Vanda Royal Blue?

[Dorra]

Thanks a lot Roberta. Now I am wiser thanks to You. Thanks!

Out of curiosity I'll measure the pH tomorrow with both fertilizers ... coming back

[Roberta]

Show photos when it blooms again! "Before" and "after" photos are interesting!

[Dorra]

Now I measured ...

R/O water itself has a pH of 6,60
mixed with RainMix to 200uS the pH drops to 6,30
mixed with Iguana to 200uS the pH drops to 5,30

Other results from friend of mine, are as follows:
Distilled water - pH 6,60
Distilled water + 3 ml Iguana 4-3-6/liter - pH 4,55

Rainwater - pH 5,86
Rainwater + 3 ml Iguana 4-3-6/liter - pH 4,76

[Roberta]

REALLY interesting. That's a big pH difference. And that increases the suspicion that the color is pH sensitive. It could either be pH itself (orchids as indicators???), or could be changing the plants's uptake of some nutrient.

This has inspired me to do a little experimenting on my Cleisocentron gokusingii ... the blue (true blue, not coerulea) has been quite pale the last several bloomings. Summer heat tends to do that, but even winter I haven't been getting the good color. I am going to try mixing a little tap water into its fertilizer water (raises the pH from 6 to 6.9) and see if I can get the color to be better. We'll know in about 6 months.

[Dorra]

Thanks Roberta... I learn a lot from this tread

An please come back and tell about Cleisocentron gokusingii

[Dorra]

This time I was careful not to change nutrition ... the R/O water and Rainmix ... and it still looks like pink flowers ... this should be Vanda Royal Blue and when I bougt from a shop with blue flowers...

[Roberta]

Well, my hypothesis was certainly disproved. Light and temperature can affect color, but I think not that much. Congratulations on the re-blooming, it looks like you will have a good show... in the wrong color.

The thought just crossed my mind... Vandas are not the mass-produced orchids that Phalaenopsis are. But COULD there have been some treatment that made it look blue, like is done to Phals???

[Dorra]

Originally Posted by Roberta

The thought just crossed my mind... Vandas are not the mass-produced orchids that Phalaenopsis are. But COULD there have been some treatment that made it look blue, like is done to Phals???

These are exactly the thoughts that struck me. I bought this Vanda 5 years ago from not the most serious grower. Vanda was not in the best condition either ... but came with blue flowers. It has not bloomed in 3 years ... I took care of it to get it healthy and strong. So last year was her first flowering in my home ... and it was pink. Like this year ...

Thanks Roberta for all Your input <3

[Dorra]

Picture

[Roberta]

Not blue, but a good show! Congratulations on re-blooming the plant.