Dead Flower Spikes on Orchids

Causes

• The degradation of all the flowers on the orchid's flower spike, more accurately referred to as an inflorescence, occurs as cells break down from old age or the completion of seed production after blooming. However, improper growing conditions may lead to premature death of the flower spike on orchids even before buds form or causing flowers to drop away before opening. Wet soil, cold temperatures, root damage, drying or chilly drafts from a heating or air-conditioning vent or a sick plant may all cause the inflorescence to wither and die.

Maintenance

• Once the inflorescence stalk no longer holds flowers or seed pods, it turns yellow to wither and eventually black before collapsing. Orchid growers often opt to tidy the plant by cutting off the withering stalk with a scissors or bypass pruners, making the cut as close to its origin from the base of the orchid plant. An inflorescence will not rejuvenate again and produce more blossoms. The notable exception to this rule are moth orchids (Phalaenopsis), which may sprout a secondary flower stem if the old stalk is cut back to one or two nodes after the first flowering display ends. The smaller secondary inflorescence on moth orchids may sprout from one of the nodes that remains after this stalk trimming.

Keikis

• Many orchids sprout asexual plantlets from their roots or stems. A little plantlet is more commonly called a keiki, which is the Hawaiian word for baby. In some orchid species, such as corsage orchids (Cattleya) or reed-stem orchids (Epidendrum), a keiki may develop on the lower parts of an old, dying flower stem. Rather than fully cutting off the old, dead inflorescence, gardeners may opt to cut it back by 50 percent, retaining the lower stem where a keiki may form within a few months. The dead inflorescence is pruned back just enough for surrounding plant leaves to camouflage the stem remnant.

Recommendations

• If the dead flower spike is mushy, smells of sulfur or has strange growths on it, it could be an indication of a disease. With such a huge diversity of orchids being grown and sold in the United States as houseplants, a dead flower spike may seem alarming, especially if it occurs before any flowers opened. Knowing the species name or genetic lineage helps you learn about proper care and any insight into why the flower spike failed. Contact the grower, a local orchid specialist or orchid club for help and insight. Often it's a simple environmental issue that's causing the spike to die, and it may be corrected so the orchid won't be stressed the next time it produces a flower spike.