Blind

Blind (adjective, noun; horticulture, botany)

Definition (Botany & Horticulture):

In a botanical or horticultural context, blind refers to a plant shoot, bud, or flowering stem that fails to develop flowers when it normally would, or one that produces foliage only. This condition is often temporary or environmentally induced, but may also arise from genetic, nutritional, or pruning-related factors.

Etymology:

Derived from Old English blīnd, meaning “sightless” or “without vision.” In horticulture, it metaphorically describes a shoot that lacks the expected “sight” or sign of flowering.

Usage:

• Blind shoot: A stem that grows vegetatively but fails to set flower buds.
• Blind bud: A dormant or undeveloped bud, often due to shading or damage.
• Blind plant: A specimen, such as a bulb, that does not flower during its expected cycle.

Causes:

• Insufficient light: Especially common in shade-tolerant species when grown in deep shade.
• Improper pruning: Cutting at the wrong time or too harshly can remove flower buds or inhibit their formation.
• Overfeeding with nitrogen: Excess nitrogen encourages lush foliage at the expense of flower formation.
• Immaturity: Some young plants (especially perennials or shrubs) may take time to reach flowering maturity.
• Environmental stress: Drought, waterlogging, or poor soil can result in blind growth.
• Bulb exhaustion: In species like tulips and daffodils, bulbs may become “blind” after repeated flowering without sufficient feeding or lifting.

Notable Examples:

• Daffodils (Narcissus spp.): Blindness is common in crowded clumps, often due to depletion of bulb energy reserves.
• Roses (Rosa spp.): May produce blind shoots if poorly pruned or affected by cold spring snaps.
• Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis): Can produce leafy pips without flower spikes when overcrowded or shaded.

Remedial Actions:

• Divide and replant overcrowded clumps (especially in bulbous plants)
• Apply balanced fertilizer (low in nitrogen, higher in potash)
• Ensure good sunlight exposure
• Avoid over-pruning; prune at the correct seasonal window
• Water appropriately, avoiding extremes

Significance in Cultivation:

While blindness is rarely fatal to a plant, it reduces ornamental value and may impact crop yields (e.g., in floriculture). Gardeners and growers monitor for blind growth as a sign of underlying cultural problems needing correction.

See also:
Bud, Flower initiation, Vegetative growth, Dormancy, Nutrient deficiency, Stress response in plants