Blue Fakes

[Wild Orchid]

Interesting but mostly sad to learn that so called "Blue Phals" are not the only ones to endure the "beautification" attempt.

Here's what's happening in the succulents/cacti world

CactiGuide.com • View topic - Now it is just getting ridiculous!

[Andrew]

I guess if there's a market for them, someone will make them. At least the coloured succulent leaves will probably last longer than the dyed Phal flowers.

[WhiteRabbit]

Oh dear

Last Christmas, I saw poinsettias that had been sprayed blue ... *sigh*

[Ordphien]

The coloured succulents actually just keep growing. They have just been spray painted.
My HD got them in a while ago... once.
No one bought them so I watched what happened to them over time.
The new growth comes in normally and it eventually just replaces the painted leaves with new ones.
On the tag it mentioned something about an amazing colour transformation as it grows.
Still silly if you ask me... what whatever...

I also love the cacti with fake flowers glued on they sell everywhere down here... I always wonder why.

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[MrHappyRotter]

File this under ridiculous and absurd, okay and tacky, too. At least the reddish colored plants are a somewhat natural tone, akin to some of the colors you see on bromeliads. The blue -- god that's an awful color for a plant, jarring and unnatural shock to the eye.

The ones I hate the most are the dyed phals and the fake flowers they stick on cacti. Those just reek of a gimmick to trick people into making a spur of the moment purchase thinking they're getting what they see versus an overpriced illusion or outright lie.

[Leafmite]

Okay, I admit, the dyed phals, if cheap enough, make great gifts and I buy them for that reason. That isn't the only gimmick plant I buy; I just bought a grafted cactus...for the base (a type of dragonfruit cactus--knock the top off and it begins to grow...huge). I am not certain to whom I'd give the painted cactus/succulent or what I would do with it. That one is definitely hard to fanthom.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

The coloured succulents actually just keep growing. They have just been spray painted.

Presumably that would affect photosynthesis. I wonder if it weakens the plant at all, or maybe keeping the plant healthy isn't a priority.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Okay, I admit, the dyed phals, if cheap enough, make great gifts and I buy them for that reason. That isn't the only gimmick plant I buy; I just bought a grafted cactus...for the base (a type of dragonfruit cactus--knock the top off and it begins to grow...huge). I am not certain to whom I'd give the painted cactus/succulent or what I would do with it. That one is definitely hard to fanthom.

I do too... people actually like getting the dyed phals.
I also love seeing those grafted cactus. I have a giant Dragon fruit vine going from one. I really didn't want to spend the $$ on the actual potted Dragon fruit.

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

File this under ridiculous and absurd, okay and tacky, too. At least the reddish colored plants are a somewhat natural tone, akin to some of the colors you see on bromeliads. The blue -- god that's an awful color for a plant, jarring and unnatural shock to the eye.

The ones I hate the most are the dyed phals and the fake flowers they stick on cacti. Those just reek of a gimmick to trick people into making a spur of the moment purchase thinking they're getting what they see versus an overpriced illusion or outright lie.

They make me giggle... it's funny, but I've never seen anyone think that they are real.

I have to say though. My garden has tons of natural blue flowers growing, ranging from powder blue to royal blue, cobalt to periwinkle. So seeing blue plants and flowers isn't unnatural or jarring for me.

Originally Posted by Andrew

Presumably that would affect photosynthesis. I wonder if it weakens the plant at all, or maybe keeping the plant healthy isn't a priority.

You would think... but the new growth comes in healthy and robust.

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[RosieC]

I'm not a fan of anything that looks fake. I guess it appeals to some and that's fine, but not for me.