Susan Erickson wrote:

Thanks to both Prem & Susan:

On Tue, 01 Apr 2003 23:02:37 -0500, Prem Subrahmanyam
wrote:


well, the "dew" is not a problem, but the bud blasting is
suspect. It sounds a lot like thrips (or some other
insect/arthropod) damage to me.

I've carefully inspected, but have not been able
to detect the presence of any unwanted critters.


The bud blast can also happen if that honeydew is too sticky. The
humidity, or rain, on the plant should naturally reduce the
amount of honey dew on the flowers. Sometimes with window sill
or under light conditions it does not get rinsed off. Try to make
it a point to mist the dew if you mist the plants and when you
water.

If this is your problem - the buds are probably blasted before
they get free of the 'spike'. Take a close look at those not yet
blasted and the last one to go. Can you tell if it is before or
after it was freed from the spike?

After, but *very* shortly after. The honeydew on this plant
was *very* sticky and based on the misting advice I thought this
might be a good time to give this particular plant a bath/media
purging at the same time. After a brief shower the honeydew is
gone. I'm going to watch what happens over the next few days.

Prior to this there have been 4 blasted buds. A fifth and
sixth are separating from the spike now. One looks like it's
already started to blast but the other looks fine. There are
4 or 5 more at the top of the spike.

Wish me luck and thanks again.

Brian