Phalaenopsis orchid can be grown at home. This flower will blend harmoniously with any indoor setting. To date, geneticists have bred a large number of phalaenopsis species. The color of the flowers of a plant can be very different, so you can always choose a phalaenopsis according to your taste for your interior. After all, not every person needs to have a classic color orchid.
Collecting not only attractive, but also rare plants... And Phalaenopsis is quite capable of taking a place in their collection due to its unusual blue color.
The blue phalaenopsis orchid is a rather rare species, and it is not always possible for breeders to bring out a flower with a blue color. For this reason, it is easiest to carry out a simple staining with chemical components.
V wild conditions, of course, there are specimens that are vaguely similar to blue orchids: light azure, grayish, whitish with pale blue flowers, but you will have to try hard when looking for such a plant.
Royal Blue Phalaenopsis (Royal Orchid) was presented to the world in the Dutch province at a floristic competition. This is a special flower with whitish-blue flowers, which, according to experts, will soon become quite popular among residents of different states.
The only pure blue plant species found in Japanese climates is Phalaenopsis Aphrodite. It was obtained as a result of many years of painstaking work on breeding orchids using genetic engineering and conventional selection by scientists from the Chiba Institute.
For this, the gene responsible for the blue color was transplanted into the whitish plant. The plant "Sineglazka" from Central Asia was the donor. As a result of transplantation we got a blue (blue) orchid Aphrodite. A potted plant can actively reproduce, releasing several dozen flowers with a radius of 2.5 cm during one growing season.
Seeds and seedlings of Aphrodite to an ordinary person it is impossible to receive. For this reason, the overwhelming majority of phalaenopsis suppliers use their own method of obtaining a blue color. The companies have found a solution: it is necessary to use special dyes.
Dye selection
By purchasing in retail outlet sales of an orchid already painted in blue, the buyer runs the risk of receiving a substandard product containing a dye that is very dangerous for the flower. In addition, there may be a fact of non-compliance with the painting technology.
For buying orchids, it is best to visit specialized agricultural fairs rather than regular retail stores. In this case, care must be taken not to come across a plant that has a blue color of roots and flowers, because it is unlikely to live long.
It must be remembered simple recommendation: immediately after acquiring a flower, in no case should you try to transplant it, since during this period it is most vulnerable.
The most unpretentious plant to care for is Cattleya. It is characterized by the presence of flowers large diameter, which spread the fragrance over a long distance.
If you try to paint the plant yourself, all responsibility for the result falls on the shoulders of the grower. In the event that it is decided to do everything yourself, you can apply for this special paints intended for flowers, or an ordinary food coloring. Paints are purchased on specialized Internet sites.
Some people use a rather cruel method of staining with respect to the plant: they take simple ink and apply directly to the flower. However, painting with ink is strictly prohibited, since ink almost always contains hazardous solvents, penetrants, cleaning agents, and so on.
Staining methods
First you need to choose a flower. A light-colored orchid works best. Next, you need to decide on the method:
- watering paint;
- paint application with blue pigment.
Staining method No. 1.
The first method is characterized by gentle effects on the potted plant, however, it is not as effective as compared to the second method. In addition, in the future, not only the petals, but also the stem will be covered with paint, while the duration of the color change will be short.
After the cessation of watering with blue dye, the renewed flower will almost immediately try to regain its natural shade.
The procedure for staining by applying paint by watering and subsequent maintenance is simple. Consider the sequence of actions:
- Dissolving the dye in water is required. The coloring rule is as follows: with an increase in the amount of pigment, the color saturation and damage to the plant becomes greater.
- After the first painting, the flower must be periodically watered with this aqueous solution.
Staining method No. 2.
This method of painting is extremely harmful, but if the grower chose to use it, the most careful procedure for introducing paint is required.
The dye enters the stem or root part, into the peduncle by injection. The introduction of a coloring pigment into the stem or root part seems to be the most harmful action for the plant. In this case, the plant's immunity is significantly weakened, which is externally manifested by rashes of ulcerative structures on the body of the plant organism.
If the dye was introduced into the peduncle, then the plant is quite capable of compensating for the dangerous influence by counter-action from its defense mechanisms... In other words, the likelihood that the plant will not die increases markedly. Therefore, it is preferable to choose this option in order not to create unnecessarily negative impact per flower.
The procedure for staining by injection is as follows: it is necessary to absorb an aqueous coloring solution into a syringe and inject this mixture into the peduncle. The advantage of this method of staining over the previous one is that it is not required to constantly water the plant.
The consequences of staining for a plant.
After staining orchids, it is imperative to carefully look after them, because for some time after such a procedure the plant is in a weakened state. If the next calendar year the phalaenopsis still blooms with whitish buds, you do not need to try to re-paint it.
Watering staining is not capable of altering the amino acid sequence in the DNA structure of the plant. After all, painting is only a cosmetic operation.
Mostly different hybrids, attractive plants with wonderful, large, colorful flowers. The range of available colors in shades of Phalaenopsis is wide, there are pure plants of blue color Producers have been working for many years to create blue-colored orchids. Most of the 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 when the buds are closed, causing the dye to change color before the flowers open. Some of the plants react poorly to interference and do not hit the shelves, the cost of surviving specimens is quite high. This is how the coveted and long-awaited blue orchids enter the market and immediately become immensely popular.
From blue to white
The high price tag 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 a label) that the color of the flowers is the result of artificial coloring, and will disappear the next time it blooms. Unfortunately, you can not count on information or the inscription is hardly noticeable. People who are tempted by a blue orchid experience an unpleasant disappointment, dreams are dispelled with each new pale bud that opens, with the next flowering completely white or cream.
You can make independent attempts to change the color of flowers by introducing a blue food coloring into the peduncle stem (it is difficult, time-consuming and difficult), the results may be far from expected, the plant may react poorly to the intervention, and it will start to hurt.
In spite of possible difficulties, if you want to have a blue or blue orchid, you can purchase a flower with the knowledge 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, you need appropriate care. After flowering, you need to cut off the artificially colored flower stem and allow the plant to rest by placing it in a moderately warm room (20-22 ° C), a place with diffused light. Watering the orchid should be carried out systematically, but rarely (the substrate in the pot must dry completely before the next pouring of water), 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, the moisture around the roots often provokes rotting. During the dormant period, plants are not fertilized; let the flower gradually regain its strength. When the plant looks healthy and is producing new leaves, you can start feeding and try to re-bloom. For re-flowering, you need to provide the plant with a varied, not high fever(during the day 20-22 ° C and 16-18 ° C at night), provoking the emergence of buds. The desired effect is obtained by placing the flower in a cold room or taking it outside in early autumn for a couple of weeks (on a balcony or garden). During cooling, the plant must be monitored so 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 natural - cream or white color.
Could a blue or blue orchid exist?
There is a real blue orchid, for example, Wanda blue(Vanda coerulea), varieties "Pachara Delight" and "Blue Magic". Wanda is a genus of the Orchid family, the family includes Phalaenopsis, Wanda comes in different blue-blue shades, Vanda is not painted, unlike Phalaenopsis.
In nature, there are more than 3,500 orchid species.
They grow on all continents except Antarctica. There are more than 60 varieties of phalaenopsis alone. Their color strikes the imagination with its diversity and brightness: lilac, green with purple veins, burgundy, white, cream ... any, except pure blue.
It is not surprising that the blue orchid that appeared in flower shops some time ago made a splash, instantly becoming extremely popular. At first, it never occurred to anyone that the flowers were simply painted. Is this really so, let's figure it out.
Painted flowers
If you brought home blue phalaenopsis not from an exhibition, but from an ordinary flower shop - congratulations, you became the owner of a painted orchid. And it's not a fact that she will survive.
And yet, if you suddenly wanted something exotic, then you can try to color the flowers yourself.It is quite easy to do this - special dyes are injected into the roots or peduncle of white phalaenopsis.
Dyes do not always penetrate exclusively into flowers, very often the leaves are also colored, which gives some artificiality and makes the plant less aesthetic. However, the result has been achieved - in the first flowering, the petals strike the eye with stunningly rich deep indigo.
Unfortunately, the shade of subsequent generations of colors is becoming weaker - the paint is gradually washed out. For the fourth time, orchids, as a rule, bloom with completely white flowers, returning to their native color.
Saving injured flowers
It is not the worst thing if the flower turns white in six months - it is much worse when the plant, without enduring stress, begins to die.
If you notice that after some time the "blue" buds have begun to fall off, you need to first examine the roots of the flower. The obvious traces of injections found on the roots or peduncles indicate that the likelihood of a sad outcome is high, but if the paint was injected into the peduncle, then the orchid can still be reanimated.
For resuscitation of phalaenopsis with a colored peduncle, we cut off the stalk overflowing with dyes. Then we take out the plant from the pot and, trying not to damage root system, rinse it with warm water. We examine the roots for traces of injections.
If cyanotic spots and traces of rot are clearly visible on the roots, we cut off the damaged areas, and sprinkle the sections with ash or cinnamon and dry them properly.
After that, we place the flower 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, as there are too many chemically active harmful substances in it.
Do blue orchids exist in nature?
So don't blue orchids really exist and are they just a clever marketing ploy to boost sales?
Partly. The blue-lilac color is really found and it is quite possible to acquire a flower of such unusual color... Finding out if a fake is in front of you is quite simple: you need to find out the genus of the orchid that the seller will offer you.
Blue or blue phalaenopsis there is no free sale in wildlife. Blue phalaenopsis can now only be found at large orchid exhibitions. If you come across blue phalaenopsis in a flower shop, do not hesitate, you are being deceived.
Natural spotted bluish petals are found only in the Vanda orchid. This genus belongs to the orchid family, and includes about 60 epiphytic and lithophinous 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 genus Vanda - from orange and red to variegated, there are also lilac petals with light specks. This species is called so - and if you want to get a natural orchid blue, you need to ask him in stores.
Well, if someone congratulated you with a "blue" orchid, watch its condition more than carefully. Caring for this baby is the same as for ordinary phalaenopsis.
Breakthrough Japanese breeders
The dream of getting a pure blue orchid - recall that even Wanda Blue's petals are lilac-spotted, and did not leave the growers. And after years of experimentation, the miracle happened.
In 2013, at an exhibition in Okinawa, Japanese scientists demonstrated to the whole world new variety Phalaenopsis orchids of a rich blue hue. To obtain it, they needed to introduce into the Aphrodite orchid the gene of another flower - the Asiatic commeline, since the phalaenopsis, which occurs in nature, does not even have a gene capable of producing a blue pigment.
The new species was named "Royal Blue". Such an 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 yet on sale.
As you can see, there are several ways to make an extraordinary blue orchid decorate 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 purchases in flower shops, beautiful flowering of the purchased orchids and great mood!
Your Elena Skopich
At first glance, the blue orchid attracts attention, causing an irresistible desire to buy this exotic miracle. But not every buyer knows that its unusual beauty is extremely short-lived, and the next flowering will no longer please with an unusual shade.
Unfortunately, we have to disappoint you: in natural conditions orchids simply lack the blue pigment gene. Therefore, there is no need to doubt whether or not you have a dyed blue orchid. Unambiguously dyed. True, this statement is true only for phalaenopsis.
Choosing a vanda flower, you can easily enjoy your favorite color, but such a culture requires more careful care. You can choose a less whimsical option - Cattleya, which is distinguished by a variety of colors and large flowers.
And yet, natural shades are far inferior in brightness to the rich indigo that colored orchids flaunt.
Video "Basic principles of proper orchid care"
In this video, you will learn how to properly care for an orchid at home.
How to achieve the desired color
Most growers do not hide the fact that the shade of the flower is obtained artificially, but they try to keep the dyeing technology a secret. But upon closer examination of the plant, this mystery is easy to unravel: at the base of the peduncle, you can see the place of injection of the dye, which changes the color of future buds even before they bloom.
The high cost of blue orchids is due to the fact that not all plants survive after such injections: many of them die, reacting poorly to outside interference.
When purchasing such a plant, carefully study the label, and be prepared for the fact that the next peduncle will give you ordinary white flowers in order to avoid bitter disappointments. But after all, snow-white orchids are incredibly beautiful, aren't they?
Difficulties of growing
So, we remember that in next time we can count on best case on bluish flowers, or even completely snow-white. But if we want to keep a plant that has already survived stress healthy, it will have to be carefully looked after.
When is the last blue flower wilted, remove the colored peduncle, and allow the orchid to rest a little in a moderately warm room (with a temperature of + 20 ... + 22 ° C) with diffused lighting. A resting orchid should be watered regularly, but rarely, focusing on the state of the substrate. The latter should have time to dry completely before the next watering.
Water by immersion, lowering the pot with the plant in a container of water for at least 1 hour. After that, carefully drain the remaining water so that it does not linger between the roots (otherwise, the process of decay of the root system may begin). For the dormant period, fertilization should be abandoned - the culture should recover on its own after flowering.
As soon as you notice that the orchid looks strong and healthy, and even tries to knock out new leaves, it means that the rest period has come to an end. Now you can gradually apply top dressing, and think about re-flowering. We transfer the orchid to a room where the air temperature will be more varied: about +22 ° C during the day and +18 ° C at night. Such temperature fluctuations stimulate the formation of new buds.
Some people prefer to take out the flower for a certain time on glazed loggia to achieve the desired effect. But in this case, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature does not drop below +15 ° C, since such hypothermia is fraught with serious problems for the plant.
Sometimes amateur flower growers are interested in the question of how to paint an orchid blue at home. It would seem that everything is simple: we take an ordinary syringe and blue ink from a color printer, and inject it into the flower stalk of an orchid, rubbing our hands in anticipation of the appearance of blue buds.
Of course, you can decide on such an experiment, but only if you are tired of your orchid and you want to get rid of it. After such an injection, not only the peduncle will die, but with a high degree of probability the entire plant will die. Therefore, you should not risk it, and still buy a blue orchid in the store if you like it so much.
Orchids are considered one of the most beautiful flowers on Earth and are popular among flower growers in all countries. This is not surprising: the bizarre shape of the petals, size and relatively rapid growth distinguish them from thousands of other plants. But the most unusual among them is, of course, the blue, or blue orchid.
Several sources claim that blue orchids do not exist in nature... This myth arose because of huge mass fakes. Unscrupulous sellers simply paint corollas of flowers with the help of special pigments, and then pass them off as a blue curiosity. So the flower will turn blue and become a "blue" orchid.
Painted phalaenopsis is identified by pigment residues on other parts of the flower.
Royal phalaenopsis - plants from the Orchid family, originally from South-East Asia with flowers of white, purple or pale pink.
To recognize the "dyed phalaenopsis", pay attention to other parts of the plant: there are traces of blue pigment on them, and do not buy a fake.
Only in 2011, the real blue phalaenopsis appeared - Phalaenopsis Royal Blue, which are grown in Florida and Holland. The Dutch company Geest Orchideeën has grown several varieties of phalaenopsis different shades of blue color, with purple and even green hues.
Appearance, flowering and reproduction
Phalaenopsis are epiphytic plants that live on tree branches and feed on aerial roots. Leaves are elongated, belt-shaped or lanceolate, bright green, shiny and fleshy. The leaves are arranged in two rows, like many other orchids. Phalaenopsis have short stems, but peduncle can reach a meter and even one and a half meters.
These plants do not have any clear flowering schedule, since they live in tropical forests.
Most often flowering occurs in late spring. because there is more sunshine in this one.
Orchids reproduce vegetatively. To do this, use side shoots that extend from the rosette of leaves or from the peduncle. You need to wait for the formation of the first aerial roots on the side shoot - and you can plant it in your own pot.
Blue Phalaenopsis Care
Caring for blue phalaenopsis differs little from caring for other orchids. The main conditions for the well-being of this plant are - humidity, good lighting and warm.
Right choice lighting and microclimate guarantee the health of phalaenopsis Humidity
Humidity achieved by frequent "washing" of the plant from the spray bottle... Water for such a procedure should not be very cold, preferably if its temperature is 18-20 degrees. To get more light for the plant, place it on south, southwest, or southeast windows.
At noon in summer, in clear weather, it is better to shade the plant so that there are no burns. Daytime temperatures should be around 20 degrees. If the temperature is more than 25 or less than 15, plant growth slows down, there may be problems with flowering, diseases.
Temperature
These plants do not like large changes in temperature, the difference between night and day temperatures should not exceed 2-3 degrees (except for those cases when the plant needs a "shake", but more on that below). With strong temperature changes (more than 5 degrees), rot may appear.
Perfectly temperature regime must be the same regardless of the season.
How to water
Water the orchid once a week by immersing the pot and bottom hole in water for 10 minutes. When flowering, water should be done more often - 2 times a week. All Orchids do not like hard water, so whenever possible use thawed or rain.
Watering blue phalaenopsis by immersion Fertilize or not
The plant "eats" a lot of minerals, so feeding should be done at least 2-3 times a month in the warm season. In autumn, the concentration of fertilizers is halved, and in winter, the frequency of feeding is also reduced to 1 time per month. It is important that feeding is done not only on the root system, but also on the leaf.
Use special fertilizers for orchids.
Salts used for feeding will accumulate in the substrate. That's why it needs to be washed warm water 1 time per month.
Flowerpot
The aerial roots of orchids can photosynthesize, so a transparent plastic pot is better suited for these plants, if there is no completely transparent one, a white one.
A transparent pot is important for orchid photosynthesis Transplanting a blue orchid
Transplant orchids every 3-4 years, as the destruction of the substrate. Immediately after transplanting, it is recommended to use Zircon, a preparation for orchids that promotes the development of the root system.
Transplant the plant as follows:
- Take out together with the lump of the substrate from the pot (if not removed, cut the pot);
- Wash the roots with warm water to remove the residues of the substrate;
- Cut off rotten roots, if they are;
- Place the orchid in a pot and fall asleep with substrate.
Blue orchids are susceptible to the following diseases:
| Tick infestation | A spider mite is able to attack leaves and shoots, braiding them with a thin cobweb and causing part of the living tissue to dry out (the plant is covered with small dry brown patches). |
| Scratch(small, a few millimeters, white caterpillar-like animal) | Confidor, Mospilan, Biotlin and other means help against them. From folk remedies a mixture of soapy water with alcohol is effective (a liter of water, 15 grams of soap, 10 ml of alcohol) |
| Rot | Can usually hit roots or stems. Brown spots cover the plant, after which the decayed part dries up and dies. Here the reason is high humidity or improperly selected substrate. Don't water the plant as often; change the substrate. The best substrate is dry pine bark or a special store-bought mixture for orchids. |
A plant affected by ticks is easy to diagnose by its characteristic leaf damage. If she does not bloom
Blue orchids do not bloom mainly due to lack of light... The reason may also be drafts, which lead to temperature changes unusual for Orchids, a lack of minerals, and an increased temperature.
First of all, look at exactly which of the listed factors affect the plant. If this is a lack of light, move the plant to the south window, or use additional lighting (a 100 W fluorescent lamp will do).
Place the light bulb at such a distance that you cannot feel the warmth from it. General the length of daylight hours for an orchid should be about 12 hours, therefore, it is impossible to illuminate it all night.
Sometimes it is useful for the plant to give a "shake", allowing the night temperature to drop to 15 degrees.
In case of drafts, it is better to move the orchid to another room., with a lack of minerals - more often use top dressing.
Most blue orchids are fake... True blue varieties are grown in the Netherlands by Geest Orchideeën and in the USA by Silver Vase. Care blue orchids is no different from caring for Phalaenopsis orchids.