From our perspective, water is the very essence of life and structure. Our cells rely on water pressure (turgor) to remain rigid and support growth, especially for delicate structures like flower buds. When the soil becomes too dry, our root system cannot supply the necessary water to the furthest extremities. The buds, being high-priority but non-essential for survival, are the first to be sacrificed. We abort their development to conserve water for core functions like maintaining leaf and stem health. Conversely, sitting in waterlogged soil is equally catastrophic. It suffocates our roots, preventing them from absorbing oxygen and effectively taking up water and nutrients. This also leads to root rot, which compromises our entire system, and again, the buds are jettisoned as a survival mechanism.
Our native habitat is often cool, humid, and sheltered, similar to an understory environment. Excessive heat and direct, intense sunlight place us under tremendous physiological stress. To cool down, we increase transpiration (water loss through leaves), which can outpace water uptake. This creates an internal water deficit, leading directly to bud drop as described above. Furthermore, strong winds physically batter our tender buds and accelerate moisture loss from the foliage, compounding the stress. A sudden change in location or exposure, such as moving from a sheltered nursery to a windy, sunny patio, can shock our system, causing us to redirect energy and drop buds.
Producing these complex, energy-intensive flowers requires specific nutritional support. A lack of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), which are crucial for bud development, root health, and overall physiological processes, can directly cause bud abortion. We simply cannot complete the task without the right building blocks. However, an overabundance of nitrogen (N) is just as problematic. Excessive nitrogen encourages a vigorous but soft growth of leaves and stems at the expense of reproduction. Our energy is diverted into creating foliage, and the budding process is neglected, often resulting in the buds weakening and falling away.
While we have defenses, infestations by pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies are a significant drain on our resources. These pests pierce our tissues and feed on our nutrient-rich sap. This theft of vital fluids weakens us overall and directly stresses the developing buds. The feeding damage can also disrupt the vascular flow to the bud itself, effectively starving it and causing it to yellow and drop. In this case, the bud drop is not a conscious decision but a direct result of injury and resource depletion.
Sometimes, a change in our environment is inevitable, such as when we are brought home from a greenhouse. The conditions in a commercial greenhouse are often ideal and meticulously controlled. The sudden shift to a new light intensity, humidity level, and temperature regime in a home or garden can be a shock. During this period of acclimation, we may respond by dropping some buds as we prioritize adjusting our metabolism and growth patterns to the new conditions. It is a temporary setback as we work to establish ourselves in our new location.
