Are there blue orchids? Orchid blue - overseas beauty. Where does the blue color come from

Myth or reality?

A couple of years ago, shops were full of blue phalaenopsis, which sellers touted as exclusive and very rare. Beautiful and rare plants after some time they faded, flower growers looked forward to the buds, stimulated them to bloom, and having achieved it, they found that now it is 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 also penetrates into the flowers. Therefore, fans of blue phalaenopsis run the risk of soon being disappointed by acquiring 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, but also farms dealing with other plants sin with the use of dyes. 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 vandas - orchids, which are considered almost queens in their family. So for people with an original taste, this blue orchid is quite suitable. Care can be a problem - vandas are quite capricious, they require high humidity and everyday watering. In addition, they should be located in a very bright place. Not every even a very experienced grower will take on such a capricious plant, and although the blue vanda orchid is always popular, it is not worth it for beginners to take on it. True, vanda flowers, despite its name, are still not quite blue, rather purple. Nevertheless, 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 vandas. With good care, the blue vanda orchid (as well as vandas of other shades) blooms very profusely and for a long time, and if not properly cared for, it quickly dies from drought or a bay.

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, however, there are also varieties of completely light blue or lilac color. Getting Cattleya to bloom is quite simple - it needs direct sun and a difference in day and night temperatures. Most plants from such lighting are covered with burns, and the Cattleya orchid is just blooming. Moreover, the more light she receives, the more intense her flowers will be colored. Cattleyas need a fairly high level of humidity, but spraying them is not recommended. These orchids have quite clearly defined periods of active growth and dormancy, therefore, depending on the state of the plant, it is necessary to regulate its watering and maintenance. In general, the care of blue cattleyas, vandas and phalaenopsis does not differ from the maintenance of orchids of the same species, but in other colors. True, as already mentioned, orchids with flowers are purely blue color does not exist, therefore, when you come to a flower shop, you should be careful about buying certain varieties that are positioned as very rare and elite.

Blue orchids look beautiful and unusual. They appeared on the shelves of stores quite recently, but have already managed to gain popularity. Experienced flower growers know that blue orchids are not typical. How to determine a painted flower or not? How to take care of her? Can I paint the plant myself? Will it harm the culture?

Exotic lovers are in for a big disappointment - most of the blue orchids on store shelves are artificially dyed. There are several hybrid varieties of blue, but it is not as bright and saturated.

Special grades

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

Cattleya is less demanding in care. It has large bright flowers. The colors are different, among them there are varieties with pale blue flowers. Orchids do not have a rich blue color in nature. Flowers are dyed by watering or dye injection. Save blue color fail - the next flowers will be slightly bluish or completely white.

All intense blue orchids in the store are dyed phalaenopsis. When buying a plant, carefully inspect it. 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 the 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, enhanced care so that he can adapt to new conditions.

Do not rush to transplant the orchid into a new pot. This is additional stress. It is too likely that the flower will die soon after transplantation.

If too much chemical dye has been introduced, the flower will gradually drop buds. He needs to be revived urgently. Carefully inspect the plant from the peduncle to the roots. Look for injection marks. Finding them on the roots is a bad sign. There is no guarantee that the orchid will be saved. The paint was injected into the peduncle - the plant has more chances to survive.

Resuscitation of a painted flower

Find the injection site. And carefully sharp knife cut off the peduncle filled with paint.
Remove the orchid from the pot. Release the roots from the substrate. Rinse the root system with warm water.
Examine 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.
Transplant. into a new sterile substrate.

Basic care

A painted flower will need more careful care. Breaking the rules will result in death.

Lighting. Sunny places are not suitable. On the south side they put it on a table a little away from the window. Preference is given to the northeast, west and east side. At midday hours, they are sure to 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˚С is allowed. Prolonged heat leads to dropping of buds and lethargy of leaves. A plant weakened by dyes may not be able to tolerate the heat. In winter, the temperature is reduced to 15-25˚С. Withstands short-term cooling down to 12˚С.
Humidity . The normal humidity level is 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. At humidity below 20-25%, the leaves lose turgor, the flowers fall off. Careful spraying is beneficial. But try not to allow water to accumulate in the axils of the leaves.
Watering. It is necessary to water taking into account the present variety of the plant. Most often, white phalaenopsis are stained, so watering should be regular. Complete drying of the soil is not allowed, but waterlogging too. In phalaenopsis, wet roots become green in color.
Top dressing. It is better not to feed a painted orchid or use a minimum 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 - turn brown, dry out. The dried parts are carefully cut off with a sharp knife.
Priming. The main component of the substrate 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 rest of the components.
Transplant. Don't rush to transfer. It is worth doing this if the roots are damaged or the substrate is in poor condition. Transplanted after flowering at intervals of two to three years.

Do not be surprised if the blue orchid changes color during the next bloom. The paint is gradually washed out of the plant. Freshly dyed flowers are intense blue, the next time they bloom they will be white with blue streaks or slightly bluish. Further, ordinary white flowers form on the peduncles.

Coloring at home

It is undesirable to paint orchids, as any coloring matter poisons them. In extreme cases, use special paints for flowers. They can be purchased at large flower shops or ordered online. The algorithm of actions includes four stages.

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

At first, carefully observe the condition of the plant. Keep it in a cool room, with moderate lighting, keep an eye on the condition of the soil. If the flowers turn blue, do not wilted, the plant looks healthy - the experiment was a success.

It is not recommended to introduce a coloring solution into the stem and roots of the plant. Orchid from this may die. Use only special dyes for flowers. Food will not give the desired effect, the ink will destroy the orchid.

Consequences of color change

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

Violation of gas exchange. The capillaries are clogged, the plant cannot fully breathe.
Diseases and pests. Natural immunity is lost, resistance to diseases and pests is lost. Ulcers and rot may appear at the injection site. When the dye is introduced into the roots, they inevitably rot.
Plant death. This is the most common outcome of the experiment. At best, it partially recovers, but still remains weakened.

Care after flowering for a painted orchid will differ slightly. It is better to cut the peduncle immediately, without waiting for the re-formation of buds or children. More recovery time will be required. The flower needs to provide the most comfortable conditions.

Coloring does not affect the genetic code of the plant. This is a temporary change, from which there will be no trace of the next flowering. If you want to diversify your collection with a blue orchid, look in stores for a vanda or cattleya.

Reproduction methods

If you bought not a vanda or cattleya, but a painted orchid, be guided by the phalaenopsis propagation method. It propagates mainly by children and cuttings.

cuttings

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

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

Growing up from kids

Babies develop from dormant kidneys. Formed on the stem, peduncle. Babies rarely develop on their own. Usually their development should be stimulated. Several methods of stimulation are used.

Division of the main plant. The method is risky, suitable only for fully healthy plants. In the case of a painted orchid, it is better not to use it. The essence of the method - the top is cut off and rooted. Behind bottom continue to care until the appearance of children with roots.
Reduced irrigation and temperature fluctuations. Watering is stopped for 15 days, daily temperature drops of 7-9˚С are achieved.
Hormonal stimulants. Flower shops sell a special hormonal paste. With its help, you can quickly wake up a sleeping kidney, 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, a sleeping kidney is treated with a paste. The orchid is kept in a warm room at temperatures up to 30 ° C. In the cool, instead of children, a bud is formed. Grown up children are separated from the peduncle and planted.

As cuttings, you can take pieces of the peduncle. After flowering, it is cut, divided into pieces of three to four centimeters and planted similarly to cuttings from a side shoot. On each segment, one sleeping kidney is left.

Frequent illnesses

The probability of disease of a painted orchid is much higher. At the slightest sign of illness, treatment begins immediately. The chances of surviving a weakened plant are much less. Below is a table with the symptoms of major diseases and how to treat them.

Table - Orchid diseases and methods of their treatment

Disease	signs	Treatment
Bacterial spotting	- The appearance of spots; - yellow leaves; - darkening of the leaves; - softening of the leaves; - the appearance of ulcers	- Removal of affected leaves; - treatment with fungicides
powdery mildew	- White plaque; - drying of damaged parts	- Spraying with colloidal sulfur; - spraying with preparations "Skor" or "Topsin-M"
sooty fungus	- Black plaque; - weakening and death of the plant	- Treatment with preparations "Mikosan", "Ridomil", "Topsin-M"
Rot	- Softening of roots and leaves; - the appearance of rot	- Trimming of rotten parts; - transplantation with a change of capacity and substrate; - treatment with fungicides

Common pests

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

Table - Pests of orchids and ways to deal with them

Insect	signs	Control measures
thrips	- Small black bugs with wings; - silver stripes on the leaves; - small black dots	Three times treatment with Actellik, Fitoverm
False shields and shields	- Plaques on stems and leaves; - sticky, viscous plaque; - plant weakening	- Mechanical removal insects; - washing with soapy water; - spraying with Aktellik; - transplanting into a fresh substrate
Mealybug	- Whitish bloom; - the formation of "lumps of cotton wool"; - drying of leaves; - wilting flower	- Trim problematic parts; - treatment with soapy water; - triple treatment with Fitoverm
whitefly	- Small butterfly; - weakening of the plant; - yellowing and drying of the leaves	- Washing the orchid with soapy water; - treatment of plants and soil with the preparation "Fitoverm"
Aphid	- Sticky coating; - twisting of leaves; - sooty fungus	- Treatment with soapy water; - treatment with Fitoverm
Spider mites	- Small punctures on the leaves; - discoloration and drying of the leaves; - falling buds; - thin cobweb	- Washing the flower, pot; - placing the pot in a container with water; - spraying the plant and substrate with Fitoverm
Nematodes	- Small roundworms; - growth stop; - decay; - orchid death	- Watering the substrate with a solution of "Levamisole", "Decaris"; - warming up hot water up to 40˚С.

Colorful and bright flowers always attract attention and allow us to bring a little color into our life. 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 a few years ago and immediately won an army of fans. But unfortunately, after such a coveted purchase, disappointment comes due to the fact that in the next flowering, 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 saturated color.

How did blue orchids appear?

The world's first blue Phalaenopsis was presented at the International Exhibition of Tropical Plants, which was held in Florida (USA). Such a bold step was taken by the farm for growing plants "Silver Vase". 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 Orchideeën, which introduced this botanical marvel, 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 staining using a secret patented technology. Therefore, the next bloom will be white. According to the producers, the orchid is placed in a special environment of elements of natural origin and it remains unharmed.

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

Blue Wonder 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. She was bred from the white Phalaenopsis Aphrodite, which is characterized by abundant and long flowering. Scientists have managed to introduce the gene responsible for the color blue. In turn, blue was extracted from the Commeline flower. Unfortunately, such a specimen is not available to a wide range of consumers and cannot be bought in an ordinary flower shop.

What are blue orchids?

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

Orchid Wanda is capricious in care and requires a special approach. Only professionals have no difficulties with this flower, but the unusual coloring is worth all the time and effort spent. The demand for this species is growing rapidly and you can buy it in almost every large flower shop.

The Cattleya orchid is less capricious. Its large flowers also pamper the 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. A blue orchid is suitable for flower lovers who cannot stand odors, because the aroma is practically not felt. It must be understood that all of the above types of orchids have only subtle blue and blue hues.

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. The temperature regime, illumination, humidity and frequency of watering depends on which species the flower belongs to. Difficulties arise only when sellers, wanting to earn money, paint orchids on their own. As you may have guessed, for this they do not use special technology which we talked about earlier. The usual ink is used, which is injected into the peduncle by injection. They are not intended for such use and contain substances that weaken and poison the plant.

If you were presented with a blue orchid, then carefully inspect the peduncle. If it has a hole from an injection, then the plant can still be saved. Injections into the root poison the entire flower, so most likely it will die, but it's still worth trying to save it. If the staining occurred by watering with colored water, then the blue tint should also be on the leaves, and even the roots. It is also not worth it to paint the orchid on your own. We strongly recommend not to experiment, because the plant may die.

If you notice that the buds are crumbling before they have blossomed, the leaves have lost their strength, then you need to act. The peduncle with the dye must be cut off, the roots thoroughly washed under a hot shower, the cut points should be treated with ash and the substrate should be changed. Only in this way can the plant be saved from death. It is only important to remember that the next bloom will be white and there is nothing wrong with that.

Magnificent orchids fascinate with their beauty, refined luxury of spectacular flowers. These amazing plants impress with the richness of the tint palette. Their white, purple, burgundy, cream, yellow, pink flowers they just look unbelievable.

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 within the framework of this article.

Flowers of plants belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis cannot have a shade of sky blue due to their lack of the corresponding gene. Enterprising businessmen have learned to give phalaenopsis the right tone by staining. After the blue flowers wither, previously processed specimens form buds, the colors of which were inherent in them initially.

This fact should not upset orchid lovers, as they may prefer other species (Vanda, Cattleya). These plants really have petals, the color of which is as close as possible to indigo. As for phalaenopsis, it goes into mass sale after undergoing special processing.

Orchid Vanda

Many flower growers will certainly be interested in the blue Vanda orchid, the petals of which often have a blue-lilac, purple-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 grower 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, the breeders bred a pink-blue orchid, which fascinates with its delicate beauty.

Orchid Cattleya

Cattleya will be more unpretentious, the petals of which 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 with a significant difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

For most plants, staying in such conditions can end in failure, but Cattleya likes it. A plant that gets the most light shows 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, as work on the creation of flowers with an azure color is ongoing, and their results are promising.

Successful marketing ploy

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

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 orchid processing. For their staining, 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 plants.

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

Japanese miracle - blue orchid

Japanese scientists stepped much further - specialists from Chiba University. At the exhibition held in Okinawa in 2013, they managed to impress the sophisticated public. The result of their work - a blue orchid caused universal admiration.

To create this floristic miracle, the gene of another plant, the Asian commeline, was introduced into the species of Phalaenopsis Aphrodite. 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 free sale.

What do our flower shops offer?

Relatively recently, the blue phalaenopsis orchid appeared in our stores, which immediately became in great demand. The plant is much more expensive than ordinary species. Unfortunately, the joy of owning this luxurious Phalaenopsis Royal Blue orchid is soon replaced by 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 (often they 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 adversely 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 who are ignorant of this issue simply do not notice it. Subsequently, they turn out to be dissatisfied with the transformations that have occurred with their favorite colors.

What should I look for before buying an orchid?

Before making a purchase in a flower shop, you should ask the seller about the blue orchid plant you are interested in: dyed or not, ask how the epiphyte is processed.

It is also advisable to subject the vending copy to a thorough inspection.

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

Another staining option is watering the epiphyte with water with dissolved pigment. In such cases, both flower petals and 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

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

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

Phalaenopsis flower inspection

Having received as a gift or bought a blue phalaenopsis, you need to try to examine it in detail in order to timely identify existing damage, areas of decay, 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 subjected to a transplant procedure. In a specimen that needs resuscitation, it is necessary to remove dry, rotten shoots, a peduncle and place it in a new flowerpot.

Transplanting a plant to another pot

Caring for blue orchids, you should purchase a special substrate for the affected flower. Self-preparation of the soil mixture is also allowed.

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

Phalaenopsis will need to be carefully removed from the pot, to remove injured, dried, rotten rhizomes from it. As a powder for cuts, you can use charcoal, ash, ground cinnamon.

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

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

A drainage layer (2-3 cm) of expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pot. A third of the prepared substrate is poured over it, on which the plant is installed in an upright position. After that, the orchid is covered with the remaining soil mixture. It is forbidden to use the old soil removed from under the affected flower. In such a substrate, aggressive substances that can harm the plant are likely to remain.

A transplanted phalenosis is guaranteed to recover if an optimal microclimate is created for it. The plant will feel better under diffused solar lighting. It also needs to maintain temperature regime co the following values: in daytime+ 25 ... + 30 ° C, at night + 16 ° C. In the room it is necessary to create a humidity of 30%, good air circulation.

Balanced top dressing for orchids

Phalaenopsis needs periodic top dressing (once a month) with the use of balanced fertilizers, which are quite realistic to purchase in a specialized point of sale. The priority is the dosed nutrition of the epiphyte, since too much useful elements will lead to softening of the top, and their lack will affect the inhibition of flowering.

Regular watering of the plant

Orchids need regular watering. At higher air temperatures, frequent irrigation is carried out. It is not necessary to allow stagnation of moisture, which can lead to rotting of the roots, death of the plant. Spraying phalaenopsis is not welcome, causing unwanted accumulation of drops in the recesses of the leaves.

Diseases of the blue orchid

The flower grower will need to carefully monitor the health of the reanimated plant. The following factors signal the disease of an orchid: a radical change in the color of the leaves, rotting of the roots, and the absence of forming buds. If signs of infection are detected, the epiphyte should be treated in time.

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 a lot of cosmetics, which contain blue orchid oil: gels, creams.
It is advisable to use them only after studying the annotations on the package, having learned which particular representative of the orchid family is in question.

A beautiful exotic fish - the blue aulonokara orchid lives in the waters of Kande Island. It often becomes a real decoration of modern aquariums. The fish got 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 posts in the thread show that every second buyer of the "miracle" subsequently feels cheated.

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.

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!

But for everyone who bought phalaenopsis with blue flowers, the next bloom after the store brought flowers either white with bluish stains (where the paint has not yet gone off) or pure white.

For those who are not familiar with orchids, this was a big disappointment, because at first they thought it was a natural blue color.

Yes, unfortunately, all 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 plate under the price tag that this is not a natural color and the orchid blooms with blue flowers only 1 time. At least it's fair to the customers.

However, not everyone is so honest. There are many such sellers who pass off painted phalaenopsis as supposedly very rare. natural look and tear him at exorbitant prices. 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 gives a blue pigment. Therefore, if you are convinced that this is a species orchid, this clean water deception.

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

The first is Silver Vase, an orchid and bromeliad farm founded in 1988 in South Florida. In January 2011, at the Tropical Plant Industry Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, America, they introduced 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 manufacturer is the Dutch orchid nursery (family company) Geest Orchideeën (VG Orchids), located in the provincial town of De Lier in the south of Holland.

In Holland, an annual FloraHolland flower auction/competition is held, which awards the Glass Tulip (Glass Tulip) 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 his Phalaenopsis Blue Mystique), the Dutch nursery "Geest Orchideeën" submitted their Phalaenopsis Royal Blue to the FloraHolland competition. And it won first place in the Sales Concept category.

One of the jury members called it the best sales marketing concept and said: "Consumers will love this orchid, with a delightful blue tint."

What actually happens, as the jury looked into the water. For some, the desire to buy a blue orchid reaches insanity. Just a mystical orchid ...

But in the photo, the owner of the kennel "Geest Orchideeën" and his winner Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, and he is just one representative from the whole Royal family (more on this family below).

And moreover, not a single manufacturer hides 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 still the first of them is not entirely clear. "Silver Vase" seemed to be the first to show the world their Blue Mystique. However, the Geest Orchideeën website http://www.vgorchids.eu/ru/vg-colours says that they put dyed phalaenopsis on the market back in 2009.

And they also patented the dyeing technology itself, to which they came as a result of many years of experience and experimentation. Today, orchids painted 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 given to the general public. As well as the type of dye. It is not recommended to paint orchids on your own, because. there is a risk of hurting them.

Manufacturers themselves do not even call this process staining. Here's how it's described: White-flowered phalaenopsis are placed in a specially designed environment that uses elements of natural origin, making the process safe for the plant itself.

By the way, “Geest Orchideeën” has more than one painted orchid, they have a whole collection, or as they call it, the Royal Family. Here she is:

As you can see, in addition to 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 just the most successful shade, for which he 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 quite differently than we do. For them it's just like a one-time beautiful bouquet. When buying, they know that the blue color will then disappear. And very many after this happens, either throw away the plant, or resell their already white phalaenopsis on Ebay.

Not everything is Phalaenopsis Royal Blue that is blue!

Everyone has heard about the popularity of blue orchids. And, as you know, demand creates supply. Some skilled sellers do not buy orchids for sale, painted using this exclusive technology, but go the cheaper and easier way - they themselves take on the coloring. 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 receive an injection in the peduncle usually survive, but then they may get sick for a while. But those who are pricked in the stem or roots often simply suffocate from the paint and die.

So, if you notice that phalaenopsis has not only blue 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 Asia-Pacific Orchid Conference was held in Japan on the island of Okinawa. Masahiro Mii from the University of Chiba attracted a lot of attention at this conference with his report "Genetic Transformation of Orchids and Production of Transgenic Blue Phalaenopsis" ("Genetic Transformation of Orchids and the Creation 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 the University of Chiba.

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

However, such a product of genetic engineering will not be available to ordinary flower growers soon.

Is there really no blue phalaenopsis in nature?

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

For example, natural blue shapes:

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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