The world's first blue orchid

[fredr]

I just saw my first blue orchid and didn't ask for the price. It simply followed me to the car at HD. 'Blue Mystique' from Silver Vase, Inc in Homestead. Don't know if this is old news here but I thought someone had spraypainted a white phal. It looked unreal but was real nevertheless.

[Paul Mc]

While it's pretty, there have been numerous people reporting the blue phal recently. You mitt want to know that phal's do not come in blue actually. People are saying that the flower stems are injected with a blue dye to create the blue in the flower.

I'm really sorry if I burst a bubble. I wish they came in blue too!

[tucker85]

I see those around alot lately. They look beautiful but unfortunately they are not real. I don't know the exact process but one orchid vendor told me that the growers have a dye that the plant will take up. I assume that it's put in the water used to water the plant. I don't know if they do it continuously or one time but they certainly get good results. It is pretty though, so enjoy.

[fredr]

Oh my! I had suspected a spray but quickly saw that the plant itself was blue. Now I know why. They say nothing about this process on their web page. I guess a sucker is born every minute but how is one to know?

[Call_Me_Bob]

I wouldn't say your a sucker. You like what you like. Next blooming, this one should be white. Maybe with a slight tinge. But eventually it will be a white Phal.


You can call me Bob

[Roly0217]

I've seen and heard of this new trend lately. Like the others said it is dyed. They inject the inflorescence of the plant while the buds are developing and once they do and bloom finally bloom they are blue. I remember seeing a picture somewhere of the niddle puncture.

[Call_Me_Bob]

if you look at the bottom of the spike, there will be a hole, it will be partially blue around the hole

[Tom-DE]

If that is what you like, then it is okay, but IMO, that is a horrible thing to do to an orchid. I saw someone selling them at the Longwood Gardens Show last weekend and I almost puked when I walked by them.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i saw a huge display at longwood too, i was revolted too! but if thats what someone prefers...

[fotofashion]

Yesterday I visited a nearby grower to peruse his offerings. He told me he had purchased one of these dyed phals just for the dickens of it. His wife banned the plant from the house. He kiddingly threatened to bring it to the HOS meeting next week. I kidded him back telling him that if he did, I would head the posse to run him out. The idea revolts me for some reason. Then I went grocery shopping and there, in the Kroger flower shop, were a dozen+ blue phals. OH, ugg. Anything for a buck.
OTOH, this same grower had two magnificent Den. anosmums. I bought one of them. The canes are over 5' long and although the flowers are over the hill, I am thrilled to finally find a good sized specimen of this plant.
Beverly A.