Once an orchid presented in a sealed box was considered an exquisite and expensive gift. But today, everything has changed. These mysterious foreigners of all colors and sizes are sold today in almost every flower shop. They can be purchased by choosing the most liked shade.
But there are varieties of these that are rare in nature, and on sale they are a real shortage. We are talking about such a variety as a blue orchid. Not everyone manages to meet him. The distribution area of this plant is quite wide; it does not grow only in the climatic conditions of harsh Antarctica. It is worth noting that many of the plants sold today are obtained as a result of staining, so they can not be considered natural. Real blue or blue orchids have an amazing shade reminiscent of the sea or sky. Scientifically, they are called phalaenopsis, sometimes Cattleya. They have dark leathery leaves and a cylindrical stem. Flowers develop on long shoots that grow directly from the leaf sinuses. After removal of the peduncle, new inflorescences develop at the base, young stems emerge.
Care
Blue orchid, the care of which requires certain knowledge and skills, used to inspire fear among plant growers and simply housewives, who thought it was almost impossible to grow it at home. However, this is not so, since today breeders have bred much more environmentally resistant varieties. And the blue orchid is no exception. The main requirements for the care of these plants are proper lighting and watering. If these two basic conditions are met, then phalaenopsis will grow normally and delight its owners with many stunningly beautiful flowers. Not a single plant, let alone a blue orchid, can live without lighting. She needs diffused light without excessive sun exposure, otherwise she will simply “burn out”. It is not necessary to water the plant so that the water in the pot does not stagnate. It is necessary to ensure that the substrate in which this beauty lives completely dries out. Equally important is good drainage, which allows moisture to pass through freely. Water the plant with warm and soft water. Orchid, blue and in general any, does not like spraying.
Breeding
The blue orchid is propagated by division, and children can be selected only from lush, strong, who have lived for several years and at the same time are absolutely healthy individuals. Once the aerial roots of young plants develop, they can be separated by grabbing a piece of the stem from above and below. Since the substrate of orchids is very loose, the young seedling must first be tied to a support, which can be removed only after the formation of several new roots. After transplanting, young animals are not watered, but only sprayed the ground once a day. A pot with a baby for three weeks is put in a warm and sunny place.
A bit of history
The birthplace of these flowers is China. The mention of them appeared even before the birth of Christ. A blue orchid came to Europe in the middle of the eighteenth century, brought from the Bahamas by missionaries. In England at the beginning of the last century it was used as an additional material for packaging other, more common tropical plants. But once, a gardener by the name of Ketley, becoming interested, decided to plant an orchid in a pot. To his great joy, the flower took root. Since then, the variety that was obtained by the English gardener is called Cattleya.
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