Bird of Paradise bud does not open

Question

My 3 potted orange bird of paradise plants send up flower stalks with buds, but buds do not open. Located in Palm Beach County, FL on sunny east facing porch. I water pots regularly (drip pans have drain holes so water does not collect in saucer), feed with time-release “Dynamite” fertilizer pellets for flowering plants, purchased at Home Depot. Why do the buds not open into flowers? Have had only 1 or 2 buds that have opened into flowers, earlier in summer. Checked websites and lots of info regarding flowering, but not about buds that do not open into flowers. Plants appear healthy otherwise.

Answer 1

This happens due to too little humidity. If you can increase the humidity around the plant, it will help. Many people like to set the plants on pebble trays filled with water to help keep the humidity around the plant high.

I did some more research on this and I would recommend that you treat the plant for thrips. Thrips are a small pest that typically attacks the base of flowers or new growth. They will kill the flowers before they are able to open. A treatment of a general pesticie will clear them up. Here is more information on them:
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/IP-9.pdf