Eggplant, also known as Solanum melongena, grows in hot weather, healthy growth requires direct exposure to sunlight for most of the day. Eggplants are also tropical or subtropical, so they grow best at high temperatures.
In cold weather, these plants grow more slowly. Eggplant is a self-pollinating plant because it has male and female organs. Most gardeners get annoyed when the flowers fall. Eggplant falling flowers are a common problem for many gardeners. Let’s take a look at the causes of eggplant flower shedding and find a solution together.
Also Read: How Often to Water Egg Plant?
Why are the eggplant flowers falling off?
Eggplant is a tropical plant that grows in high-temperature areas. They need well-drained soil to grow. The falling off eggplant flowers maybe the combination of many factors, but there are several reasons for the fall of eggplant flowers are:
Lack of nutrients in the soil
Eggplant is a tropical plant that grows in high-temperature areas. You need well-drained soil to grow. Eggplant flower falling off can be the result of a combination of many factors as follows:
The reason the flowers fall without producing fruit is likely to frustrate the gardener. Every gardener goes out of his way to take care of the plant they have grown with all the information they have and it is perfectly obvious and understandable.
To prevent this from happening, let’s take a look at the steps and add precautions that every gardener should follow to keep flowers from falling off.
High temperature
Eggplants are tropical plants and grow best at high temperatures, but if the temperature rises above 32 degrees Celsius, the eggplant should be covered with a shade cloth to protect it from possible damage from the extremely high temperatures and cover your eggplant with the shade cloth if necessary.
In case you have grown your eggplant in containers, temperature control will be easier for you as you can move the eggplant to a place that won’t get direct sunlight during the days.
Improper fertilizers
Insufficient fertilization can also cause eggplant flowers to fall off. Improper fertilization means a lack of nutrients needed for eggplant growth. This lack will put pressure on the eggplant and cause the flowers to fall off without fruit.
It is important to add horse manure or cow manure to the soil regularly as this adds nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen is essential for the production of plant protein. Adding organic fertilizers is also important because they add phosphorus to the soil, thereby stimulating the growth and development of healthy flowers and fruits.
Climatic conditions
Unsuitable weather conditions may be one of the possible reasons for eggplant flower shedding. Eggplant grows well at high temperatures but grows slowly at low temperatures.
If your eggplant does not receive at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day, the flowers may fall off or fail to develop. Therefore, it is important to grow eggplants in sunny places during the day.
Absence of pollination
Eggplants are self-pollinated because they contain male and female organs. They do not rely on insects or bees for pollination, but people often find it difficult to self-pollinate eggplants.
Eggplants are usually pollinated by wind. But there may be problems with pollination when the weather is very humid or humid. In very hot weather, pollen becomes inactive because it thinks that it cannot withstand the pressure of extra fruit in very hot weather.
It can also be said that the eggplant interrupts its fruit in order not to bear greater pressure. In a humid climate, the pollen becomes very viscous, so it becomes very viscous due to excessive moisture in the air. He cannot reach the pistil to pollinate the flower.
If the eggplant flowers fall off due to lack of pollination, you will need to act as a pollinator and try manual pollination.
In addition to eggplant blooms, there may be other factors related to the above two points. Let’s take a look at them too.
Shortage of water
Eggplant is a very nutritious plant and requires constant watering to keep it healthy. Lack of water puts pressure on plants because they have to withstand extremely high temperatures.
Due to this lack of water pressure, the eggplant will lose its flowers, believing that it cannot meet the demand for new fruits. Therefore, if you find that the flowers of your plants are falling off, make sure to water them regularly. Eggplants need at least 18 inches of water in the soil to prevent moisture loss from their roots and thus prevent moisture loss for the entire plant.
In addition, forming about 4 inches of mulch around the eggplant will help retain moisture in the soil, which is essential for a healthy harvest.
How to stop eggplant flowers from falling off?
The falling eggplant flowers indicate that something is missing, whether it’s nutrients, fertilizer, or water. To avoid falling flowers, you must take care of your eggplants and make sure that they are nothing is lacking.
Read on to learn how to prevent eggplant flowers from falling off.
As mentioned earlier, eggplants are tropical or subtropical, so warm temperatures and direct sunlight are needed to get a healthy harvest at least six hours a day. In the container, choose a location in your home that is exposed to direct sunlight most of the time.
Second, you need to add water to the soil regularly. The roots of eggplant go deep into the ground, so you should add water at least 18 inches below the ground. Since eggplant grows at a higher temperature, it is obvious that heat will quickly evaporate water. Lack of water puts pressure on plants, so the flowers will fall off early and bear fruit.
Therefore, if you want a healthy harvest, start watering the plants regularly. It is also recommended to form a melting layer at least three inches around the eggplant, as this will help the plant and retain moisture in the soil during long periods of weather. If the climate is very hot or very humid, the eggplant will not self-pollinate and cause falling flowers. In this case, damage to the crop can be prevented; you need to pollinate the eggplant flowers. This is a very simple process that does not take a long time, and the result is well worth it with minimum effort. Later we will discuss how to pollinate eggplant manually.
Plants feed on available nutrients, and the next important step that you must not skip is regular soil fertilization. Add compost and regularly add nitrogen to the soil, which is necessary for plants to make protein.
In addition, use organic fertilizers regularly, as they will help your plants meet their daily nutritional needs, resulting in a healthy harvest. Sun protection is an important step that most gardeners do not consider. Hungry for sunlight and is known to grow better at higher temperatures, it is also important to note that when the temperature rises above 32 degrees Celsius, getting direct sunlight will do more harm than good to your plants. Use shade cloth to protect your plants from direct sunlight.
Indoor growers should move the eggplant container to a place where the temperature is not so high. This step should not be skipped, otherwise, the flowers will dry out and fall off, and it will also increase the likelihood that the plant will dry out completely.
How to hand pollination done on eggplants?
Eggplant is self-pollinated, but if you find that the eggplant has fallen out, it may be due to lack of pollination. Self-pollination usually occurs due to the movement of the eggplant due to wind or rain in very hot or humid weather. Self-pollination usually does not occur during the temperature process, so you need to act as a proxy and pollinate the eggplant to get the fruit.
Artificial pollination of eggplant is very simple and can be done immediately. What kind of artificial pollination can be done?
Take the clean brush. Now use this brush to pollinate your eggplant. Move this brush into the eggplant flower. Repeat this process for all the flowers in the eggplant. This will help the pollen reach the pistil, which means it can act as a pollinator for the eggplant.
Another form of hand pollination can be to simply touch the plant to make it vibrate. These vibrations help the eggplant to pollinate and bear fruit. However, it is much more effective to pollinate plants with a brush. Remember all the above to get a healthy harvest and prevent premature flowering. Always pay attention to changes in weather conditions and their impact on your plant.
Also Read: Why My Eggplant Leaves Turning Yellow and Curling
Problems with eggplant
Your eggplant flowers can be dropping off if they do not get sufficient water or pollination of eggplant cannot occur. Lack of water can be dried your eggplant flowers and fall off, you can prevent it by watering your eggplant twice a week and moist the soil around 6 inches from the surface of the ground which can help the roots of your eggplant moist in the soil.
Another cause for flower dropping in eggplant is lack of pollination. So hand pollination can be done by vibrating each plant to transferring the pollen from male to female parts of the eggplant flower.
Conclusion
You have to take specific measures and control to protect the eggplant flower from falling off for better crop yield.