Color enhancers question

[boxerfan]

Is there any type of water additive or fertilizer which acts to enhance the colors of orchid flowers? Lisa

[Ray]

Sure - adequate levels of fertilizers! (When used in conjunction with adequate lighting, air movement, and temperatures).

In other words: good culture, good health.

Colors in flowers are related to chemicals in the pigments. Cultural factors may play a role in how they are expressed, but nothing to my knowledge (...and I could be wrong) can affect their concentrations or the mix of them.

[gmdiaz]

Hi Lisa & Ray,

I read that just keeping the blooming plants in a cooler & slightly shadier location would intensify the colors and make them last longer. . .if all the cultural conditions were well met.

I haven't a clue if this is really true. . .but I am testing this out in my exo tank.

[Ray]

Those of us living near deciduous trees can see that: If autumn is cool, the leaf colors tend to be a lot more vivid than if it's hot and dry.

[cneos]

florists use vegetable dye to make cut flowers any color of the rainbow that they want. a friend of mine decorates his christmas tree with white, red and green phalaenopsis.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by boxerfan

Is there any type of water additive or fertilizer which acts to enhance the colors of orchid flowers? Lisa

The short answer is no. If you have a regular fertlizing program and grow the plant well, then they should bloom well. Certain plants, especially plants those with a bunch of anthocyanins (like reds) will bloom much better under cooler temperatures and bright light.

[Paul]

Hmmm, a couple of my minicatts bloom with darker [more saturated] colors if they are exposed to higher light levels while in bud.

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by cneos

florists use vegetable dye to make cut flowers any color of the rainbow that they want. a friend of mine decorates his christmas tree with white, red and green phalaenopsis.

I would like to see a picture of that tree, it sounds interesting! And really Different.

[David Morris]

It is also a well known fact that if you expose White Odontoglossums such as crispum to a lot of light while the flowers are developing they will end up with a pink flush. I think color enhancement and Orchids is pretty varied and not a lot of research has been done. Also my Dendrobium lawesii red are particularly nice if grown in too much light (too much for the health of the plant)

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Hi Lisa & Ray,

I read that just keeping the blooming plants in a cooler & slightly shadier location would intensify the colors and make them last longer. . .if all the cultural conditions were well met.

For Cymbidiums at least high light intensifies the pinks and reds. Low light brings out the greens and yellows (presumably because they're not being grubbied up by the anthrocyanins that produce pinks and reds). As for temperature I've seen Australian Dendrobium hybrids that you would not pick as the same plant when you compare the flowers they send out in early spring with the ones they put out in early autumn.