Blue flowers are uniquely stunning to look at, and there are so many of them out there. I have received many questions regarding blue orchids from you guys, so we are talking about this today. Are blue orchid flowers real? I also know that many people have searched for the answer from various sources to confirm this fact. We will discuss all of these below, and we will also talk about blue and blue-ish purple orchids.
Contents
What Is An Orchid?
For those who are new to orchids, the first thing that might surprise you is that orchid is Earth’s largest flowering plant family. There are around 30,000 species, and their appearances are different depending on their species. The one important thing that they all share is their beautiful and stunning flowers. Orchid flowers come in a variety of colors with pretty spots or stripes. The colors range from bright to dark, like pink, purple, white, and many others that you can name. When it comes to color, many people often think that orchids must come with every color. And that brings us to our question today, are blue orchid flowers real?
Are Blue Orchid Flowers Real?
The short answer is no; deep rich blue orchid flowers are not real. So why don’t blue orchid flowers exist? That is because their genetics cannot produce the true blue color pigment for the flowers. The ones that you have seen are either fake or dyed, meaning they are not naturally blue like that.
They are known as Blue Phalaenopsis Orchids, but they are neither natural nor real. This species has white buds that people inject blue dye into to change the color and turn them blue. However, that deep blue color will not last because the white buds will appear in the next blooms. And if you are lucky, you might get pale blue buds in the next bloom before completely white in the following. What I don’t like is that some of these blue orchids are not growing healthily. Even worse, the dye can also ooze from the flower and destroy healthy cells without a proper injection. Also, it is not an ideal choice to have for a long-term decoration since the color does not last long. Not to mention that it is very expensive, they are more of a great addition to special events instead.
So why is dyed blue orchid flowers are not an ideal option? For special occasions like parties and weddings, some people ordered blue orchids on cakes. Most of the time, the blue dye leaked from the spikes onto the cake frosting or stained clothes and other things. This will be difficult to remove or wash because the dye can be quite stubborn to come off.
How To Spot Fake Blue Orchids?
With that being said, many of us don’t want to come across fake blue orchids. So how can you tell if the blue orchid flowers that you see are fake or not? Things are pretty obvious, and you can tell by the puncture wound on the injection site on the buds. Without a proper seal after the injection, the small holes that contain dye can actually stain your finger. To cut things short, you can either observe the buds or pick up the flowers to find injection sites. Then you can tell right away whether or not they are fake blue orchids.
Another easy way is to read the label before you decide to purchase the blue orchids that you see. There are labels that say “infused? or “injected?, and they let you know that the flowers are not naturally blue. One more important thing to have in mind is that blue orchids should only be for decoration purposes. You should not try to consume them because the dye may not be safe. This is because we don’t know what kind of dye they use to inject into the flowers. So just to be safe, try not to consume them and keep your curious pets from eating them.
Blue Orchid Flower Alternatives
For those who don’t mind the vibrancy of the color, then there are some blue orchid flowers alternatives available. The thing is that the colors of the other species are not deep blue, and they are rare in nature. I have found just 3 blue orchids that are blue in color, and maybe one of them has what you like.
Blue Vanda
Not looking all blue, Vanda Coerulea aka blue vanda has bluish purple flowers that look quite attractive. At the same time, it is actually one of the very few botanical orchids with blue flowers. This species can be found in Northeast India all the way to Southern Yunnan in China. You can also find them in some parts of Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and more.
While many orchid flowers are for decorative purposes, this one has many medicinal benefits for people. The locals just use its juice as eye drops to protect their eyes from blindness, cataract, and glaucoma. On top of that, some of their active ingredients may also fight against visible signs of aging skin. Plus, with the nice and soothing fragrant, they are one of a kind to grow in homes.
Thelymitra Crinita
This orchid has a single broad with oval leaf, accompanied by 15 stunning blue flowers. The special thing about this orchid is that it has pure blue color but with black and yellow columns. This stunning color brings this beauty the nicknames such as blue lady orchid, lily orchid, and queen orchid. You can find Thelymitra Crinita in regions where it is endemic, which is in the south-west of Western Australia. Mostly, queen orchids grow in the coastal and near-coastal forests or even in sometimes. The flowering of this orchid occurs from September to November, and they look absolutely gorgeous.
Thelymitra Cyanea
Looks similar to the previous species; this one is also one of a kind when it comes to blue orchid flowers. Thelymitra Cyanea aka swamp sun orchid or veined sun orchid, is one pretty blue orchid species to have in mind. It has a single fleshy leaf with dark blue veins, and the flowers are often self-pollinating, which is very interesting. The flowers of this orchid open on warm sunny days, and flowering occurs from November to March.
Sun orchids are common in many parts of south-eastern Australia and New Zealand, mostly damp to boggy places. Sadly, they are endangered in South Australia due to habitat loss.
Conclusion
So pretty but not natural, blue orchid flowers are not real, unfortunately. The good thing is that there are alternatives that you can choose from, and they are quite pretty. It is not that I don’t recommend buying the fake ones; they are so gorgeous. The only thing to have in mind is to be careful with the placement if they are for special occasions. Things are the same with handling them because the stain is not easy to remove, especially from clothes. Besides these, you are good to go. These blue orchid flowers look amazing, and they will surely stand out in pretty much anywhere you put them.