What problem occurred at California Pajarosa?

• A. About 10% of the flowers were drooping
• B. About 5% of the flowers were missing petals
• C. About 3% of the flowers were curling stems
• D. About 5% of the flowers were growing sideways

Answer: (D)

This question is about recognizing a growth habit problem in flowering plants. When diagnosing issues, unusual orientation of blooms is a clear clue that something is affecting how the plant is growing, not just a temporary stress.

The best answer describes about 5% of the flowers growing sideways. This kind of sideways growth indicates a structural or developmental issue impacting how blooms orient themselves, which stands out as a distinct abnormality in the plant’s growth pattern. It suggests an underlying problem with the plant’s architecture or environmental cues guiding shoot and flower orientation.

Other symptoms described—drooping flowers, missing petals, and curling stems—point to more common or variable stress responses (water or nutrient deficiency, pest or environmental damage, or physical stress) and don’t signify a specific, consistent growth-direction problem in the same way sideways blooming does.