Symptom differential
Flower Browning, Collapse & Rot
Browning inside or around flowers can reflect Botrytis and other molds, senescent tissue, mechanical damage, insect injury, heat, or desiccation. Dense flowers must be opened and inspected internally when rot is suspected.
Pattern questions
- Does browning begin inside dense flower tissue?
- Is gray or other fungal growth present?
- Did rain, condensation, or high humidity occur?
- Are dead leaves embedded in the flower?
Plausible cause categories
- Botrytis or other flower mold
- Normal localized senescence
- Mechanical damage
- Caterpillar or insect injury
- Heat or desiccation
- Pollination-related tissue changes
Discriminating checks
- Inspect inside the flower
- Use magnification
- Review humidity and wetting history
- Check for insects or frass
- Separate suspect harvested material
Red flags
- Gray sporulation
- Soft spreading internal rot
- Musty odor
- Rapid progression after wet weather
Visual study guide
- Flower internal inspection cutaway
- Botrytis versus senescence
- Insect injury comparison
- Wet-weather risk timeline