Today we can say unequivocally: in nature, blue varieties of orchids do not exist, since representatives of this family do not have a gene responsible for the formation of blue. True, some enthusiasts believe that somewhere in the Amazon jungle you can find such a miracle of nature. But so far the discovery has not happened. Now discuss do natural blue orchids exit and what orchids shades are close to blue color or turquoise Orchid.
Are blue orchids natural or dyed?
The coloring of blue orchids is carried out using an original technology, which is patented and kept secret. Manufacturers assure that only natural ingredients are used in the process and the plants are not harmed. Moreover, it is not hidden that the blue color is a temporary phenomenon, and after flowering, the orchid will have buds with petals of natural color, mostly white.
Phalaenopsis are usually used as an initial culture – they immediately have many flowers that are convenient to color at the same time. Such results of floriculture began to be often used at special events, exhibitions and presentations. They look, of course, spectacular, but some unnatural color is still felt.
IMPORTANT! Quite a lot of fakes have appeared, which are produced using dubious dyes, sometimes containing excessive amounts of chemicals. They often just ruin the plant.
It is not difficult to distinguish such a barbaric counterfeit: not only the petals, but also the stems, and even the leaves of the phalaenopsis are often stained. Sometimes the dye is added directly to the soil during watering, which makes the color of the substrate also unnatural.
To avoid meeting such a fake and to properly maintain a painted orchid, a number of conditions must be observed:
- purchase a plant only in specialized stores or at exhibitions;
- sellers must notify you that the flower has been colored;
- Phalaenopsis with blue stems and leaves is not worth buying. Such a coloring was made with a clear violation of technology, which will almost certainly lead to a violation of the development of the plant, or even to its death;
- you must immediately prepare for the fact that the colored plant is much weaker, it often gets sick, and it is more difficult to care for it.
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characteristics of Natural Blue Orchids
In 2013, Japanese breeders showed natural phalaenopsis with blue petals. This cultivar was developed by adding commeline gene material to the cultivar Aphrodite. This is an unpretentious blue flower that grows in many summer cottages and is scientifically considered even a weed.
Commeline flowers are smaller than orchid inflorescences, and bloom for only about a day, but the whole summer season. It grows almost everywhere the climate permits, so there was no need to worry about the viability of this starting material.
The resulting hybrid was distinguished by the following features:
- rich blue color remained well during subsequent flowering;
- up to 30 flowers were poured on one peduncle;
- the flowers themselves turned out to be small up to 5 cm in diameter.
The plant looks quite impressive, but it is rare in stores. The cost of such planting material is very high.
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Varieties of Natural Orchids Close to Blue Shade
And yet, in natural conditions there are orchids that cannot be called blue, but shades of blue are present in them. First of all, this is Wanda, which grows in Thailand.
Vanda is also called the Queen for the beauty and majesty of her flowers. It easily crosses with other species, which breeders actively use. Has the following types of color:
- blue flowers with white bloom;
- blue with lilac dots;
- with yellow lips in the middle.
INTERESTING! This species does not enter a dormant state and can periodically bloom all year round. It is able to grow without any substrate, since the powerful boreal system allows it to receive nutrition and moisture from the air. Of course, it is necessary to water such an orchid occasionally.
Another representative of orchids with purple-bluish flowers is Cattleya. The closest to the blue color is its species Margaret Degenhardt “Saturn”, which breeders call space.
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Are there blue and turquoise Orchid?
There are no pure blue or turquoise orchids in nature, additional shades are still present in them. These can be strokes, dots, uniform spots.
Three months after the demonstration of the American blue colored orchid, Dutch breeders showed the world their new product – Phalaenopsis Royal Blue. This phalaenopsis was already a piercing blue, but also dyed.
At the flower festival, the creators of this blue wonder received the prestigious Sales Concept award. The flower itself quickly gained worldwide popularity due to the following qualities:
- it is indeed uniformly blue;
- blooms for a long time;
- unpretentious in care.
Dutch manufacturers also keep the dyeing technology secret, but it is clear that it does not cause serious damage to the plant.
What colors of Orchids are not in nature?
It can be said unequivocally that the blue orchid does not exist in nature, since these plants do not have a gene that forms this color. There are other rare orchids:
- unambiguously green are practically not found, but there are similar shades;
- black orchids are considered elite;
- extremely rare – a golden orchid, its cost reaches several thousand dollars.
Planting and breeding rules
If you bought a blue orchid from a store, immediately determine how it was dyed. In the case when the dye was introduced through watering, it is recommended to immediately change the substrate.
IMPORTANT! It is preferable to plant orchids in transparent pots, as their root system requires sunlight.
Such a transplant should be done very carefully, because the painted plant is much weaker than the usual one. Any manipulation with it can cause illness or even death of such a flower.
If you are planning to propagate a plant, this must be done when children appear – growth buds. Step by step it looks like this:
- The baby should be separated from the main plant and dried.
- Then take a clear plastic cup and fill it with the moss / pine bark mixture.
- Don’t forget the drain holes.
- Water the substrate in a container and put the baby there.
- Moisten the substrate as it dries.
It is advisable to place the cup in a small artificial greenhouse. It should maintain a temperature of 23-25 degrees. When the roots reach 5 cm, you can transplant the plant into soil for already adult specimens. This usually happens when the flower is about a year old.
Take a look at Types of yellow orchids.
blue phalaenopsis orchid care
It should be borne in mind that for a plant, staining is an artificial process. This is a kind of stress for the orchid. And these flowers do not tolerate stressful situations, they often get sick and even wither. You need to treat such a pet with increased attention.
Temperature control and lighting
Lighting for immunocompromised orchids should be diffuse and by no means direct. The plant can die both with a lack of light, and with its excess.
Additional requirements:
- the temperature regime must be constant, strong drops are unacceptable;
- a difference of 5-6 degrees is allowed, not more, and then in winter;
- as for the temperature level itself, it is different for different types of orchids. Most phalaenopsis do well at temperatures no lower than 21-22 degrees.
Watering and air humidity
Water the orchid regularly as the substrate dries:
- it is not worth moisturizing the plant too much, this can lead to decay of the root system, which is already weakened by the dye;
- watering is recommended to be carried out by short-term immersion of a flower pot in a large-volume container with water;
- the water must be settled.
IMPORTANT! If you water with a watering can, you should avoid getting liquid into the axils of the leaves. The water will stagnate there, and the process of rotting not only the leaves but also the stem will begin.
The orchid loves humid air; the hanging aerial roots even feed on it. It is better to keep the humidity at least 65% by spraying the plant periodically. You can put a pallet with water and expanded clay next to it.
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Top dressing in a pot
Be sure to feed the dyed orchid. In this case, the following conditions must be observed:
- in the summer, feeding is done 2 times a month;
- in winter, once is enough;
- usually feeding is alternated with watering.
Nutritional mixes (specifically for orchids) are available in a wide range of specialized stores.
How do you know if a plant is colored?
There are several options:
- if the petals are blue, the orchid is unconditionally colored;
- bluish roots are also a sign of color, moreover, of poor quality;
- traces of injections can be found on the peduncles.
It is best to ask the seller about the color method. This will help you make the right purchase. It is preferable to choose a patented look, but it is more expensive.
Take a look at watering orchids after repotting.
how to dye orchids blue?
There are several ways to dye orchid at home, although none of them can be called ideal:
- injection method: the paint is injected directly into the peduncle, root or stem;
- you can water the plant with a solution with a dye, this option is considered the most gentle;
- it is permissible to combine both.
How to Dye?
There are such options:
- the use of food colors;
- specially designed formulations; it is important to observe the proportions correctly, even the slightest excess of them can cause the death of the plant;
- the method of staining with ink is not suitable at all, it gives a quick result, but due to chemical additives, it is detrimental to the orchid.
how to look after a dyed orchid?
Watering the plant with a dye solution should be extremely careful:
- it is better to do it directly under the root;
- it should be remembered that cessation of dye watering leads to cessation and segmentation;
- any artificial influence on the plant shortens its life.
Here is detailed guide on dying orchids blue at home.
Painted orchids are fashionable, beautiful, unusual. But this is no longer living nature, albeit in a hybrid form.
