Orchid peduncle: causes of diseases and methods of dealing with them
Content:
The orchid's peduncle is an arrow on which beautiful ornamental flowers of the plant appear. To grow a healthy culture, it needs complete, quality care. It should include timely watering, fertilization. The correct parameters of temperature and illumination are of no small importance.
What is an orchid peduncle
This term is understood as a flower shoot or arrow. It is the part of the flower that is responsible for the ornamental properties of the plant. Young stems are covered with scales. It is on them that delicate buds appear.
The peduncle of an orchid has certain appearance features.
In appearance, these orchid fragments resemble root processes. They are the same in shape and color, but differ in a more complex structure. At the initial stage of development, shoots can acquire quite bizarre shapes. However, they then level out and continue to develop directly. Sometimes the shoot is directed not straight up, but in the other direction.
Reasons for the appearance
Many people are interested in how a peduncle appears in an orchid. If the previous stem was cut not to the base, but to the dormant bud, with the arrival of autumn it will form a peduncle. After 1.5 months, flowers will appear on the plant. The beginning of flowering can be expected at the appearance of the arrow. When favorable conditions are created, its height reaches 80-100 cm.
The formation of this part of the plant indicates the beginning of the flowering process. First, the buds are formed. Then they grow and open. The flower shoot takes part in the formation of inflorescences and contributes to their saturation with moisture and useful elements.
The average flowering time is 3 months. The flower arrow has reproductive functions. With proper care, children can form on the peduncle. After the buds have faded, their germination begins. They stay on the peduncle until they are formed.
What does it look like
A sign of the formation of a flower shoot is the appearance of a growing green bud in the sinus. It has a sharp end. A growing shoot indicates that the orchid is at a stage of active development.
At this moment, it needs to be fed with fertilizers in order to achieve the full development of the shoot. It should be borne in mind that any top dressing should be applied only after watering.
How many peduncles can there be
A flower cannot form more than 3 such shoots. Often, 1 stem with flowers is formed. 2-3 peduncles appear when there are 8-10 leaves in the outlet. At the same time, the plant experiences some stress. Often, during the period of active flowering, the culture decreases immunity.
How to distinguish from other parts
It is quite easy to distinguish a peduncle from a root. To do this, you should pay attention to the following features:
- the whitish root has a salad end and is located on the neck or stem on the side of the leaf;
- the peduncle has a darker color and develops from the leaf axil.
To distinguish a peduncle from a baby, you also need to take into account some features. At the beginning of development, the baby has the same bud as the branch. Moreover, it has a rather blunt end, since leaves are subsequently formed from it.
Where does it grow from
Many flower growers are interested in how an orchid produces a peduncle. An arrow develops from the axil of an orchid leaf. Sometimes she is shown from the point of growth. Other shoots that emerge from the stem or other areas are babies or rootlets.
An arrow is formed at the next flowering from the bud of an old branch. It grows away from the main stem and is accompanied by poor bud formation. The rapid development of the peduncle speaks of proper care.
It should be borne in mind that normal lighting, fertilization and watering help the shoots to form correctly. The flowers that form on them reach impressive sizes.
Orchid blooms can occur at different times, taking into account age. A peduncle can hardly appear from a young rosette. Some plants begin to bloom at 3 years old, others at an older age.
The duration of flowering is influenced by the type of orchid. There are varieties that bloom all year round, regardless of the seasonal factor. In any case, it is worth considering the type of flower:
- on phalaenopsis, flower stalks bloom for a whole year, subject to proper care;
- cymbidium blooms from October to the end of winter;
- dendrobium bloom lasts from mid-autumn to January.
If the substrate is not moistened in time, the flowers with an arrow may dry out. Nutrient deficiencies negatively affect shoot length. Peduncles grow well in diffused lighting and high humidity. When buds are forming, fertilization should be stopped. Otherwise, the decorative properties of the plant are reduced.
An arrow is formed from the bud of an old shoot
Care before and after flowering
Before the appearance of the peduncle on the plant, the following recommendations must be followed:
- provide sufficient, but diffused lighting. The bush should not be placed on the south side of the premises;
- systematically water the culture. This is recommended when the topsoil dries up;
- put the container with the plant in a well-ventilated area. Moreover, it should not be exposed to drafts;
- systematically feed the plant with complex fertilizers.
The orchid needs to be fed in a timely manner
When a flower arrow appears, the conditions for keeping the flower need to be slightly changed. To do this, it is worth changing:
- Location. When a peduncle appears in mid-autumn, winter or spring, it is worth putting a container with a pot on the southern windowsill. During these periods, the sun is not so scorching, therefore it does not harm the culture.
- Watering mode. The amount of moisture is slightly reduced. In this case, it is worth focusing on the conditions of culture. Sometimes it is necessary to water the plant at intervals of 2 weeks.
- Fertilization. When a flower arrow appears, the amount and frequency of use of dressings are slightly reduced. When the flower grows stronger and grows, and swelling buds begin to form, fertilization is stopped.
Is it possible to cut a peduncle
It is strictly forbidden to cut off a green shoot that is growing. Even with the loss of a fragment from above, it can continue to grow and bloom from a waiting bud. After the end of flowering, the green and live part of the peduncle is also left on the bush. Subsequently, she will be able to continue flowering. There is also the likelihood of the appearance of babies from waiting kidneys.
Remove the peduncle near the trunk completely only when it is completely dry and changes its color.
How to fix
To make the plant look attractive, the stem must be secured. Otherwise, it may break. When carrying out the procedure, it is worth following these rules:
- Tie up the bush vertically when it reaches a height of 20 cm.
- Attach the arrow to the support using an elastic band or a special clothespin.
- Rotate the flower pot. Thanks to this, the shoot will be able to reach for the light and straighten.
Possible problems
When growing an orchid, there is a risk of various problems. To cope with them, you need to establish a provoking factor.
Yellowing
A yellowed shoot indicates the beginning of drying out. The main reasons include:
- completion of flowering;
- lack of light for normal development;
- wrong temperature. It must constantly remain at the level of + 22-23 degrees;
- dry indoor air;
- lack of nutrients due to poor quality soil;
- short fertilization period.
To avoid yellowing of the peduncle, you need to control the parameters of air humidity. If the shoot has just begun to dry out, it is necessary to change the conditions of detention. Thanks to this, he will be able to continue his development. However, most often the shoot is cut to the waiting bud and the subsequent development is expected after a dormant period.
To cope with the yellowing of a crop, you need to establish the cause
Desiccation
What to do if the stem of the orchid is withered? First of all, you need to establish the provoking factor of the problem. These include:
- Insufficient lighting. It may not be enough in the fall and winter. In such a situation, it is worth increasing the duration of daylight hours to 8-9 hours a day. Correct lighting is also important.
- Incorrect temperature. It should be within + 14-30 degrees. Do not ventilate the room too often, especially in winter. High and low temperatures provoke wilting of the buds and drying of the peduncle.
- Dry air. This factor has a negative effect on the state of culture. In such conditions, there is a deterioration in the tone of the peduncle and its complete drying.
- Deficiency of nutrients. Substances such as boron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium must always be present in the soil. Therefore, they must be systematically introduced into the soil. Usually, ready-made complex products are used.
Other
Sometimes there is a situation: leaves appeared on the stem of the orchid, what to do in this case? Small paired leaves represent a scion or baby. The cause is considered to be high fever and root problems.
The placement of children on the arrow can be not only single. When growing babies near a flower, it is worth placing a container with water and spraying 2-3 times a day. With the development of children against the background of weak root development, they need to be wrapped in wet moss. When the roots grow up to 5 cm, the babies can be separated from the mother's outlet and planted in separate pots. In this case, the sections should be treated with charcoal.
If a peduncle has formed, but it does not develop, it is worth revising the conditions for keeping the plant. In this case, it is necessary to increase the frequency and intensity of watering. The flower needs nourishment. It must be placed in the most illuminated place. Light affects the development of the peduncle. If nothing changes, it is worth choosing a different complex of nutrients.
In order for the plant to develop correctly, it needs to be watered on time.
If the stem is accidentally damaged, it can break.In this case, it is necessary to cut off the flower shoot to the nearest bud in the area of the fracture. The cut should be treated with an antiseptic. Then a young shoot will appear from the kidney.
With proper care of the orchid, strong and healthy flower stalks form on the bush. Then buds bloom on them, which helps to make the plant more beautiful and decorative. In order for flower shoots to appear as often as possible, the culture needs to provide optimal growing conditions.
