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Ludisia discolor ( loo - DIS - ee - uh DIS - kol - or ) aside from manyOrchids , a prize addition to any garden , is the exact opposite of what you ’d expect . Commonly known as the jewel orchidaceous plant , this species only bloom for a few workweek each wintertime but has foliage demanding attention .
antecedently know by the botanic name Haemaria discolor , this terrestrial orchidaceous plant species hail from southeast Asia and is one of the few member of the Orchidaceae home , which does well potted indoors .
Its leaf have a dark , velvety maroon - black undersurface and pinstripes on the upper surface . The dark foliage people of color earned Ludisia the name “ black gem orchidaceous plant ” .
A few democratic change of jewel orchid exist , thanks to the drive of stock breeder .
These include :
Numerous hybrids of Ludisia orchids are also available , being sweep with other orchids , such as Anoectochilus , Goodyera , and Macodes petola .
These hybrids are also referred to usually as precious stone orchids .
All varieties are gentle to leaven and are often compared to African violets when discourse forethought methods .
Jewel Orchid Care
Jewel Orchid Size & Growth
Ludisia discolor is an evergreen recurrent go through periods of rapid emergence , although the plant itself only reach out about 10 ” inches in height .
Its leaves have a broad , lanceolate shape and measure 2 ¾ ” inch long by 1 ½ ” column inch wide .
The shoot of this herbaceous plant circulate above the soil level , with folio plates survive for about seven years before fading and leave the stems behind .
Flowering and Fragrance
Jewel orchid flowers develop a brief , yet attractive floral display each yr .
They require bright ( but indirect ) light source to bloom , and each stem canker of leaves will produce its own inflorescence of creamy white flower spikes which hulk as gamy as 24 ” inches .
These flowers bloom in successiveness , get out the plant life in bloom for a calendar month or more despite item-by-item prime not go very long .
Red Jewel Orchid Light & Temperature Needs
A jewel orchid ’s leafage are sensitive to Christ Within and will pass off or suffer burn in direct sunlight .
Bright , indirect light is sound , and the flora responds quite well to fluorescent twinkle .
12 to 14 hours of igniter per day is recommended for optimal wellness .
Low light weather may also affect blossom , so it ’s crucial to deflect too much shade when placing near a innate luminosity source .
In its rude habitat , temperature variation are to be expected , but you ’ll want a more controlled environment when growing indoors for optimum health .
Aim to keep the plant at 60 ° to 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 15 ° – 18 ° C ) throughout the Nox and 75 ° to 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 24 ° – 27 ° C ) during the day .
Jewel Orchid Care Watering and Feeding
Soil & Transplanting
When potting Ludicia , you ’ll want to start with a good , loose potting mix allowing both aura and water system to pass by through .
It should also have a neutral sour .
This substratum could include a number of cloth , such as peat , sphagnum moss , pine bark or needles , birch rod charcoal , or coarse - grain river sand .
Top this off with an orchid potting mix with perlite .
Jewel orchids tend to diffuse outwards , lead them to slowly overcrowd their pots .
Some signs a plant needs repotting include reduced upright stability , protruding solution , visual overcrowding , or falling leaves .
transplant p.a. also avail check the pot stain stays nice and fresh .
To repot , softly lift the entire tooth root orb and place it in the new container , then backfill loosely .
Use wide , shallow mass to allow for more exemption to spread , as the roots do n’t stretch very deep .
Grooming and Maintenance
Outside of check the flora puzzle an adequate amount of H2O and humidity , a jewel orchidaceous plant plant life requires very small upkeep .
They also do n’t need to be pruned or regulate due to the room they grow .
How To Propagate Jewel Orchid Ludisia Discolor
Unlike many other plant life , gem orchids are quite easy to propagate using bow cuttings .
The stems themselves are quite brittle and prosperous to harvest .
but take a cutting with the upper leaves intact and plant in a weed containing the same grime as the parent plant life .
It will take a few months for the new plant to grow heavy enough roots to become static , so be certain to localize the weed somewhere it wo n’t get bumped .
Ludisia Discolor Pest or Disease Problems
Jewel orchidaceous plant are very sensitive to their environs , faring poorly in teetotal or stale conditions .
Suggested Jewel Orchid Uses
These are fundamentally cosmetic indoor industrial plant , with no especial fragrance and the pauperization for a humid environs .
It fare quite well asbathroom plant , or in a terrarium with other tropical plant .
