My buds are highly sensitive to sudden changes in my environment. If you recently moved me from the nursery to your home, or even from one room to another, the shift in light, temperature, and humidity can be a profound shock. I am a creature of habit. A draft from an air conditioner or heater, or a significant drop in nighttime temperatures, signals danger to my system. My survival instinct tells me that conditions are not optimal for successful reproduction (blooming), so I will abort the buds to conserve my energy for mere survival, waiting for a more stable and favorable time.
This is a critical factor for my well-being. My roots need to be in moist, well-draining soil—they despise being waterlogged. If I am sitting in soggy soil, my roots cannot breathe; they begin to rot and fail to transport water and nutrients to my buds, causing them to weaken and drop. Conversely, if the soil becomes too dry between waterings, I experience drought stress. The buds, being the most delicate and energy-intensive parts, are the first to be sacrificed. I will jettison them to preserve moisture for my core leaves and stems.
While I do not crave the scorching, all-day sun of some plants, I absolutely require bright, indirect light to thrive. The process of budding and blooming is incredibly energy-intensive. If I am placed in a spot that is too dim or shady, my photosynthetic engines cannot produce enough sugars (energy) to support the development of all my buds. It becomes a simple calculation of resource allocation. I must let some buds go to ensure that a few might have a chance to develop, or to ensure my own vegetative growth continues.
Forming these beautiful, fragrant buds requires a specific set of nutritional building blocks. A general-purpose fertilizer might be good for my green growth, but blooming demands extra phosphorus (the "P" in N-P-K ratios). If I am planted in poor soil or have not been fed appropriately during the growing season, I simply lack the resources to complete the bud development process. I may start the journey, but without the necessary nutritional support, the buds will fail and fall away. An imbalance, such as too much nitrogen, can also encourage me to focus on leaf production at the expense of my flowers.
Though you may not easily see them, tiny sap-sucking insects like aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs could be assaulting my tender buds and new growth. These pests pierce my tissues and drain the vital sap, which is laden with the nutrients and moisture destined for the buds. This direct attack weakens the bud structure and severs its connection to the stem. My response is to sever the compromised bud myself to prevent the pest problem from spreading further into my system, a defensive tactic to protect the whole plant.
