Are there blue orchids? Blue orchid is an overseas beauty. Where does the color blue come from?

Myth or reality?

A couple of years ago, stores were full of blue phalaenopsis, which sellers praised as exclusive and very rare. Beautiful and rare plants after some time they faded, flower growers eagerly awaited the buds, stimulated them to bloom, and having achieved it, they discovered that it was now a white orchid. Blue paint- that’s what gave the phalaenopsis flowers such a beautiful color. After the formation of the peduncle, a dye is injected into its base, which penetrates into the flowers. Therefore, fans of blue phalaenopsis run the risk of soon being disappointed when purchasing such a plant. But it’s too early to get upset - there are other orchids that can please their owners with blue flowers. By the way, not only orchid producers are guilty of using dyes, but also farms that produce other plants. In particular, paint can often be found on supposedly rare varieties of various succulent plants.

Wanda

For those who love flowers of blue and blue shades, there are vanda orchids, which are considered almost queens in their family. So this blue orchid is quite suitable for people with original taste. Care can be a problem - vandas are quite capricious, they require high humidity and daily watering. In addition, they should be located in a very bright place. Not everyone, even a very experienced gardener, will take on such a capricious plant, and although the blue vanda orchid is invariably popular, beginners should not take it on. True, vanda flowers, despite its name, are still not entirely blue, rather purple. However, the flowering of this plant is very beautiful and worth all the effort spent to achieve it. By the way, there is a large number of varieties and the most unusual and original colors of vands. At good care The blue vanda orchid (as well as vandas of other shades) blooms very profusely and for a long time, and if not done correctly, it quickly dies from drought or flooding.

Cattleya

There is also a simpler option: the blue cattleya orchid. They are less whimsical than vandas, although more capricious than phalaenopsis. They also cannot be called blue or blue in the full sense of the word. More often in blue or purple tones part of the plant is colored, but there are also varieties that are completely light blue or lilac in color. Making Cattleya bloom is quite simple - it needs direct sun and a difference in day and night temperatures. Most plants get burned from such lighting, but the Cattleya orchid is just blooming. Moreover, the more light it receives, the more intensely colored its flowers will be. Cattleyas need quite high level air humidity, but spraying them is not recommended. These orchids have fairly clearly defined periods. active growth and dormancy, therefore, depending on the condition of the plant, you need to regulate its watering and maintenance. In general, caring for blue cattleyas, vandas and phalaenopsis is no different from caring for orchids of the same species, but of different colors. True, as already said, orchids with flowers are purely blue color does not exist, therefore, when you come to a flower shop, you should be careful about purchasing certain varieties that are positioned as very rare and elite.

Blue orchids look beautiful and unusual. They appeared on store shelves only recently, but have already gained popularity. Experienced flower growers know that blue colors are not typical for orchids. How to determine whether a flower is painted or not? How to care for her? Is it possible to paint a plant yourself? Will this harm the culture?

Exotic lovers will be greatly disappointed - most blue orchids on store shelves are artificially colored. There are several hybrid varieties that are blue, but it is not as bright and rich.

Special varieties

There are only two varieties of orchids with an unusual blue color - Vanda and Cattleya. Vanda is a capricious flower and requires special attention. The color is not quite blue - with purple tint. But Wanda looks no less impressive than painted flowers.

Cattleya is less demanding in care. Features large bright colors. The colors are different, and among them there are also varieties with pale blue flowers. Orchids do not have a deep blue color in nature. Flowers are painted by watering or injection with dye. Save Blue colour it won’t work - the next flowers will be slightly bluish or completely white.

All the intense blue orchids in the store are painted phalaenopsis. When purchasing a plant, inspect it carefully. If the flower is flaccid, a bluish tint appears on the roots and leaves, and there is noticeable damage on the stem from the introduction of dye, do not buy it. Such a plant will die very soon.

Actions after purchase

Care is complicated by the weakened state of the plant. The introduction of artificial dye is a powerful stress for the flower. He will need increased attention and enhanced care so that he can adapt to new conditions.

Do not rush to replant the orchid in a new pot. This is additional stress. There is too high a chance that the flower will die soon after transplantation.

If too many chemical dyes have been introduced, the flower will gradually begin to shed its buds. He needs to be resuscitated urgently. Carefully inspect the plant from peduncle to roots. Look for needle marks. Finding them on the roots is a bad sign. There are no guarantees that the orchid will be saved. The paint was injected into the peduncle - the plant has a greater chance of survival.

Resuscitation of a painted flower

Find the injection site. And neatly sharp knife cut off the paint-filled peduncle.
Remove the orchid from the pot. Free the roots from the substrate. Rinse root system warm water.
Inspect the roots. If you find bluish, rotting areas, cut them out. Treat the cut areas with cinnamon or charcoal powder.
Dry the roots. During few hours.
Replant.

Into a new sterile substrate.

Basic care

A painted flower will require more careful care. Breaking the rules will result in death. Lighting. Sunny places
unsuitable. On the south side they place it on a table slightly away from the window. Preference is given to the northeast, west and east sides. During the midday hours, be sure to provide shade.
Temperature . In light shade, at moderate temperatures of 18-25˚C, flowering will last longer. In summer, a short-term increase in temperature up to 35˚C is allowed. Prolonged heat leads to shedding of buds and lethargy of leaves. A plant weakened by dyes may not tolerate heat. In winter, the temperature is reduced to 15-25˚C. Withstands short-term cooling down to 12˚С. Humidity . A normal humidity level is considered to be in the range of 30-40%. High humidity
and poor ventilation of the room leads to rotting of the roots and the appearance of spots on the leaves. When the humidity is below 20-25%, the leaves lose turgor and the flowers fall off. Careful spraying is beneficial. But try not to allow water to accumulate in the leaf axils.
Feeding. It is better not to feed a painted orchid or use a minimal amount of low concentration fertilizer. One of the most successful fertilizers is Kemira Lux.
Root care. Aerial roots are not buried in the substrate. They are needed to obtain additional moisture and nutrition from the air. Old roots gradually die off - they turn brown and dry out. The dried parts are carefully cut off with a sharp knife.
Priming. The main substrate component for most orchids is pine bark. In dry rooms, sphagnum is added to the substrate - it retains moisture well. You can add some crushed foam and charcoal. Before planting, the bark is soaked for two days, washed clean water and only then mixed with the other components.
Transplant. Don't rush into transferring. It is worth doing this if the roots are damaged or the substrate is in poor condition. Replant after flowering at intervals of two to three years.

Don't be surprised if your blue orchid changes color during its next bloom. The paint is gradually washed out of the plant. Freshly colored flowers are intensely blue; during the next flowering they will be white with blue streaks or slightly bluish. Then ordinary white flowers form on the peduncles.

Coloring at home

It is not advisable to paint orchids, since any coloring substance poisons them. As a last resort, use special paints for flowers. They can be purchased at large flower shops or ordered online. The algorithm of actions includes four stages.

Dilute paint with water. In accordance with the instructions.
Take a sterile syringe. And fill it with dye.
Gently pierce the peduncle. And introduce the dye solution.
Treat the puncture site. Coal powder.

At first, carefully monitor the condition of the plant. Keep it in a cool room, in moderate lighting, and monitor the condition of the soil. If the flowers turn blue, do not wilt, and the plant looks healthy, the experiment was a success.

It is not recommended to inject the dye solution into the stem and roots of the plant. The orchid may die from this. Use only special dyes for flowers. Food inks will not give the desired effect; ink will destroy the orchid.

Consequences of color change

Any paint contains aggressive chemical substances. Their introduction into the peduncle does not occur without consequences.

Gas exchange disturbance. The capillaries become clogged and the plant cannot breathe fully.
Diseases and pests. Natural immunity is lost, resistance to diseases and pests is lost. Sores and rot may appear at the injection site. When dye is introduced into the roots, they inevitably rot.
Death of the plant. This is the most common outcome of the experiment. At best, it is partially restored, but still remains weakened.

Caring for a painted orchid after flowering will vary slightly. It is better to cut the peduncle immediately, without waiting for the re-formation of buds or children. It will take more time to recover. The flower needs to be provided with the most comfortable conditions.

Painting does not affect the genetic code of the plant in any way. This is a temporary change, of which there will be no trace left by the next flowering. If you want to diversify your collection with a blue orchid, look for Vanda or Cattleya in stores.

Reproduction methods

If you bought not a vanda or cattleya, but a painted orchid, follow the propagation method of phalaenopsis. It propagates mainly by pups and cuttings.

Cuttings

Cuttings are an effective, fairly simple method. Cuttings are taken only from a healthy plant that is not affected by pests and diseases. Take a side shoot.
Cut it into several parts. On each, two nodes with axillary buds are left. The container is filled wet sand or sphagnum moss. The cuttings are laid horizontally. The container is covered with film on top.

The soil in the greenhouse is regularly moistened, and the film is removed daily for ventilation. In about a month, full-fledged babies will form on the shoot segments. They are separated and planted in separate containers after the formation of their own root system.

Growing up from children

Children develop from dormant buds. Formed on the stem, peduncle. Children rarely develop on their own. Usually their development has to be stimulated. Several methods of stimulation are used.

Dividing the main plant. The method is risky, suitable only for completely healthy plants. In the case of a painted orchid, it is better not to use it. The essence of the method is to cut off the top and root it. Behind bottom continue to care until the children appear with roots.
Reducing watering and temperature changes. Watering is stopped for 15 days, daily temperature changes of 7-9˚C are achieved.
Hormonal stimulants. Flower shops sell a special hormonal paste. With its help, you can quickly awaken a sleeping kidney and stimulate the formation of a baby from it. The covering scale is removed from the upper bud of the peduncle. Work carefully, use a sharp blade and tweezers. Every four days, the dormant bud is treated with paste. The orchid is kept in a warm room at temperatures up to 30˚C. In the cool weather, instead of babies, a bud is formed. Grown-up children are separated from the peduncle and planted.

You can take pieces of peduncles as cuttings. After flowering, it is cut off, divided into pieces of three to four centimeters and planted similarly to cuttings from a side shoot. One dormant bud is left on each segment.

Frequent illnesses

The risk of disease in a painted orchid is much higher. At the slightest sign of illness, treatment begins immediately. A weakened plant has much less chance of survival. Below is a table with the symptoms of major diseases and methods of treating them.

Table - Orchid diseases and methods of their treatment

Disease	Signs	Treatment
Bacterial spot	- Appearance of spots; - yellow leaves; - darkening of leaves; - softening of leaves; - appearance of ulcers	- Removal of affected leaves; - fungicide treatment
Powdery mildew	- White plaque; - drying of damaged parts	- Spraying with colloidal sulfur; - spraying with “Skor” or “Topsin-M” preparations
Sooty fungus	- Black plaque; - weakening and death of the plant	- Treatment with drugs “Mikosan”, “Ridomil”, “Topsin-M”
Rot	- Softening of roots and leaves; - the appearance of rot	- Trimming rotten parts; - transplantation with changing the container and substrate; - fungicide treatment

Common Pests

Weakening of the orchid as a result of painting, violation of the rules of care often lead to mass destruction pests. They draw juices from the plant, leading to secondary infection and death. The table shows the most common orchid pests and how to combat them.

Table - Orchid pests and methods of controlling them

Insect	Signs	Control measures
Thrips	- Small black bugs with wings; - silver stripes on the leaves; - small black dots	Three-time treatment with Actellik and Fitoverm
False scale insects and scale insects	- Plaques on stems and leaves; - sticky, viscous coating; - weakening of the plant	- Mechanical removal insects; - washing with soapy water; - spraying with Actellik; - transplantation into fresh substrate
Mealybug	- Whitish coating; - formation of “lumps of cotton wool”; - leaves drying out; - wilting of a flower	- Trimming problem parts; - treatment with soapy water; - three-time treatment with Fitoverm
Whitefly	- Little butterfly; - weakening of the plant; - yellowing and drying of leaves	- Washing the orchid with soapy water; - treatment of plants and soil with Fitoverm
Aphid	- Sticky coating; - leaf curling; - sooty fungus	- Treatment with soap solution; - treatment with Fitoverm
Spider mites	- Small punctures on the leaves; - discoloration and drying of leaves; - fall of buds; - thin cobweb	- Washing the flower, pot; - placing the pot in a container of water; - spraying the plant and substrate with Fitoverm
Nematodes	- Small roundworms; - growth arrest; - decay; - death of an orchid	- Watering the substrate with a solution of “Levamisole”, “Dekaris”; - warming up in hot water up to 40˚С.

Variegated and bright flowers always attract attention and allow us to add a little color to our lives. Therefore, every housewife wants to get a blue orchid, which, in addition to its exotic appearance, is also quite rare.

Blue orchids appeared in flower shops several years ago and immediately won an army of fans. But unfortunately, after such a desired purchase comes disappointment due to the fact that in the next flowering the new flowers have the usual or, one might even say, classic white color. There is one simple explanation for this - the orchid is painted with a special chemical dye. Sellers place this information in small print on labels, but it usually goes unnoticed. White orchids are used for coloring, which after processing give a uniform and rich color.

How did blue orchids appear?

The world's first blue Phalaenopsis was presented at the international exhibition of tropical plants, which took place in Florida (USA). This is a bold step taken by the Silver Vase plant farm. The plant aroused great interest among the public and just three months after the presentation, Phalaenopsis Royal Blue or Royal Blue Phalaenopsis was presented at the FloraHolland flower competition in Holland. The Dutch nursery “Geest Orchideeen”, which presented this miracle of botany, won the award in the “Sales Concept” category.

It is important to note that manufacturers openly say that the blue color is the result of dyeing using a secret patented technology. Therefore, the next bloom will be white. According to the manufacturers, the orchid is placed in a special environment made from elements of natural origin and it remains unharmed.

Based on this, we can conclude: the blue orchid is a successful marketing ploy!

Blue miracle from Japan

Despite the fact that the orchids presented above were just the result of successful coloring, Japanese breeders still managed to create a transgenic blue orchid in 2013. It was bred from the white Phalaenopsis Aphrodite, which is distinguished by its abundant and long flowering. Scientists have managed to introduce the gene responsible for blue color. Blue, in turn, was extracted from the Commelina flower. Unfortunately, such a copy is not available to a wide range of consumers and in the usual flower shop you can't buy it.

What types of blue orchids are there?

If you are still determined to purchase a blue orchid, then you should pay attention to the following species: Vanda, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis.

The Vanda orchid is capricious in care and requires a special approach. Only professionals have no difficulties with this flower, but the unusual colors are worth all the effort and time spent. The demand for this species is growing rapidly and it can be purchased in almost every large flower shop.

The Cattleya orchid is less capricious. Her large flowers They also pamper owners with their fragrant aroma. Such a plant will undoubtedly become the main decoration of any home.

Phalaenopsis is considered the most unpretentious and easy to care for. blue orchid colors will suit flower lovers who cannot stand smells, because the aroma is practically not felt. It is necessary to understand that all of the above types of orchids have only subtle blue and blue shades.

Features of caring for blue orchids

Caring for an orchid with blue flowers is no different from caring for a plant with a different color. Temperature, light, humidity and frequency of watering depend on what species the flower belongs to. Difficulties arise only when sellers, wanting to make money, dye orchids themselves. As you may have guessed, for this they do not use special technology, which we talked about earlier. Regular ink is used, which is injected into the peduncle. They are not intended for such use and contain substances that weaken and poison the plant.

If you were given a blue orchid, then carefully examine the peduncle. If there is an injection hole on it, then the plant can still be saved. Injections into the root poison the entire flower, so most likely it will die, but it is still worth trying to save it. If the coloring occurred by watering with colored water, then the blue tint should also be on the leaves and even the roots. You should also not paint the orchid yourself. We strongly recommend not to experiment, because the plant may die.

If you notice that the buds are falling off before they bloom, the leaves have lost their strength, then you need to act. The peduncle with the dye needs to be cut off, the roots should be washed thoroughly under a hot shower, the cut areas should be treated with ash and the substrate should be changed. This is the only way to save the plant from death. It’s just important to remember that the next flowering will be white and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Magnificent orchids fascinate with their beauty and the subtle luxury of their spectacular flowers. These amazing plants impress with their rich color palette. Their white, purple, burgundy, cream, yellow, pink flowers they look simply incredible.

Although representatives of the orchid family with petals of heavenly blue are present on store shelves, the naturalness of their color sometimes raises serious doubts. Many people are concerned about the question: are there blue orchids in nature, nurseries, the answer to which will be given in the framework of this article.

Flowers of plants belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis cannot have a shade of sky blue due to the lack of the corresponding gene. Enterprising businessmen have learned to give phalaenopsis the desired tone by coloring. After the blue flowers fade, previously processed specimens form buds, the colors of which were originally inherent to them.

This fact should not upset orchid lovers, since they may prefer other species (Vanda, Cattleya).

These plants actually have petals whose color is as close as possible to indigo. As for phalaenopsis, it goes on mass sale after undergoing special processing.

Many gardeners will certainly be interested in the blue Vanda orchid, the petals of which often have a blue-lilac, violet-spotted color. It is worth paying attention to the capriciousness of this plant. For example, a blue orchid with pink veins needs to maintain a special microclimate with high air humidity, good lighting, and daily watering. Only an experienced gardener can cope with its cultivation.

By providing the plant with proper care, you can hope for its abundant, long flowering. Wanda inspires scientists to create numerous hybrids with very unusual colors. In particular, breeders have bred a pink-blue orchid that captivates with its delicate beauty.

Cattleya Orchid

Cattleya will be more unpretentious, whose petals also do not have a pure, uniform color. As a rule, this lilac or blue-blue orchid blooms if it is placed in direct sunlight and there is a significant difference between day and night temperatures.

For most plants, staying in such conditions can end in failure, but Cattleya likes it. A plant that receives maximum light exhibits more intense petal color. This orchid needs high air humidity, but you should refrain from spraying it.

Blue Phalaenopsis Orchid

As mentioned above, the blue flower does not exist in nature. Also, it cannot be found in the nurseries of modern breeders. It is quite possible that in the future the situation will change radically, since work on creating flowers with azure color is ongoing, and their results are promising.

Successful marketing move

As part of an exhibition event held in Florida, USA in 2011, Silver Vase demonstrated a blue phalaenopsis. After 3 months, another blue orchid, called Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, was presented to the public at the Dutch flower competition Flora Holland by the nursery Geest Orchideeën. The plant received an award in the Sales Concept category.

It is interesting that the above manufacturers did not intrigue the public with the secret of the blue color of the petals of the flowers shown. In their interviews, they talked about the specifics of processing orchids. For their coloring, a patented technology is used, the methodology of which is not subject to disclosure. It is only known that flowers are exposed to a special environment created using elements of natural origin that do not harm the plants.

The blue phalaenopsis orchid demonstrated to the world by the listed manufacturers is not a selection hybrid. This is a kind of successful marketing ploy and nothing more. Abroad, such flowers are used as spectacular decor, and after withering they are disposed of.

Japanese miracle - blue orchid

Japanese scientists, specialists from Chiba University, have gone much further. At an exhibition held in Okinawa in 2013, they managed to amaze the sophisticated public. The result of their work, a blue orchid, aroused everyone's admiration.

To create this floristic miracle, the gene of another plant, the Asian Commelina, was introduced into the Phalaenopsis Aphrodite species. The flowers of the new orchid are relatively small (about 5 cm in diameter). Up to 30 buds can be formed on one peduncle. This orchid is considered exclusive and is not yet available for sale.

What do our flower shops offer?

Relatively recently, a blue phalaenopsis orchid appeared in our stores, which began to be instantly used huge demand. The plant is much more expensive compared to common species. Unfortunately, the joy of owning this luxurious orchid, passed off as Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, soon gives way to disappointment.

Very often, before going on mass sale, unscrupulous sellers inject a chemical coloring solution into the trunk, roots or peduncle of a plant in an artisanal way (they often use ordinary ink). As a rule, white orchids are subjected to the staining procedure, on the petals of which the pigment is distributed most evenly

Such an event negatively affects the health of the plant. It becomes weakened due to such severe stress. As a result, admiring the inflorescences of a rich heavenly shade does not last long. After a month, they begin to fall off, and the phalaenopsis itself may die after some time.

Many sellers do not try to hide information about plants from buyers by placing warning stickers on flowerpots. The relevant information is printed in small print, and people ignorant of this issue simply do not notice it. Subsequently, they find themselves dissatisfied with the transformations that have occurred with their favorite flowers.

What should you pay attention to before buying an orchid?

Before making a purchase at a flower shop, you should ask the seller about the blue orchid plant you are interested in: whether it is painted or not, and inquire about the method of processing the epiphyte.

It is also advisable to subject the specimen you like to a thorough inspection.

The identified traces of injections on the roots and growth point indicate a high probability of death of the phalaenopsis. If an inspected blue orchid in a pot has injected flower stalks, then it has a chance of survival in the future if provided with proper care.

Another coloring option is to water the epiphyte with water containing dissolved pigment. In such cases, both flower petals, leaves and roots will acquire a shade of azure. The survival of the plant can be judged after assessing the identified damage.

Blue Orchid Care

The sky-hued phalaenopsis will shed its flowers over time. Since blue orchids do not exist in nature, and scientists have only just begun work on breeding such hybrids, one should not expect that in the future the plant will again form flowers with azure petals. It is quite possible that next time a blue-white orchid will bloom on the peduncle, and after a certain time the buds will begin to become lighter.

There is no need to attempt injections on your own using blue or ink to correct the situation. This will only lead to disease and death of the plant. It is much better to admire flowers that have their natural color.

Inspection of a phalaenopsis flower

Having received a blue phalaenopsis as a gift or purchased it, you should try to inspect it thoroughly in order to promptly identify existing damage, areas of rot, mold, and pests. Particular attention should be paid to the root system.

A plant with healthy roots that have a rich green color should not be replanted. For a specimen in need of resuscitation, it is necessary to remove dry, rotten shoots and peduncles and place it in a new flowerpot.

Transplanting a plant into another pot

When caring for blue orchids, you should purchase a special substrate for the affected flower. It is also possible to independently prepare the soil mixture.

You will need to mix pine bark (5 shares) with charcoal (1 share). It is prohibited to use rotten or poorly disinfected material. The bark collected under the trees must be washed, boiled (at least 15 minutes) and then dried.

The phalaenopsis will need to be carefully removed from the pot and its injured, dried, rotten rhizomes removed. Can be used as a dusting for cut areas. charcoal, ash, ground cinnamon.

When caring for a blue orchid at home, you need to try to disinfect the flowerpot. The pot is thoroughly washed and then dipped in a manganese solution. If you decide to purchase a new flowerpot, you should give preference to special transparent containers produced for orchids.

It is very important that the landing container has holes in the walls and bottom.

A drainage layer (2 - 3 cm) of expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the pot. A third of the prepared substrate is poured on top of it, on which the plant is placed in a vertical position. After this, the orchid is covered with the remaining soil mixture. It is prohibited to use old soil extracted from under the damaged flower. Such a substrate probably contains aggressive substances that can harm the plant.

The transplanted phalaenosis is guaranteed to recover if an optimal microclimate is created for it. The plant will feel better under diffused solar lighting. He also needs to ensure the maintenance temperature regime with with the following values: V daytime+ 25 ... + 30° C, at night + 16° C. In the room it is necessary to create a humidity of 30% and good air circulation.

Balanced nutrition for orchids

Phalaenopsis needs periodic feeding (once a month) using balanced fertilizers, which can be purchased in a specialized point of sale. The priority is dosed nutrition of the epiphyte, since too much useful elements will lead to softening of the top, and their deficiency will affect the inhibition of flowering.

Regular watering of the plant

The orchid needs regular watering. At higher air temperatures, frequent irrigation is performed. There is no need to allow stagnation of moisture, which can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant. Spraying phalaenopsis is not recommended, as it causes unwanted accumulation of droplets in the recesses of the leaves.

Blue Orchid Diseases

The gardener will need to closely monitor the health of the reanimated plant. The following factors signal an orchid disease: a radical change in the color of the leaves, rotting roots, and the absence of developing buds. If signs of infection are detected, the epiphyte should be treated in a timely manner.

Blue Orchid is a popular “brand”

It is noteworthy that the issue with the blue orchid is relevant not only for flower growers. For example, on sale you can find many cosmetics that contain blue orchid oil: gels, creams.
It is advisable to use them only after studying the annotation on the packaging and finding out which particular representative of the orchid family we are talking about.

A beautiful exotic fish, the blue orchid aulonocara, lives in the waters of Kande Island. It often becomes a real decoration of modern aquariums. The fish received such an original name because it appearance evokes associations with an exotic flower.

One of the visitors to our forum (Anna) asked us for advice: “”.

Surely many of you have already seen such a “miracle” in stores. Other messages in the thread show that every second buyer of the “miracle” subsequently feels deceived.

And since there are many myths, rumors and legends around the blue orchid, we decided to help you understand this issue. And you yourself will decide whether to buy or not to buy.

And phalaenopsis is white!

Just like in the fairy tale about the naked king.

These flowers really look magical, you just can’t take your eyes off them!

But for everyone who bought phalaenopsis with blue flowers, the next flowering after the store one brought flowers either white with bluish streaks (where the paint had not yet come off), or pure white.

For those less familiar with orchids, this was a big disappointment as they initially thought it was a natural blue color.

Yes, unfortunately, all the blue phalaenopsis sold in stores and even at most exhibitions are some standard varieties with white but colored flowers...

Short video

Some stores do not even hide this and write on the sign under the price tag that this is not a natural color and the orchid blooms with blue flowers only once. At least this is fair to customers.

However, not everyone is so honest. There are many sellers who pass off painted phalaenopsis as supposedly very rare natural look and they charge exorbitant prices for it. And they call it Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, which can be translated as Royal Blue Phalaenopsis.

But in the DNA of natural phalaenopsis there is simply no gene that produces a blue pigment. Therefore, if you are convinced that this is a species orchid, this is clean water deception.

Although Phalaenopsis Royal Blue does exist, it is not a natural species, or even a hybrid. You will not find such a name in the list of officially registered hybrids. Find out what it is below...

Who created the world's first blue phalaenopsis?

We found mention of only two producers of such phalaenopsis. There may be many more, but these two can be said to be the pioneers.

The first of these is Silver Vase, an orchid and bromeliad farm founded in 1988 in South Florida. In January 2011, at an industrial exhibition of tropical plants in the resort town of Fort Lauderdale (in Florida, America), they introduced the world Phalaenopsis Blue Mystique - the world's first blue phalaenopsis.

The first in the world - at least that’s what it says on their website http://silvervase.com/about-us/. Here he is, handsome:

The second producer is the Dutch nursery (family company) for growing orchids “Geest Orchideeën” (VG Orchids), located in the provincial town of De Lier in the south of Holland.

In Holland, a flower auction/competition FloraHolland is held annually, at which the Glass Tulip award is awarded for the best marketing introduction of the year to the flower market.

So, in May 2011 (3 months after the “Silver Vase” in Florida with its Phalaenopsis Blue Mystique), the Dutch nursery “Geest Orchideeën” presented its Phalaenopsis Royal Blue to the FloraHolland competition. And it took first place in the Sales Concept category.

One of the judges named it the best sales marketing concept and said: “This orchid, with its stunning blue hue, will be in great demand among consumers.”

What exactly is happening, as the jury looked into the water. For some, the desire to buy a blue orchid reaches the point of insanity. Just a mystical orchid...

And here in the photo is the owner of the nursery “Geest Orchideeën” and his prize-winner Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, and he is just one representative from the whole Royal Family (more about this family below).

And not a single manufacturer hides the fact that the next orchid bloom will be white. When selling, this is indicated on the label, and there is also information about this on their websites.

But who is the first of them is not entirely clear. “Silver Vase” seemed to be the first to show the world their Blue Mystique. However, the website "Geest Orchideeën" http://www.vgorchids.eu/ru/vg-colours says that they released colored phalaenopsis to the market back in 2009.

And they also patented the dyeing technology itself, which they came to as a result of many years of experience and experimentation. Today, orchids colored using their technology are sold all over the world: in Europe, the USA, Brazil and Japan.

The process of this technology, of course, is not released to the general public. The same goes for the type of dye. It is not recommended to paint orchids yourself, because... there is a risk of harming them.

Manufacturers themselves do not even call this process dyeing. Here's how it is described: according to the technology, phalaenopsis with white flowers are placed in a specially designed environment that uses elements of natural origin, which makes this process safe for the plant itself.

By the way, Geest Orchideeën doesn’t have just one painted orchid, they have a whole collection, or as they call it – the Royal Family. Here she is:

As you can see, besides Royal Blue (top row in the middle), there are other shades here. Perhaps they really have been creating this collection since 2009, and blue turned out to be simply the most successful shade, for which it received an award.

“Silver Vase” also has a collection, but a small one - from 3 color variations.

So Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, like Blue Mystique, is neither a natural species nor a hybrid. "It's marketing, baby!"

And in Europe, painted orchids are treated completely differently than here. To them it's just like a disposable beautiful bouquet. When buying, they know that the blue color will disappear later. And many people, after this happens, either throw away the plant or resell their already white phalaenopsis on Ebay.

Not everything Phalaenopsis Royal Blue is blue!

Everyone has already heard about the popularity of blue orchids. And, as you know, demand creates supply. Some craftsmen sellers do not buy orchids for sale that are colored using this exclusive technology, but take a cheaper and easier route - they take on the coloring themselves. And this most often leads to disastrous results - the plant dies.

If you look at the works of such craftsmen, you can understand that this is done simply barbarically. Any blue dye is taken, often it is ordinary ink, and injected with a syringe into the stem, or roots, or into the peduncle.

Those who get a shot in the flower stalk usually survive, but may be sick for a while afterwards. But those who are pricked in the stem or roots often simply choke on the paint and die.

So, if you notice that phalaenopsis has blue not only flowers, but also roots and leaves, we do not recommend buying it, because... most likely he will die.

Transgenic blue phalaenopsis from Japan

In February 2013, the 11th Orchid Conference of the Asia-Pacific region was held in Japan on the island of Okinawa. Masahiro Mii from Chiba University attracted much attention at this conference with his report “Genetic Transformation of Orchids and Production of Transgenic Blue Phalaenopsis.”

Of course, he also presented the real result of many years of experiments by a group of genetic engineers and breeders at Chiba University.

This is Phalaenopsis Aphrodite with white flowers, to which the “blue” gene of the flower of Commelina (popularly blue-eyed), which grows in Asia, was introduced. Phalaenopsis Aphrodite is quite prolific - it can produce up to 30 small flowers with a diameter of 5 cm in one flowering. Blue orchids were presented in nominal and peloric forms.

However, it will not be long before such a genetic engineering product will become available to ordinary flower growers.

Are there really no blue phalaenopsis in nature?

There is no such bright blue color as painted ones. There are pale blue, blue with a lilac tint, white with a blue-gray tint. Such shades are very rare for phalaenopsis. These are mainly species plants with small flowers and primary hybrids based on them.

For example, natural blue forms:

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea (photo 10)
Doritis pulcherrima coerulea (photo 11)
Phalaenopsis equestris cyanochilus

And some famous hybrids:

Doritaenopsis Peter "Blue Sky" (photo 12)

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