Is there a Blue orchid ?

[Teachth]

My teaching partner called me yesterday and told me that she almost bought a "blue" orchid. Is there such a thing? I tried researching this and it appears that although one can "trick" an orchid into blooming into such a color it is not a natural plant. Is this something one should buy and will it continue to bloom blue?

Thanks,

Trish

[Cjcorner]

Blue orchids are usually referred to as "Coerulea". To your eye they will usually look purple, however, get out your camera and take a few pictures and you will see the blue. I have one that takes interesting pics, called Lc. Blue Madonna of Poland...although since I made those posts I have found out the real name is Lc. Tahoe Rose. There are blue dendrobiums, cattleya, vanda...as well as many others. They are very pretty.

[LilSatchmo]

Hey Trish, There was a thread from not too long ago about blue dye-infused phalenopsis. A link to that thread is HERE. This may be what you're teaching partner was asking about?! I didn't see a pic of the flowers on this particular thread but I do remember seeing these in at least one of the big box stores leading up to Mother's Day.

[catttan]

There are 'blue' orchids - well, at least various shades of it. I have various blue vandaceous, dendrobiums and a very nice blue cattelya Lc Blue Boy. There are others too. I am looking for those truly gorgeous blue Zygopetalum. And, hopefully, those 'blue' orchids your friend saw are not the dyed ones that Kreg mentioned!

[kiwiorchids]

Look out for the blue dye infused phallies, 1) they are ugly and an abomination. 2) no they will not continue to bloom blue.

However as Yew and Connie have mentioned, there are a few, like my fav: Oerstedelia centradinia. A very easy to grow member of the epidendrum family.

[PaphMadMan]

Several species of Thelymitra are truly blue, or at least as blue as the bluest Delphinium. But your teaching partner probably saw one of those hideous blue-dyed Phalaenopsis.

[kiwiorchids]

Several species of Thelymitra are truly blue, or at least as blue as the bluest Delphinium. But your teaching partner probably saw one of those hideous blue-dyed Phalaenopsis.

Good luck finding a Thelymitra (Sun Orchid), as far as i am aware, it is illegal to cultivate and sell them in Australia and New Zealand, and they are found only in our vicinity (of the world that is).

[stevencook1213]

and that is a pitty because they are amazingly beautiful

[kiwiorchids]

and that is a pitty because they are amazingly beautiful

Yes, the Theylimitra are amazing, and beautiful. A guy in Napier has some growing in pots, that he got from the Rimutaka ranges. Apparently they just push through the snow and POP they burst into bloom. They need full sun 24/7, or atleast for 8 hours of the day lol to bloom, otherwise they wont do anything but leaf up. Have a look around your area Steven, out on the peninsula, you might find some Caledenia, or Theylimitra-PM me for more info