Roots blue from fertilizer?

[Becca]

I have a few orchids, mainly cattleyas, whose roots have sections that are the same blue tint as my fertilizer. Is this bad, and why would this be happening? I use MSU type fertilizer and I buy the powder form and mix according to the instructions. The powdered fertilizer only takes on the blue color when it is mixed or is moist. Just curious if someone can point me in the right direction as to what might be going on. It might also help to know that I do not pre-moisten the roots with plain water prior to giving them the water with the fertilizer mixed in. I know there has always been a controversy on how to apply fertilizer, but I know several growers who do not pre-moisten the roots a head of time and they grow beautiful orchids. This is not will all of my orchids, just a few here and there. I fertilize once a week at 125ppm N, as recommended on the label.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[ronaldhanko]

Were you looking at them on Monday? That's probably why they were blue! More seriously, I can't think of any other reason why they'd be blue than the dye in the fertilizer, though I've never seen that before. Maybe the brand of fertilizer and the dye in it is the reason, but if it doesn't hurt the plant then I wouldn't worry.

[Becca]

It doesn't look like its harming the roots, just sections of some roots here and there have the blue tint to them...hmmm