said my wife's geraniums smell funny...so you may be onto something. Now here is my theory on why my wifes collection of African Violets that had been in non-flowering vegetative growth mode for years suddenly went on a blooming frenzy shortly after the expansion of my orchid collection began to occupy the same space. The AV knew that we had discussed composting them since they had been just taking up space, and the show the orchids were putting on shamed them into a floral extravaganza. As it happens the geraniums that will not die also perked up after the arrival of the orchid grow-cart.

Maybe salvia jamensis.

Mazus pumilus.

Without a doubt! Thrips. I have them and its a constant fight. They destroy all my buds. They are sucking insects and if you grow Gardenia's or Hibiscus, they are Thrip magnets. I'm considering cutting them down but my Gardenia is huge and beautiful. A good control is Spinosid (not sure of the spelling) . You have to spray every two weeks while the buds are forming. It is organic and safe to use. Thrips will attack all orchid buds. They love Vandas and Phals but will go after anything they can get their miserable mouths on! Sorry about your plant. I understand the frustration. I'm going through it too. Jane