How to make an orchid produce a flower stalk: why does the arrow freeze or not grow at all and what to do at home so that one or several shoots come out?

It often happens that your beautiful orchid has beautiful fat leaves, good roots, but you still can’t wait for flowering. This is due to the vital activity of such an “organ” of a plant as a peduncle.

In this article, we will tell novice gardeners about what an orchid's flower stalk is, what function this part of a plant performs, and what to do if an orchid does not have this shoot and what to do to make it plant a flower stalk twice at home .

We will mainly talk about this type of orchid like Phalaenopsis, because it is the most common in our country, as it is the least whimsical to care for.

What it is?

Like any plant, an orchid has an escape. So the shoot on which flower buds form and develop is called a flower-bearing shoot, flower-bearing arrow, or just a flower-bearing stalk.

You can learn more about what a peduncle of an orchid is, and also see a photo of a plant here, but how the peduncle differs from the root of a flower, we told here.

Importance for the flower

Rather, it is not as important for the plant as it is for its owner. Indeed, thanks to the flower-bearing arrow, an orchid begins to bloom. And the flowering period, absolutely like the period of rest and rest, is for the plant an integral part of the life cycle. Therefore, if you have not watched the flowering of your beauty for a long time, it's time to think about whether you care for her correctly, in particular her flower stalk.

Why does the plant not give a flower-bearing shoot?

We list the main reasons that impede this process:

Air humidity. This is a tropical plant that loves a well-moistened room. But not in the case when the process of development of the shoot occurs. During this period, air humidity should be at the level of 50-60%, and sometimes by 30-40%. but in no case should indicators reach the level of 70-80%. Otherwise, either the flower stalks will not appear at all, or during the development process they will begin to turn yellow and fade.
Lighting. It must be constantly in large quantities. Ideally, the light should fall on the orchid within 10-12 hours a day. If this is impossible to achieve in a natural way, then turn to artificial lighting for help. Use phytolamps for this.
Watering. Many inexperienced flower growers, trying to please the whimsical beauty, water her too actively and abundantly. But this is not worth doing. Especially at the time of the release of the topmost leaves, because usually the flower stalk is also thrown along with them. It is also worth reducing the frequency of soil moisture during the plant's rest, so that it understands that there is peace, and it is time to gain strength for new flowering.
After all, if you continue to water the orchid in the same mode as during flowering, she will not understand that it is time to relax and will not be able to recover for the new flower season.
Temperature. Do not forget that the optimum temperature for phalaenopsis, as well as for other varieties, is 18-24 degrees above zero. Try to keep the ambient temperature within these limits. And pay special attention to differences in daily temperature, which should fluctuate between 5-7 degrees.

Why is he coming out, but not growing?

First of all, such a process indicates insufficient lighting. The amount of light decreases sharply with the onset of autumn, so you need to worry about artificial assistance. An orchid, in particular a flower stalk, reacts very sharply to a decrease in the amount of light. In the best case, the growth of the flower-bearing arrow stops, in the worst - it completely dries up.

ATTENTION: Also, the reason may lie in the lack of nutrients. A plant may simply lack fertilizer. Take care of the integrated nutrition of the orchid every two weeks, but not more often, so as not to burn the root system.

How to make the arrow release - step by step instructions

If a new flower stalk does not appear on the plant within six months after the last flowering, do not worry about it. But if more than six months have passed and there are still no shoots, it’s worth starting to act:

First, assess the general condition of the flower. Carefully inspect its roots for rotten and painful ones. And then touch the sheet plates to the touch: they should be tight and green in color without a yellow tint.
Next, provide the plant with a twelve-hour light regime. But this should not be direct sunlight, which will burn the sheet plates. Better choose a place in which there will be a lot of diffused light. The east or southeast window of your house is perfect for this.
In the hot season, it is better to shade an orchid from the burning sun with sun foil.
But some growers recommend, along with lowering the temperature, to reduce the abundance of lighting. To do this, put the flowerpot with an orchid in a dark, cool place. So you create a stressful situation for the plant, which will give an impetus to the activation of a sleeping flower and the beginning of its new growth.
Change the irrigation mode if it is not normal. Better arrange a drought for your flower. Do not moisten the soil for at least ten days, and after that immerse it for fifteen minutes in settled water at room temperature. Then let the water drain and return the phalaenopsis pot to its place. In the future, water the flower only after the condensation on the walls of the pot passes.
The best watering option is shower. In this way, both underground and aerial roots are moistened, leaves are sprayed, and the water will not stagnate. Another criterion by which it can be judged that it is time to water an orchid is the weight of the pot. It should be fairly light. Sometimes a break between watering can even reach three weeks - this is normal.
Worry about comfortable temperature. During the day it should be 20-22 degrees Celsius, and at night 16-18 degrees above zero. If the room is too warm, the orchid will only grow leafy mass, and it will not release arrows. To stimulate the appearance of peduncles, the night temperature can be reduced by another couple of degrees. after this manipulation, you will see how the pet will release the escape.
Proper fertilizer and storage conditions. If you purchased a plant in a specialized flower shop, then there is no need to transplant it immediately. The main thing is that there is no polystyrene in the flowerpot (usually it is adjusted for easier transportation and so that the moisture in the pot does not stagnate).
If you notice its presence, you should immediately transplant phalaenopsis into a suitable soil for it. As for feeding, this is a prerequisite for the full development of orchids. Therefore, apply mineral complexes once a month in winter, and mineral complexes twice a month in summer, and the delivery of the peduncle will not take long.

What to do to get several shoots at once?

There are no new rules for this. Just follow all the recommendations above. But the main condition is that the plant has enough strength to provide flower arrows with all the necessary substances.

TIP: If your beauty is still too young, you should not seek to throw out several peduncles at once - this may deprive her of all strength. Therefore, it is better to reduce watering, but begin to spray more often the leaf plates of the phalaenopsis.

How to make grow up?

The flower arrow can grow very unusual - even bend into a pigtail. But most often you should not worry about it. Any living thing is very smart and has a high level of survival. therefore the orchid itself directs the peduncle up to extend its life.

But it happens that the shoot stubbornly grows down. Then all responsibility rests with the grower. You need to start acting while the flower arrow is still young and supple for any mechanical damage. To do this, you need to tie the young process with wire and attach it to the holding stick.

The second option to change the direction of growth of the flower arrow is to adjust the angle of incidence of light on the plant. Lighting should be set so that the peduncle stretches upward towards the sun. It may happen that no maneuvers will help, and the process will continue to grow down. If you find yourself in a similar situation, reconcile yourself and put the pot of orchid in such a place that the flower stalk can freely grow in the opposite direction. Yes, this is strange and unusual, but it can be.

Conclusion

In this article, we described the basic principles of care during the growth and development of peduncles of orchids. So that you do not have problems with this process, try to adhere to these recommendations as much as possible. This will help you achieve the longest and most frequent flowering period. It is important to remember: total should be in moderation, such as fertilizer and soil moisture.

In conclusion, we want to remind you that an orchid is a plant that loves stability. Therefore, if you have chosen for it one particular place and position for lighting, then try to make sure that your chosen position is constant and does not change. Because stress of this kind will not benefit your home or office favorite.