This is the most frustrating thing ever… My Leptotes unicolor is setting bud after bud that inevitably blasts (shrivels up and dies) before maturing to flower. I have watched at least 4 buds go the past few weeks and there is currently a new bud on the way. It is at the critical stage when all the previous ones have failed and I am desperately trying to figure out what to do!
I have doubled the watering, misting it thoroughly morning and night (on top of the weekly bath). RH hovers between 85-99%. But I am not convinced water is the problem. Perhaps it is too warm in the vivarium? I read conflicting culture advice for Leptotes on the internet. Some say to grow this species cool to intermediate, others say hot to cool. Mine hangs in the warm vivarium, but it has not been very warm in there lately, only reaching 24 degrees during the day and down to 15 degrees at night for the past month or two. My Leptotes bicolor bloomed in the same vivarium this spring when it was much warmer, but I got that plant in bud and perhaps the buds were past the critical stage then? I have got to figure out what to do! …more research…
PS! I wonder what the freeloaders’ name is? (The tropical weed that shares the mount.)
That’s not nice to tease us in that manner! Baaad Leptotes!
Could we ask for a closeup of the freeloader as well?
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the final bud to develop just nicely!
Maybe it’s getting too strong of air movement?
Thanks guys. Marius, I’ll try and get a better photo tomorrow. Greenberg, I really don’t think so… the fan points to the front glass and hits there before it bounces back and then the air spreads out pretty wide… The Leptotes is hanging on the back wall, but just to be sure, I’ll try a different spot. Keeping those fingers crossed for the next bud!!