Orchid ID and cutting help

[Aslinn]

Hi,
I bought want I assume was an orchid today and was wondering if someone can help me work out if it is and what it is. As far as I can tell, it has similar flowers to a Cattleya, it has flowers alternating up the stem and it is blue. Unfortunately it has no leaves because I bought it thinking it was potted, only to realise what I had was stems; there's no leaves and no roots. It's been stuck into this black styrofoam (it's very crumbly and breaks up into very small particles) kind stuff that says "Excel Ideal" on it that was full of water/is wet, so I'm not sure what it is, but on the back of the price tag (which doesn't say what flower it is) that plant food is provided, so is this Excel stuff meant to be plant food?

I was also wondering if I will be able to grow the orchids if I put them in some soil, or whatever they need to grown. I really want to get them to grow, they are such pretty orchids, and when I saw them sitting there with a sale tag of death on them I had to save them.
I appreciate any help!

[PaphMadMan]

From the description it seems like you bought cut flowers in florist foam, not a plant. Possibly a Dendrobium orchid, but all you can do is enjoy the flowers while they last. You won't be able to grow a plant from what you have.

[RosieC]

I would agree, it sounds like cut orchid flowers and unfortunately you can't get those to grow, just enjoy them as they are.

There are some types of Dendrobium which look a bit like Cattleyas or it may actually be a Cattleya or something related to that.

Anway, why not try to find a plant of something similar once these flowers have faded. Orchids are really rewarding to grow and you're sure to love it.

[Aslinn]

That's really disappointing, I was hoping I could grow them...

[silken]

Why not post a photo of them and then someone could likely give you and idea of what they are. Then you could purchase a similar plant.

[Rosiefuture]

When you say they are blue it makes me think they are dendrobiums that they dye and sell as cut flowers.

[RosieC]

That's true Marion, there are those ones which are an artificial blue you never see in real orchids.

A picture would help get an ID and know whether the colour is natural or not.

[Rosiefuture]

I hate them, to me it's like when people dye animals fur. Who wants a bright pink poodle for gawds sake! Hideous! LOL