You can quickly learn how to dye orchids blue in two simple ways. Submersion and infusion are trusted techniques for changing the colour of orchids. After all, blue flowers are scarce naturally, making blue orchids more coveted in UK gardens and greenhouses.
Sadly, it’s hard to breed blue-coloured orchids, and even Vanda orchids are closer to the colour purple. To achieve eye-catching blue orchids, grow your plants in the polytunnel to ensure quality flowers. Afterwards, try the two methods below and experiment with colour concentrations until you achieve the blue colour you’re looking for.
Guide For How To Dye Orchids Blue
There are two main techniques to dye orchids blue. If you want to use cut flowers, the submersion method is the appropriate one. On the other hand, the slightly particular infusion method gives a more satisfying result because it distributes the blue colour in the orchid.
Submersion
Submersion is the easiest way to dye your orchids blue. If you’re familiar with dying tulips and roses, you can apply a similar technique when you’re dyeing orchids. Use cut white orchid flowers complete with stems and submerge them in the coloured water.
You can use water-soluble food colouring to create a solution for submersion. The amount of colourant you’ll use will dictate the colour intensity of your resulting blue orchids. But what if you don’t want to use cut flowers for dyeing?
Sadly, the result wouldn’t be as pleasing when you do this technique with living orchids. After all, the roots of these flowers do not collect water very well. Nonetheless, if you successfully dye living orchids to your desired blue shade, it can be a long-term result.
Infusion
If you opt to dye orchids blue using infusion, you might get a more satisfying result. This technique is expected in the market to create blue butterfly orchids. You can easily differentiate them because the aerial roots show a gradual blue colour, and there’s a site in the pedicel that received the infusion.
The infusion technique of dyeing orchids directly injects the dye inside the flower stem using a needle. You will create a small hole to create a pathway in the plant’s stem to inject the hypodermic needle. However, you’ll be using a special dye for this method.
It will take 24 hours to see orchids change colour, and for best results, use fresh orchid buds that haven’t flowered yet. To seal the hole you’ve just injected, you will also have to cover it with wax. The result looks more natural, but it’s worth noting that it takes practice and even help from a professional to infuse orchids successfully.
You want to use the suitable dye and ensure that it will distribute well in flower. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your orchids with improper injection. Overall, the infusion is more technical but gives a more satisfying result.
What Happens When Dyed Orchids Rebloom?
Dyed orchids and their resulting blue flowers will surely stand out in any British garden. However, you’ve taken care of these plants in the greenhouse, and it would be a shame for them to get damaged after dyeing. If you have done the methods above, what will happen to the orchid when it reblooms?
The best flowers for dyeing are the white ones, and when your plants give off new blooms, they will also be white. An excellent technique to get fresh colours in blue would be dyeing the flowers in the bud stage. However, do not expect that the colour would be as intense.
How To Care For A Dyed Orchid
Dyeing orchids is not a natural process. Therefore, you can expect that it will make the plants more sensitive to environmental conditions. For example, fluctuating light and temperature can cause damage easier than before.
A polytunnel can help keep your dyed orchids looking vibrant and healthy because it maintains the environment. Also, there aren’t any unique practices that you must do for dyed orchids. It is only worth emphasising that they are more susceptible to environmental changes.
Take care of your dyed orchids the same way you’ll take care of any orchid. The temperature and humidity shouldn’t be extreme, and the plants should be well hydrated. If you chose to infuse orchids, remember to cover the hole with wax after injecting them with dye.
Conclusion
If you ever saw a blue orchid, you probably thought of cultivating them yourself in the United Kingdom. However, the truth behind these unique flowers lies in how to dye orchids blue using two methods. It’s surprising, but the colour blue is not common among flowers, especially with orchids.
The rare colour leads to the invention of submersion and infusion to dye white orchids into blue. You can even dye orchids in their bud stage so that the new blooms will be in lighter blue. Cut flowers are ideal for submersion, while fresh orchid buds respond well to infusion.
However, do note that dyed orchids will require attentive care because the process makes them more susceptible to environmental changes. And if you opt to inject the plants yourself, be diligent to avoid damages to the plant. Using a polytunnel will create vigorous plants that will handle dyeing well, and it can provide a consistent environment for the protection of dyed plants.