Methods for painting a white orchid blue. How to water an orchid to make it blue, how to water an orchid to make it blue

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 buy a flower with the knowledge that Blue colour 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.

Blue orchids amaze with their beauty and rare, unusual coloring of the petals. These flowers appeared in flower shops relatively recently, but have already gained popularity. However, not all buyers know the secret of the amazing color of these plants.

What's behind the color?

Often the happy owners of orchids with blue or light blue flowers are surprised to discover that the next flowering the buds no longer become a bright, saturated color, but dirty blue, or even completely white. This is due to the fact that plants are colored using a chemical dye. Many stores do not hide this and place appropriate warnings on color labels. But this information is not actively disseminated among buyers, so often owners of dyed flowers are subsequently left disappointed.

Flowers are most often painted white, since they are the easiest to achieve uniform coloring on. Over time, the dye washes out and they return to their original color.

How did blue orchids appear?

In 2011 at the exhibition tropical plants the world's first was introduced in Florida (America) blue phalaenopsis. The cultivation farm made it "Silver Vase" from South Florida.

Only 3 months have passed, and it became known about the appearance of another blue beauty - Phalaenopsis Royal Blue (Royal Blue Phalaenopsis). This time the action took place in Holland at the annual flower competition FloraHolland. An exotic flower with blue petals was presented by the Dutch nursery “Geest Orchideeën”, for which it received an award in the “Sales Concept” category. One of the competition jury members predicted that plants would become extremely popular among buyers in the future.

Interesting fact: manufacturers do not hide the fact that blue is not natural, and also that the next flowering will be white. They do the coloring using patented technology, the details of which have not been disclosed. According to the manufacturers, its essence is this: the plants are placed in a special environment, the creation of which uses elements of natural origin, so the procedure itself does not harm the orchids.

We can conclude: blue is not natural look and not a hybrid bred by breeders. It's just marketing ploy, and, I must say, very successful.

Flower in the house: care features

The problem lies in the fact that some unscrupulous sellers Wanting to earn extra money, they take on coloring themselves. They present the result of their work as Phalaenopsis Royal Blue and sell it at a price three times higher than ordinary white flowers.

Naturally, we are not talking about any technology here. Coloring is sometimes easy barbaric methods. The dye, often ink, is injected into the peduncle, stem, or root. This procedure greatly weakens the plant, being a source of stress for it. Poisoned harmful substances, the flower may simply die.

Purchased or received as a gift blue plant, inspect it carefully. If the injection mark is visible on the peduncle, then the plant has a greater chance of survival. If the injection was made into the root, then there is a high probability of death.

Sometimes phalaenopsis is colored by watering it with colored water; in this case, a blue tint can be observed not only on the flowers, but also on the leaves and roots. Whether the plant survives or not depends on the degree of damage caused to it.

Did the orchid produce buds that were not blue, but white? There is no need to try to paint it yourself, pour blue or ink on it. From this plant may get sick and die. It’s better to enjoy her natural, no less beautiful outfit.

Do not rush to replant a painted plant immediately after purchase - it may not withstand another stress. Otherwise, the care requirements are the same as for ordinary orchids, but you need to carefully monitor its condition.

If after purchase the flower begins to lose buds, it means that it has not coped with negative impact coloring matter. In this case you need take urgent measures to save him. To do this you should:

Japanese miracle

In 2013, Japanese breeders presented the result of their many years of work - a transgenic blue orchid. Scientists took as a basis the white phalaenopsis Aphrodite, which itself is very prolific and can produce up to 30 flowers in one flowering. The plant was introduced with a gene responsible for blue color from a Commelina flower.

However, due to its exclusivity, the plant remains inaccessible to a wide range of amateur gardeners.

Do blue orchids exist in nature?

Fans of exotic flowers will be disappointed: blue flowers do not exist in nature. This species simply there is no gene responsible for this pigment.

If you liked the blue flowers in the photographs, of which there are so many on the Internet, do not rush to get upset. You can choose not a painted phalaenopsis, but Vanda - another species of the family. This is a flower of amazing beauty, a real queen. But she requires proper treatment and is quite capricious in terms of care. A novice gardener may have difficulties with it. If Wanda takes root in your home, she will delight you with luxurious flowers. Their coloring will not be inferior in beauty to the deep indigo with which phalaenopsis is painted.

Another example of a blue orchid is Cattleya. Compared to Wanda, she is less demanding in care. This species flowers are large and fragrant, and their colors are varied.

This is the most unpretentious appearance among blue flowers. However, in nature you will not find the rich blue color that painted buds have. These will be subtle shades blue color or pink-blue, blue with a lilac tint. But this color is rare. Their flowers are small, but natural in color.

Should I buy flowers? with blue or light blue petals? Everyone decides for themselves...

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– diffused 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. Still important high humidity and good air circulation.

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.

Orchids with amazing blue flowers are currently extremely popular. Looking at them, you experience approximately the same feelings as if you were looking at a bright, clear spring sky or a tropical sea. It is not for nothing that the color blue symbolizes enlightenment, eternity, and spirituality. And the bird of happiness has the same color.

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. The material for creating blue specimens is a white phalaenopsis orchid.

The idea for growing an artificially colored blue orchid was the Blue Vanda orchid (Vanda coerulea Lindl) with exotic flowers purple and blue in color, native to Thailand, China, Burma and northeastern India.

The phalaenopsis orchid acquires its unusual blue color under the influence of special coloring matter, which can depress her, so she requires special care.

It is not recommended to replant the miracle orchid after purchase, since it may not tolerate new stress. It is best to place a blue orchid with a store pot in a beautiful ceramic vessel with pebbles at the bottom. If you are lucky enough to find a vessel pale blue, then as a result you will get an original integral composition.

To orchid for a long time pleased its owners, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules of care:

An orchid requires bright diffused light and a certain temperature regime. The best place for the plant in winter there is a window sill in the southern part of the room. Orchids require 10-15 hours bright light, so in winter daylight complemented by lighting. IN summer time The most successful placement would be the east window. Optimal temperature keeping an orchid in the summer is +20 degrees, and in winter period- +17. In this case, the air humidity should be high, for which the orchid leaves are sprayed from time to time.

Watering an orchid depends on the light intensity. In bright sunlight flower consumes more water, and on cloudy days the amount of absorbed water decreases significantly. In any case, the soil must be constantly moist. Water the plant softly, lightly warm water. Orchids love to “take a shower.” When performing this procedure, it is necessary to monitor the water pressure - it should be diffuse and weak. In nature, orchids easily withstand heavy tropical downpours, but in our case we are dealing with a plant grown in greenhouse conditions that requires careful watering. If flower pot is in a vessel with pebbles, then the best option Watering an orchid involves keeping the pebbles constantly moist. Thus, the roots of the plant are protected from rotting, and the air has sufficient humidity for the orchid.

The orchid does not tolerate stuffiness, so the room must be ventilated more often, even in winter. On a warm sunny day, the flower can be exposed to fresh air.

After the orchid has bloomed, cutting off its peduncle is not recommended. It may contain dormant buds, from which a new peduncle or baby will grow. And when you see buds on a new branch that are not blue, but white, do not rush to water the plant with blue or ink. This will cause the orchid to get sick and die. It’s better to let it bloom and admire the beautiful snow-white flowers.

If, after purchasing a blue orchid, its buds begin to fall off, this may mean that it has not coped with the effect of the dye on it.

If orchids appear on the leaves brown spots, and they feel hard to the touch, then the reason is sunburn. In this case, the plant is shaded, but the damaged leaves are not removed. If the spots feel soft to the touch, this could be fungal disease. In this case, damaged leaves are removed immediately.

Gray mold that appears on the leaves signals an error in care: spraying the plant at low temperatures. room temperature. If the plant does not bloom. This means that it suffers from a lack of light.

By providing the blue orchid with proper care, you will have her as a real decoration for the window sills, even if she changes the color of her outfit from blue to white.

Orchids have always been famous for their original and unusual flowers. But the queen among them is the blue orchid. Such flowers appeared on sale relatively recently and many do not know whether they are real or painted. This article will answer this question.

Blue orchids, which are sold in flower shops, invariably attract attention with the unusual color of their flowers. Here the question naturally arises: “Are blue varieties of orchids painted or real?” The answer to this question may disappoint exotic lovers, since such a natural color of the buds of this type of flower does not exist in nature.

The fact is that orchids do not have a gene that is responsible for the blue color of their petals. Therefore, if there is a blue orchid in a flower shop, then you know that the plant has been painted.

However, you can find flowers that have a blue-lilac color to their buds. In nature, the closest color to blue is found in representatives of the Vanda genus, which includes approximately 60 species. These plants produce flowers whose petals have a lilac tint, diluted with light spots.

Wanda has a lot hybrid forms, as it crosses well with other varieties. The result is unusual petal colors. But when buying blue orchids of the Vanda genus, you need to understand that they are very capricious in terms of care and you will have to tinker with them.

In addition to representatives of the Vanda genus, the following varieties of orchids form blue flowers:

• Cattleya orchid. If we compare it with Vanda, then this is a less demanding plant that will be much easier to grow at home. Plants form large flowers that smell pleasant and have different colors of their petals;
• Phalaenopsis orchid. Considered the most unpretentious indoor plant. The formation of small-sized buds is characteristic. Phalaenopsis does not produce the rich blue color that is characteristic of artificially colored flowers. A slight bluish tint will be more visible here. There are varieties whose flowers have a lilac or pink-blue tint.

For growing in an apartment or at home, Phalaenopsis is the best blue variety. Caring for it at home will be practically no different from flowers that have different petal colors. Except easy care and blue buds, the flower has practically no smell. Therefore, it is great for those for whom spicy scents are contraindicated.

As a result, we can conclude that in nature there are no varieties of orchids that have a rich blue color. But there are representatives of three genera, the buds of which have desired shade. However, in terms of care, they will be somewhat more demanding than other representatives. You need to remember this when buying a flower for home grown or as a gift.

Where did blue orchids come from?

For the first time in the world, blue orchids of the Phalaenopsis variety were presented at an exhibition of tropical plants, which took place in 2010 in Florida (USA). Such unusual flower The Silver Vase farm, which breeds orchids, managed to get it. Just three months later, Phalaenopsis Royal Blue appeared. The plant was demonstrated at the FloraHolland flower competition, which is held annually in Holland. Phalaenopsis Royal Blue was presented by the Dutch nursery “Geest Orchideeën”.

Today, manufacturers do not hide the fact that the blue orchid is not natural. After purchasing these flowers, the next flowering will occur with white buds.

Plants are painted using a patented technology that is kept secret. However, producers of blue orchids note that to give the buds a blue color, they place the plants in a specially prepared environment. For its preparation, natural ingredients are used that do not cause any harm to the flower.

Thus, Phalaenopsis and the other blue-colored species are specially bred varieties by breeders. Therefore, to the question “do blue orchids exist or not in nature,” you know the exact answer. It's just a good marketing ploy.

Achievement of Japanese breeders

Despite the fact that several varieties of blue orchids had already been bred, breeders continued to work in this direction. After many years of experimentation, luck smiled on Japanese breeders. At an exhibition in Okinawa in 2013, the world's first Phalaenopsis orchid was presented, which had a truly rich blue hue. To get this color, scientists had to introduce the Asian Commelina gene into a white orchid of the Aphrodite variety. The introduced gene was responsible for the blue coloring of the petals, so the hybrid was able to bloom with buds of the required shade.

The new species of blue orchid is called "Royal Blue". The hybrid is characterized by small flowers that reach 5 cm in diameter. abundant flowering. Up to 30 flowers can form on one stem.

This transgenic orchid is an exclusive plant and cannot yet be found on sale.

How to save the blue miracle

Manufacturers can paint Phalaenopsis blue, but the average person does not have this option. Therefore, in order to save what you have purchased indoor flower, you need to properly care for it. After all, if the care of the blue orchid was insufficient, the buds will quickly begin to crumble.

It is worth noting that, regardless of the efforts of the florist, it will not be possible to get blue inflorescences from the flower after purchase. The fact is that in the absence of periodic tinting, the blue tint will gradually fade and over time the orchid will begin to bloom with white flowers.

The worst outcome would be the death of the plant due to severe stress. To prevent this situation, you need to know how to care for the blue miracle at home. There are several rules here, the implementation of which guarantees the health of the flower.

After the plant has been brought into the house, its buds may begin to fall off. In this case, you should pay attention to the roots of the orchid. If the paint was injected into the roots, then it will no longer be possible to help such a flower. If coloring composition was introduced directly into the peduncle, then the chances of salvation remain high.

To revive a colored Phalaenopsis, you need to cut off a stem that is overflowing with dye. After this we perform the following steps:

• remove the flower from the pot. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the root system;
• after this, the orchid roots should be washed thoroughly in warm water. At this stage, it is easy to check each root for any puncture marks. If the paint is injected through the roots, then at the site of its introduction, areas with rotting or simply bluish areas will form;
• all damaged areas should be cut off;
• Next, the cut areas should be sprinkled with cinnamon or ash. They should dry well;
• After this, the plant can be placed in a flower pot. It is worth noting that a new substrate must be filled in the pot. It can be purchased at any flower shop.

The substrate in which the flower was previously must be thrown away. It cannot be reused, as it contains a large amount of chemicals. active substances and harmful components.

Such problems arise when sellers dye the flowers themselves, passing them off as Phalaenopsis Royal Blue. The price for such specimens is usually three times higher than for other orchids with a blue tint.

In this case, the risk of the plant dying after purchase is very high. After all, the dyeing technology was not followed, and toxic substances (for example, blue ink from a regular ballpoint pen) could act as a dye. Typically, the dye is introduced into the plant through injections into the root, stem or peduncle. This procedure leads to a significant weakening of the flower, acting as stress for it.

Therefore, when purchasing a blue orchid at a flower shop, you need to very carefully examine its roots, stems and peduncles. If paint injection sites are found, then such a plant should not be purchased. It will die very quickly anyway.

Some sellers achieve a blue tint by watering the flower with blue-tinted water. In this case, not only the buds, but also the roots and leaves will get a blue tint. Although this is a more gentle coloring method, it is still stressful for the plant. Therefore, you should not try to get a blue orchid on your own at home by pouring dyes on it.

Now you know whether there are blue varieties of orchids in nature, and also how to follow them at home in order to preserve such a miracle for as long as possible.

Video “The Secret of the Blue Orchid”

From this video you will learn whether blue orchids exist in nature.