How to Stop Orchid Bud Blast

Houseplants
Orchid Bud Blast

Plants such as Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) don't tolerate cold and temperature changes. This is important to keep in mind when deciding to keep your orchids indoors during winter. Remember: it may be warm indoors but your orchid can still suffer from exposure to cold blasts when doors or windows are open.

Ideal Conditions

Orchids are plants very sensitive to temperature changes. On one hand, they can tolerate a fairly wide range of temperatures. Ideal temperature conditions for these plants is between 55 and 75 degrees F. As you can see, orchids can tolerate a certain range of temperatures.

However, they are very sensitive to sudden temperature changes. This is why cold drafts and unexpected drops in temperature can damage these beautiful tropical plants and cause them to lose their flowers.

Orchid Bud Blast

Sudden temperature changes and cold drafts can cause "bud blast", that is, they can make buds of the orchids to drop. Sudden temperature drops, winter drafts and blasts of cold can harm your orchid. Once you get your plants used to room temperatures it's dangerous to expose them even to short blasts of cold air. These blasts can come from different sources: open doors and windows, poorly-sealed window frames, drafts coming down the chimney, drafts from under the threshold, and more.

This type of drafts can shock your Phalaenopsis orchid and make it drop its buds. Instead of opening into those beautiful, large flowers these orchids are known for, the plant will stop growing its buds. The buds will begin to shrivel, turn brown and papery on the edges. Finally, they will fall off the orchid stalk without even opening.

The good news is that the bud blasts can be easily prevented. All you need to do is to ensure your orchid will stay at a consistent temperature and that it will not be exposed to blasts, drafts and other sudden temperature changes. It's best to locate your orchid in a room with a constant temperature between 55 and 75 degrees F to make it thrive. Keep it away from windows, doors, chimneys and other potential sources of winter drafts. If you keep it in a consistent temperature, your orchid will thrive and produce all those beautiful flowers.

Photo credit: x70tjw

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