'indigo mystique'

[janet_a]

egad. -face in hands- the blue mystique peeps are at it again: i went into home despot last night for dishwasher bits, and came across a pile of blue mystiques, and behind them, a pile of dark muddy purple-blue dyed phals. looks like they're now shooting dye into lavender phals and calling them 'indigo mystique.' they were a whole new level of gruesome.

so what next? blue dye into sogo benzes, to make apple green? or red dye, making for day glo orange? this could get out of hand real quick.

(i took the opportunity to mention to a couple of women admiring these plants that they were dyed. they were surprised.)

[Leafmite]

I guess someone has seen other colors...including orange. I saw these for the first time a month ago and, sadly, the blue does not look appealing, as with naturally blue flowers. Still, I would not mind that these were sold if there was a tag that noted they were dyed. These are not cut flowers.
Leafmite

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by janet_a

(i took the opportunity to mention to a couple of women admiring these plants that they were dyed. they were surprised.)

good job!

--Stitz--

[koshki]

Originally Posted by janet_a

...home despot...

That's funny!

I've had the opportunity to spill the beans about those plants being dyed, too, and it amazes me how many people seem to be taken in by that.

It's so hard to understand why someone feels the need to do that, when orchids are so naturally beautiful. Well, it's not really, it's all about $$$$$$$$$$$$

My only hope is that from these monstrosities, more orchid geeks will be created, who will enjoy growing orchids and begin to learn more about them.

[Mira-Claude]

I've heard about some grower giving orchids the closest color dye to make them more vibrant ad easier on the eyes.
Some only do it to win competition, which I think is cheating. Other to sell them easier, because when a red is really vibrant or a yellow so bright, it is always more interesting.
I think the blue dye is just pushing it a bit farther. And I fear that as long as they manage to sell them they will continue innovating to sell more and more fake colored orchids.
It's really sad because as Katherine said; 'orchids are so naturally beautiful'.

[janet_a]

i know. what other family of plants comes in literally *every* color of the rainbow, even black? (yeah, ok, so those are hybrids, but at least they're not dyed or artificially genetically manipulated.)

[1joyceh]

a customer came in with one, and gave it to me, it was quite a surprise. He said he hadn't seen any blue orchids in my collection...(hmmmmm...wonder why....)but..I accepted it, and I gently explained how it came to be blue, and that the next time it did flower, it would be white, and even bigger than before, that it was a fine healthy plant, and a wonderful addition to the collection. After the flowers finally died, I was happy to cut off the dyed spike...and repot....AGHHHHH!!! the roots were blue too...she is recovering nicely now...her roots turning a lovely green

[Andrew]

Indigo? Seems like a bit of a step backwards. They'll be dying them pink next.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by janet_a

so what next? blue dye into sogo benzes, to make apple green? or red dye, making for day glo orange? this could get out of hand real quick.

Although I try to suppress such thoughts, in the back of my mind I fear you're right. If the ... um ... "makers" (I don't want to call them breeders since the orchids aren't bred that way), if the makers make enough money off them they'll keep making them and if the stores make enough money off them, they'll keep stocking them. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see more, especially the unusual colours like green dye in a white phal or even dyed dendrobiums like we see in the cut flower trade.

I'm 1000% with Leafmite that I believe these should have a tag in them that explains they are dyed. I can't help but wonder if not doing so is a violation of the various trades description/truth in advertising laws that are in place in various countries.

I also agree with koshki though that it might not be a bad thing if these dyed orchids eventually bring others into the hobby and into a better appreciation and understanding of orchids. Afterall it was those "Hooked on Classics" disco albums of the 80's and the score to Star Wars ('77) that sparked my interest in classical music and eventually led to my career in composition and teaching at the conservatory. Who would have thought?

[hera]

Honestly I think this fad will fade in a few years. It's new and splashy right now, but most people who will buy them will be the same people who buy glittery poinsettias. They will throw them away after blooming anyway. There will be a small portion who will find a new love for orchids and we will welcome them into the fold.

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see more, especially the unusual colours like green dye in a white phal or even dyed dendrobiums like we see in the cut flower trade.

unusual colors? ha! no challenge! Reminds me a bit of dystopia, an imaginary place of total misery and wretchedness.

I want to see patterns in the flowers! How about psychedelic paisley? Or, at least spots with multiple colors, stripes, flags, etcetcetc.

How about orchids with patterned leaves and different textures??? Velvet, silk - whatever....the market will support!?



--Stitz--

[kmarch]

Stitz, yes, how small-visioned of me to settle for something as banal as a green phal. I don't know whether to chuckle at, agree with, or cringe at your post. I'm doing a bit of all three, and all at the same time! I so hope hera is right and this will just be a fad that fades gently into our cultural history.

[lmartiny]

I recently saw a batch of the purply ones. Ugh. Plus they price them high. A good $10.00 more than they should be.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Stitz

I want to see patterns in the flowers! How about psychedelic paisley? Or, at least spots with multiple colors, stripes, flags, etcetcetc.

Flags??? Stitz, are you trying to tell me that these plants aren't real?

[bearded orchid]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Flags??? Stitz, are you trying to tell me that these plants aren't real?

/facepalm

[1joyceh]

I don't know about a fad...look what they do to tropical fish....all sorts of weird things...injecting dyes, breeding for weird shapes...people buy them by the tankful....
sadly, the market just gets bigger and bigger....
hmmm...maybe we'll see a square orchid bloom, like they are doing with pumpkins or watermelons now???

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by 1joyceh

...square ...like they are doing with pumpkins or watermelons now???

WAAAA?

[1joyceh]

Yes.....the put them in boxes as they grow...the specially made boxes are expensive....and...when ripe they pay around $82.00 for just one....YIKES!!

[Mira-Claude]

In the most crowded cities in Asia I was explained that the square shape was not for fad but actually had a point. As space gets more expensive the bigger the city, the square shape was to be able to stash more stuff in smaller places, a bit like tetris if you will.
But some stranger somewhere found it cool and imported it. Now they are everywhere, but in America space is not as much of a problem so instead of being useful it became a fashion.
(All that was explained to me be a Japanese friend who moved to Montreal 3 years ago!)

[orchidaddict789]

Today I went to HD and I saw 2 indigo mystiques and 1 blue mystique. It looks like the batch of blue phals were almost sold out, at a price of $39.99 each!

I studied the label, and it said something like, "With a bit of magic, we turned this plant blue! The next time it blooms it will be white."

Then I checked the label on the pink-dyed-into-indigo plant and it said, "Next time it blooms, it will be a beautiful fuchsia!"

Okay, to their credit, at least they're being a bit honest.