Flowers fell off, healthy leaves, tip of stems are turning lighter... what's happening?

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23-Jun-2010 11:03 AM

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Hi everyone,
So my mom got this orchid plant back in May for Mother's Day.
Now, the flowers are falling off slowly. The flowers that have fell off are still soft and smooth; they barely wrinkled up.

Also, I'm not sure what you call it (spike or stem), but the top part where the flowers bloom, have turned to a lighter color. I wouldn't say it's a yellow, but it is a VERY LIGHT brown. The rest of the long stem goes from a dark green to a dark brown. Green leaves are still high and strong.

I checked the roots and it appears that about 3-4 of the roots have turned white and wrinkled up. They're "crusty". Some other roots are having these white spots and the rest of the roots are perfectly fine I think.

How did this happen? Was it from over-watering? Or was it because the temperature change? It's been getting really hot outside so we turned on the A/C and the vent is probably about 4 feet away from the plant.

Also, what should I do now? Or is it too late?

Please help!

23-Jun-2010 03:49 PM

Just Add Ice Support

Posts: 1

From your description, your mother's orchid experienced sudden temperature changes, which may have contributed to premature flower loss. Remove the entire flower spike one inch from the base of the plant so the orchid can put more energy back into the leaves and roots. White roots are an indication that the plant needs more water. Premature flower loss can also be a result of when a plant that is too dry. For a helpful picture of well-watered orchid roots, please visit: http://www.justaddiceorchids.com/orchid-care-roots-drainage.

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24-Jun-2010 04:57 PM

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Isn't 1 inch from the base too much? I already cut both of them, but I left about 6-7 inches because when I trimmed it first, a lot of water splashed out and I think it's really healthy still.

Also, where should I place it now? I have 2 places to place it:
1. upstairs close to the window, well lit, no draft, air temp is around 78, mornings possibly 72
2. downstairs close to window, well lit, very little draft, air temp is cooler, around 72, nights possibly 68

01-Jul-2010 02:45 PM

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By removing the entire flower spike, the orchid can put more energy back into the leaves and roots. You can also cut it back to a node, which may encourage the orchid to generate new side flower spikes. We would recommend placing your orchid in location #2.

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10-Jul-2010 03:45 PM

mother6

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all my flower fell off.

10-Jul-2010 11:08 PM

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Mother6,
Premature flower loss could be a result of sudden temperature changes, low temperatures, when the plant is too dry, or when the plant's roots are experiencing problems. Check the color of your orchid's roots. Well-watered roots are a healthy green color, while white/gray roots are an indication that more water is needed. Also, discard any standing water at the bottom of the decorative pot, as orchids hate to sit in excess water. For information on re-blooming, please visit "Triggering Orchid Re-blooming" under the "Care" section on the website.

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12-Jul-2010 05:18 PM

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I have had my plant for 5 weeks. I put 3 ice cubes in it every week and it looked good. I went away for 2 days and when I came back the flowers were falling off. Everything else looks good. Kroger's told me to keep putting ice cubes in it like always and it will rebloom again. They told me its like any other plant and the flowers will fall off and then bloom again. Is this true? Or have I killed it?

Carolyn

12-Jul-2010 10:11 PM

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Carolyn,
Based on your description, your orchid is not dead, but may have finished blooming. You have several options for your next step in caring for the bare flower spike. You can take the wait and see approach, cut the flower spike back to a node, or remove the entire flower spike an inch from the base of the plant. For more information, please visit "Cutting Orchid Stems" and "Trigger Orchid Re-Blooming" on the website.

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20-Aug-2010 08:09 PM

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I received my orchid for mother's day 2010, it bloomed right away & has been very happy on a south-facing windowsill. It survived a move to a new house, and is back on a south-facing windowsill. I have read other posts relating to this topic, but am confused by the responses from support, but this is because I don't know the terminology.

My orchid has 2 "stalks" or "stems"(?) with flowers on each one. But a week ago all the flowers fell off of one of the stalks. The tip of it has lightened. I don't know what it means when you say to pull the spike off? Is that the whole stalk, or just the very top? If I do the wait & see what am I waiting to see? Whether or not it will re-grow flowers from the existing stalk?

Also, I put 3 ice cubes in per week, but the plant is sitting in water when I lift the cup up, is this ok? The roots have grown out of the holes in the plastic cup and are sitting in the water, they are flimsy & squishy & look like worms. Only one of them is hard & white larger than these other roots.

Please advise!! Thanks :)

24-Aug-2010 10:38 AM

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When the flower spike (stem) turns yellow/brown, remove the entire flower spike an inch from the base of the plant. The discoloration of the flower spike is an indicator that no new flower buds will form on that old flower spike. You may want to check out "Cutting Orchid Stems" on the website for more information and helpful pictures: http://www.justaddiceorchids.com/orchid-care-cutting-stems. If your bare flower spike is still green, you can take the wait and see approach. Your Just Add Ice Orchid may produce new buds on the end of the old flower spike. Be sure to discard any standing water in the bottom of the decorative pot after each watering, as orchid roots should not sit in excess water.

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06-Jun-2011 10:57 AM

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Hi there. I received a beautiful orchid with 3 flowering spikes, upwards of 20 blooms. I didn't water it enough. Poor thing - all the flowers on one spike (the highest one) withered and fell off before I could stop it. The blooms on the other 2 spikes are still OK so far and the buds at the end appear OK. The troubled spike is yellow and withered about 5 inches from the end, but still looks healthy down by closer to the plant and the branch from the other spikes. Should I cut the yellow part off, or should I cut if off back at the split?

06-Jun-2011 11:55 AM

Just Add Ice Support

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New flower buds will not form on an old orchid flower spike that has turned yellow or brown. Remove the entire flower spike one inch from the base of the plant so that your orchid can put more energy back into the leaves and roots.

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04-Oct-2011 03:14 PM

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My Boyfriend got me this Orchid 3 weeks ago, I have been watering it with 3 ice cubes once a week as suggested but flowers are begining to wilt and die already 3 have have died and I have removed them , another is wilting, it is in a well lit location with no direct sun, leaves look healthy but roots look a little dry, it is also starting to get colder because of the season, im not sure where to keep it in my house where it will stay warm enough

Please Help Me! Thanks!

04-Oct-2011 03:46 PM

Just Add Ice Support

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Premature orchid flower loss could be a result of sudden temperature changes, low temperatures, when the plant is too dry, or when the plant's roots are experiencing problems. Check the color of your orchid's roots, as they are a great indicator for watering. Well-watered roots should be a healthy green color, while grayish-white roots indicate more water is needed. You may need to water your orchid with an additional ice cube. Also, be sure to empty any extra water in the bottom of the decorative pot after each watering, as orchid roots hate to sit in excess water. In regards to the temperature, optimal temperatures range from 65 to 80 degrees F during the day and 60 to 70 degrees F at night. To help prolong the life of your orchid, avoid cold or warm drafts, such as near an open window or heat vent.

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03-Jan-2013 01:42 PM

Rach

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I received my orchid in August. and about a month or 2 in the flowers fell off. I cut down the stem to a spike as I saw on the video on how to do it. I have been ice cubing it weekly and even fertilizing it every other month as listed to do on the package. My leaves are still healthy and strong but all of a sudden the top of the stem where its been cut has now turned brown and yellowish in color. It has traveled down to one of the first spikes. What could have caused this? Is my plant dying?? Should i re-cut?

05-Jan-2013 10:05 PM

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Rach,

When the flower spike (stem) turns yellow/brown, remove the entire flower spike an inch from the base of the plant. By removing the entire flower spike, your orchid can put more energy back into the leaves and roots. The discoloration of the flower spike is an indicator that no new flower buds will form on that old flower spike. You may want to check out Cutting Orchid Stems on the website for more information.

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16-Mar-2013 07:01 AM

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hello, i have a lovley orchid and i have noticed that my roots have lots of white spots on them. what does this mean??

18-Mar-2013 09:37 AM

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Withhold water from your orchid until the roots turn grayish-white in color and then resume normal care, as the media may be too wet. The white spots should not harm your plant and should disappear after the roots have dried out.

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26-Apr-2013 06:30 PM

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I had forgotten to water my orchid and the flowers had started to get wrinkly so I watered it but the flowers still ended up falling off, I'm just wondering if I should still cut the stem? Other than it having no flowers its still in great shape and the very top of the stem seems to have a new tiny little bulb, so I'm just not sure if I should still cut it or not.

29-Apr-2013 03:00 PM

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Since the flower spike is still fresh, you can leave the flower spike as is or trim it back to an upper node. Both options will encourage the growth of a new flower spike.

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