In nature, there are more than 3,500 thousand species of orchids.

They grow on all continents except Antarctica. There are more than 60 varieties of phalaenopsis alone. Their color amazes the imagination with its variety and brightness: lilac, green with purple veins, burgundy, white, cream... any except pure blue.

It’s not surprising that it appeared in flower shops some time ago blue orchid created a sensation, instantly becoming extremely popular. At first it never occurred to anyone that the flowers were simply painted. Is this really so, let's find out.

Painted flowers

If you brought home a blue phalaenopsis not from an exhibition, but from an ordinary flower shop, congratulations, you have become the owner of a colored orchid. And it’s not a fact that she will survive.

And yet, if you suddenly want something exotic, then you can try to color the flowers yourself. This is quite easy to do - special dyes are injected into the roots or peduncle of the white phalaenopsis.

Dyes do not always penetrate exclusively into the flowers; very often the leaves are also colored, which gives a certain artificiality and makes the plant less aesthetically pleasing. However, the result has been achieved - during the first flowering the petals amaze the eye with a stunningly rich deep indigo.

Unfortunately, the shade of subsequent generations of colors becomes weaker - the paint is gradually washed out. The fourth time, orchids, as a rule, bloom with completely white flowers, returning to their native color.

Saving injured flowers

It’s not the worst thing if the flower turns white after six months - it’s much worse when the plant, unable to bear the stress, begins to die.

If you notice that after some time the “blue” buds begin to fall off, you need to first examine the roots of the flower. Obvious traces of injections found on the roots or peduncles indicate that the likelihood of a sad outcome is high, but if paint was injected into the peduncle, then the orchid can still be revived.

To resuscitate a phalaenopsis with a colored peduncle, we cut off the stem overflowing with dyes. Next, we take the plant out of the pot and, being careful not to damage root system, wash it warm water. We inspect the roots for traces of injections.

If bluish areas and traces of rot are clearly visible on the roots, cut off the damaged areas, and sprinkle the sections with ash or cinnamon and dry them thoroughly.

After this, the flower is placed in a new substrate with a special composition suitable for its life. The environment in which the orchid was located will have to be thrown away, since it contains too many chemically active harmful substances.

Do blue orchids exist in nature?

So, are there really no blue orchids and this is just a clever trick? marketing ploy to increase sales?

Partly. Blue-lilac color really occurs and it is quite possible to purchase a flower so unusual color. Finding out whether this is a fake is quite simple: you need to find out the type of orchid that the seller will offer you.

There are no blue or blue phalaenopsis in the wild or for free sale. Blue phalaenopsis can now only be found at large orchid exhibitions. If you meet a blue phalaenopsis in a flower shop, rest assured, you are being scammed.

Natural spotted bluish petals are found only in orchids of the genus Vanda. This genus belongs to the orchid family, and includes about 60 epiphytic and lithophyntous species. The name given to the plant by the inhabitants of India has remained unchanged to this day.

Among the variety of flowers of the Vanda genus - from orange and red to variegated, there are also those with lilac-colored petals with light spots. This type is called - and if you want to get a natural orchid blue color, you need to ask for it in stores.

Well, if someone did congratulate you with a “blue” orchid, monitor its condition more than carefully. Caring for this child is the same as for ordinary phalaenopsis.

Breakthrough of Japanese breeders

The dream of getting a pure blue orchid - let us remind you that even Vanda Blue has lilac-spotted petals - did not leave gardeners. And after many years of experimentation, a miracle happened.

In 2013, at an exhibition in Okinawa, Japanese scientists demonstrated to the world new variety Phalaenopsis orchids in a rich blue hue. To obtain it, they needed to introduce into an orchid of the Aphrodite species the gene of another flower - the Asian commelina, since the phalaenopsis found in nature does not even have a gene capable of producing a blue pigment.

The new species was named "Royal Blue". This orchid blooms profusely with small flowers - up to 30 pcs. with a diameter of 5 cm. This is a completely exclusive plant, which, alas, is not on sale yet.

As you can see, there are several ways to add an extraordinary blue orchid to your home! It is enough to choose one option and every morning will begin with a look at an extraordinary beautiful flower.

I wish you good and honest shopping in flower shops, beautiful flowering purchased orchids and a great mood!

Your Elena Skopich

A blue orchid will decorate any windowsill, just like painting an orchid blue at home.

Blue orchids are grown in limited quantities because the process of coloring them is not simple, and it is quite difficult to obtain uniformly colored flowers from the plant.

If you want to purchase a blue orchid of extraordinary beauty, be on the lookout. The price of such a plant is at least three times higher than the prices of other species. But what secret is hidden behind such an amazing color?
Check out the information about this species to not only make right choice, also provide your beauty with decent care.

The truth is not comforting for those who want to admire the unusual color of the blue phalaenopsis. Behind this color lies ink or a special dye that does not leave marks on your hands. At least when purchasing. And with watering it is very possible.

If the dye remains, and your beauty is not poisoned by the dye, be prepared for the fact that the next new buds will be white. In fact, Japanese breeders have already bred the blue orchid. But you won’t find such a plant for sale in the post-Soviet space.

What types of blue orchids are there?

Wanda

Those who still really want a blue orchid, having looked at the photographs that are replete with The World Wide Web, can acquire the queen of this species - Wanda. It should be noted that she is quite capricious and requires special care. It will take root without problems, perhaps, only in experienced florist. The flower has many hybrids because it lends itself well to crossing. All of its “twins” have rather unusual colors. Therefore, Wanda is worth the effort spent courting her. The popularity of this species is beginning to gain rapid momentum.

Cattleya

Of the blue orchids, you can choose a less capricious species, for example, Cattleya. It has very large, fragrant flowers with a fairly diverse palette.

Phalaenopsis

And for the really lazy – blue or blue phalaenopsis. The most unpretentious, easy to care for species. It is bred specifically for home use. Blue phalaenopsis will be especially suitable for those for whom spicy odors are contraindicated. This flower has almost no aroma, but it blooms for up to six months, distinguished by a large presence of tones.

It cannot be said that blue or blue orchids have exactly these colors. Quicker, we're talking about about subtle shades. However, you will definitely be satisfied with their variety!

Features of care

Lighting and temperature

look after indoor flowers should, given their appearance. What are general features care?
All types of this plant are thermophilic. Therefore, they need to be placed on sunny side apartments: best option– absent-minded sunlight.
The best temperature is +25/+30 degrees. At night – +16 degrees. For excellent flowering, a large difference in day and night temperatures is useful - up to 10 degrees. High humidity and good air circulation are also important.

Substrate and dishes

A flower needs a high-quality substrate, since its health and ability to bloom depend on it. The soil should be loose, not crumpled, with big amount pine shavings and good drainage. You can use crushed stone and pieces of foam plastic as it. Most of it should occupy the center of the pot.
The dishes should have many large holes for good ventilation. The substrate should adhere tightly to its walls.

Top dressing

Feeding should be constant, at least once a month. Fertilizer is well balanced, this directly affects flowering. From large quantities nutrients the top of the stem becomes soft. If there is not enough of it, it blooms poorly.

Watering

The peculiarities of watering a plant are as follows: the higher the air temperature, the more often it needs to be watered. Due to stagnation groundwater The root system may begin to rot and the plant may die. It is necessary that the water drains completely after each watering.
Unlike Vanda, it is better not to spray the blue phalaenopsis orchid. The structure of the leaf of this species is such that water can accumulate at the base.

Diseases

You need to monitor the health of the plant. The disease can be seen by a radical change in leaf color, rotting roots, and lack of flowering. If you notice something like this, then the flower needs urgent transplantation and treatment.
Among the diseases are:

• fungal, viral infections;
• mite infestation;
• sheet cracks;
• burns;
• bacteriosis;
• fusarium wilt.

Transfer

It is important to carefully examine the roots of the flower before replanting. Remove rotten parts, leaving them dry. The orchid should be replanted with young roots as planned. If they are very long, then taking root in the new soil will be difficult.

We hope you can now make the right choice.

Mainly various hybrids, attractive plants with wonderful, large, colorful flowers. The range of available colors of Phalaenopsis shades is wide, there are plants that are purely blue; manufacturers have been working for many years to create blue orchids. Most attempts failed, it was decided to obtain blue orchids in a much simpler way, using artificial coloring.

How to paint phalaenopsis blue?

The dye is injected into the stem of the flower stalk while the buds are closed, causing the dye to change color before the flowers open. Some plants react poorly to intervention and do not reach the shelves; the price of surviving specimens is quite high. This is how the treasured and long-awaited blue orchids enter the market and immediately gain immense popularity.

From blue to white

The high price of blue orchids does not deter potential buyers who are fascinated by the exotic color. It is good if the manufacturer informs the buyer (using the label) that the color of the flowers is the result of artificial coloring and will disappear the next time they bloom. Unfortunately, you can’t count on information or the inscription is barely noticeable. People who are seduced by a blue orchid experience unpleasant disappointment; dreams dissipate with each new pale bud that opens, and the next time it blooms it is completely white or creamy.

You can make independent attempts to change the color of flowers by introducing blue food coloring into the stem of the peduncle (it is complex, time-consuming and complex), the results may be far from expected, the plant may react poorly to the intervention and begin to get sick.

Despite possible difficulties If you want to have a blue or blue orchid, you can purchase a flower with the understanding that the blue color will remain on the flowers until the next flowering.

Growing

The next phalaenopsis flowers will change color to partially blue or completely white. To preserve the plant and wait for the next flowering, proper care is needed. After flowering, you need to cut off the artificially colored flower stem and allow the plant to rest, placing it in a moderate warm room(20-22 °C), place with diffused light. Watering the orchid should be done systematically, but rarely (the substrate in the pot must be completely dry before adding water again), once every 7-10 days, immersing the pot in a container of water for 0.5-1 hour. After watering, it is necessary to drain the remaining water; moisture around the roots often provokes rotting. During the dormant period, do not fertilize the plants; allow the flower to gradually regain its strength. When the plant looks healthy and is putting out new leaves, you can begin feeding and try to get it to bloom again. For re-blooming you need to provide the plant with a variety of high temperature(20-22 °C during the day and 16-18 °C at night), provoking the appearance of buds. The desired effect is obtained by placing the flower in a cold room or taking it out early autumn for a couple of weeks outside (on the balcony or garden). During cooling of the plant, you need to ensure that the temperature environment do not fall below 15 °C, orchids do not like cold and a short-term drop in temperature below 5 °C will cause serious damage and death. New flowers will be in a natural color - cream or white.

Can a blue or blue orchid exist?

There is a true blue orchid, for example, Wanda blue(Vanda coerulea), varieties "Pachara Delight" and "Blue Magic". Vanda is a genus of the Orchidaceae family, the family includes Phalaenopsis, Vanda comes in different blue-blue shades, Vanda is not painted, unlike Phalaenopsis.

Magnificent orchids fascinate with their beauty and the subtle luxury of their spectacular flowers. These amazing plants impress with the richness of the 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.

Vanda Orchid

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 humidity air, good lighting, 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 under straight Sun rays in the presence of 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. Flowers new orchid 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 immediately began to be in great demand. The plant is much more expensive compared to conventional 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 into the trunk, roots or peduncle of a plant in a makeshift way Injections of a chemical coloring solution are administered (they often use regular 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 they simply don’t notice her. 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 growing 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. Also allowed self-cooking soil mixture.

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 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 phalenosis is guaranteed to recover if a optimal microclimate. The plant will feel better under indirect sunlight. He also needs to ensure the maintenance temperature regime with the following values: during the day + 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 at a specialized retail outlet. The priority is dosed nutrition of the epiphyte, since too many 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.