Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Tomatoes & Bud Blast True or False

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phal Vanda Aer Angrm Catts
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    1,422

    Default Tomatoes & Bud Blast True or False

    So, I'm trying to figure out the truth of an old orchid wives' tale. I have heard that tomato plants give off a gas or otherwise will cause orchids to drop their buds and blooms. The other version of the story is that it is the ethelyne produced by ripening tomatoes (not the plants themselves) that cause the buds and blooms to drop.

    This question arises because of an on-going discussion with my husband. He would LOVE to grow tomatoes from seed in my greenhouse during the winter. I have my reservations--particularly if the tomatoes will somehow cause any or all of the orchids to drop their blooms.

    So, mythbusters--any truth to the tomatoes cause buds to drop theory? Better yet, has anyone actually grown tomatoes and let them ripen in your greenhouse along with your orchids? ?????

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Lynda
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    phals, paphs, oncs
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Naples, FL
    Posts
    1,700
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    What an interesting question! Surely someone must know....

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Howard
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Anything That Will Grow
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    W. Bloomfield, Michigan
    Posts
    1,261
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I don't have an absolute scientific answer. However, the ethylene gas to which you make reference comes from the decay of certain fruits. As an example, placing sliced apples in a plastic bag with a bromiliad will force it to bloom. I believe this works with some other plants also. I don't think ripening tomatoes would do this.....now if they fall off and begin to rot, that may be a different story.....I'd like to hear from others because this is interesting, since I have used sliced apples on my chids to attract snails in the past and this definitly works to catch those little critters and I saw no ill effects on the chids or their flowers.

  4. #4
    My Grow Area
    On a Windowsill.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Encyclia
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    north eastern ohio
    Posts
    190
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I think its a gas called Ethelyne. I know that apples and other ripening fruits will do it. A way to ripen tometoes that have been picked is to put them in a bag with apples. I think that all ripening fruit gives it off to some extent. It may shorten the lives of your blooms.

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Bruce Brown
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleyas & Slippers
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    35,135
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    For what it is worth, your husband is only planning to grow the plants, not the fruit in the GH and if that is the case, you will not have to worry. LJA did the tomato from seed thing when we first built our GH. He also grew peppers that way. In the spring, we would put them out in the regular garden. The little plants did nothing that I could see or remember to damage the orchids. They do however take up space and the trays have to be kept warm when the seeds start to grow.

    My understanding is that the ripening fruit is what causes the release of gas that could cause bud blast or damage if in close proximity to the orchid.

    Cheers,
    BD

  6. #6
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phal Vanda Aer Angrm Catts
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    1,422

    Default

    Okay--so the consensus then is that if he wanted to start the seedlings and get seedlings going for transplant into the garden--no problem. But growing the plants and letting them actually produce and ripen tomatoes could affect my orchids. ???

  7. #7
    Real Name
    John
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleya, Cymbidium
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Posts
    1,332
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Ripening fruit (any fruit, even when picked from the plant) secretes ethylene gas as part of their natural process.
    Ethylene (among other gases) is responsible for triggering the ripening of fruits, and the senescence of pollinated flowers.

    Ethylene is actually produced inside the plant, and delivered to the flowers and fruits. Ripening fruit receives heavier doses of ethylene and therefore provides a larger chance of expending the ethylene in the form of ethylene gas.
    The ethylene in the plant rarely escapes through the plant membranes. But do be careful about pruning plants inside the greenhouse (or chopping them up in preparation for composting).

    Obviously you do not want ripening fruit in close proximity of flower that you do not want to wilt as it would trigger the flowers to senesce without being pollinated first.

    Kerosene heaters also produce trace amounts of ethylene gas as a byproduct, and is actually used by fruit warehouse companies to induce faster ripening of fruit stock that were picked green during harvest.

    Info Link 1
    Info Link 2
    Ethylene and Auxin Participation in Pollen Induced Fading of Vanda Orchid Blossoms

    I can dig up more info if you need

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Fren
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phrags, Paphs, Catts
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    2,202
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    ....ripening fruit also causes cut flowers to wilt and cattleya sepals to brown

Similar Threads

  1. Linguine with tomatoes and basil
    By Ron-NY in forum The Kitchen - off the Outback Terrace Bar
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: March 11th, 2008, 05:14 PM
  2. a true mini
    By pavel in forum Cattleyas, Vandas, Dendrobiums IN BLOOM
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: April 28th, 2007, 10:29 PM
  3. Is it true that ..
    By Ferrari in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: June 23rd, 2006, 09:18 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.