The blue orchid - how to grow it and how to care for it

Have you ever come across a vibrant, deep blue orchid and wondered if it was real? Most of the time, when you think of blue orchids, you imagine those intense blue Phalaenopsis orchids that you can find for sale at local florists or supermarkets. Those bright blue orchid flowers look artificial. Surely nature couldn't have created these blue orchid flowers, right?

Most blue orchid flowers are created by orchid growers and are not real. Orchid growers inject blue dye into the tip of the orchid flower as it grows. White orchids, Phalaenopsis, are usually used for this. Depending on the stage of growth in which the top of the flower is located, the blooming of the orchids will have different shades of blue. That being said, there are some blue orchids that occur naturally, such as the blue Vandas.

Contents:

1. How blue orchids are created
2. How to care for the blue orchid

1. How blue orchids are created

Unfortunately, most blue orchids sold are not naturally blue. Orchid growers have many tricks up their sleeves to sell more flowers, including getting orchids to bloom on a certain schedule and grow more spikes. One trick is to paint the orchid flowers in different colors. This creates attractive orchid displays and attracts customers to purchase these unique orchids. To make blue orchids, orchid growers usually use a white orchid with an established flower spike. Technically, any color orchid can be used, but white allows the blue pigment to show best.

First, orchid sellers make a small hole in the tip or stem of the orchid flower, somewhere below its buds or flowers. Using a small needle and a syringe filled with blue dye, they inject blue dye into that hole. As the water and nutrients travel along the orchid stem to the end of the flower tip, the blue dye will travel along the same path and color the orchid flowers blue. After the blue dye is injected into the tip of the orchid, the hole is sealed with wax. This prevents the blue paint from running down the orchid stem and making a mess. The moment when the dye is injected is important.

To create light blue or pastel blue orchid flowers, growers inject the blue dye before the flower buds open. To create that vibrant, bright or deep blue color, orchid growers inject blue dye into the tip of the orchid when the flowers are opening or fully open. After the dye has been injected, it usually takes at least 24 hours for the orchid to bloom and change color. Often the blue orchids you see are Phalaenopsis orchids. However, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums and many other varieties of orchids can also be dyed blue.

If the orchid grower fails to use wax to seal the injection site, you may find blue dye leaking from the hole. This can become very messy with patches of blue dye. It is difficult to wash if it gets on clothes and furniture. If you buy a bouquet of painted orchids , inspect them carefully. Make sure all injection sites have been sealed with wax. If the orchid grower injects the orchid tip with too much dye, the dye overload may be toxic to the orchid. The orchid may try to eliminate the excess dye itself. You will see this when the blue dye seeps through the knots or other porous areas of the orchid. Sometimes orchids will drop their leaves, and the ends of the leaves themselves have a blue tint. This is another sign that too much blue dye has been used.

If you notice this happening and you want to save your orchid, there are several things you can do. First, cut the top of the orchid with the painted flowers. If the blue dye oozes from the knots, you may want to wear disposable gloves so the dye doesn't stain your hands. You can put these cut orchid stems in a vase and continue to enjoy the flowers. Removing the tip will help remove a good part of the blue dye from circulation. Cover the area where you cut the top of the orchid with ground cinnamon to help dry it and prevent infection. If your orchid also loses its leaves, you can use charcoal in the potting medium to remove the toxins from the blue dye. Good quality charcoal can help remove impurities and extend the life of the potting medium. For an orchid that is struggling to stay alive, you can try replanting your orchid in a new potting medium and using a higher percentage of charcoal in the mix. You may need to buy horticultural charcoal separately and add some to the orchid potting medium yourself.

2. How to care for the blue orchid

Phalaenopsis flowers are good to look at and easy to care for. However, you should box it with blue orchids , unless you have a problem with buying a plant that gives blue flowers initially and white flowers later. Flowers can last up to three months. It might bloom twice a year, if you take care of the orchids properly. Blue orchids must be given the same growing conditions that you would give any Phalaenopsis orchid. Here are some indications regarding the light, soil, watering and fertilizer requirements.

The reason Phalaenopsis orchids are ideal houseplants is that they can thrive in a temperature range of about 75-85°F (23-29°C) during the day and about 60-65°F (15-18°C) at night . Usually, the temperature in the houses is close to this range. Fluctuating temperatures or deviations from this temperature range should be avoided.

This is a shade-loving plant, especially during the summer. It is advisable to protect the plant from direct sunlight, as this could damage the leaves and flowers. However, it requires strong, indirect light. Excessive light can lead to fewer flowers which may also be smaller. On the other hand, foliage that is flaky and dark green could indicate insufficient light. Ideally, the leaves should be firm and medium green.

Well-drained soil is another requirement for growing blue orchids. The potting medium must not become wet. Therefore, you can opt for mixtures that drain quickly. You can opt for charcoal, perlite, fir bark, sphagnum peat, etc. Also, the plant must be replanted if it has outgrown the pot or the potting mix has spoiled. Replanting must be done in spring or autumn, after the flowering season. During replanting, shake the potting mix off the roots and remove rotten roots. Place a handful of potting mix in a larger pot. Use a chopstick to work the mixture between the roots.

Phalaenopsis orchids do not have pseudobulbs that could help them retain moisture. They will do well in 50-70% humidity. It should be mentioned that the plant can adapt even to lower humidity, if its water requirements are met. When it is very dry, you can use a humidifier. If you intend to keep the plant on a windowsill, you can place it on a tray with humidity. However, use the pebbles to separate the pot and the tray. This is to ensure that the plant is not placed directly on the water. If the humidity is high, you can turn on a fan, so that there is a constant air circulation.

Make sure you water your blue orchid regularly throughout the growing season. Water the plant in the early hours of the morning. However, reduce the frequency of watering in winter. Make sure the potting mix provides adequate drainage. It should be noted that orchids are epiphytes that obtain nutrients from air and moisture. When their roots are exposed, they dry out faster. Therefore, water the plant properly, whenever needed. Before watering the plant, make sure that the potting medium is almost dry, but do not let the roots dry out completely. If the plant is placed in a pot, the roots are not exposed to the air, which is why they do not dry out very quickly. Therefore, do not resort to watering, as this can lead to rotting of the roots. Keep the leaves dry to avoid crown rot.

During the period of active growth, you can apply a balanced (20-20-20) or poorly prepared orchid fertilizer by mixing 1 teaspoon in a liter of water every week. This is ideal for orchids in a peat-based mix. For orchids in a bark mix, an orchid fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content (such as 30-10-10) can be used. During the flowering period and winter, the fertilizer can be applied once a month. Excessive use of fertilizer should be avoided, as this can cause salt build-up, which, in turn, can lead to slower growth and damage to the roots.

Therefore, the conditions mentioned above must be ensured for the blue orchid in order for it to bloom and remain healthy. Since orchids are epiphytes, a healthy root system is essential. There is one more step that you have to do after the flowers have fallen. Cut the tip just above the node where the first bloom appeared. This will stimulate the growth of a new tip, which may reappear in a few months. Do not forget that the new flowers of the orchid will not be blue.

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