Fall in love with the dark , grizzle foliage of the jewel orchid , an easy - guardianship houseplant that is perfect for terrariums and gay spaces .
With its maroon , almost black leave of absence , thejewel orchid(Ludisia discolor ) is an optic - catching , easy - to - uprise houseplant . Yes , it does blossom , but the midget blank flowers often take a offstage role to the plant ’s sheer , velvety foliage — which often features cherry , gold , and salmon - colored contrasting veins .
The gem orchid , which is aboriginal to the forest floors of Southeast Asia , has standardised growing requirements toother plants in the orchid group , but grows safe when its potting media does not dry out . This riding habit ca-ca it an excellent pick for terrarium . There are other orchid cultivars commonly referred to as " jewel orchids " ( such asMacodes petola ) butLudisia discoloris easier to care for and can handle the average humidity levels in a home .
Where to Plant Jewel Orchid
Jewel orchids thrive inlow to medium diffused light , but can tolerate extremely lowly light . Avoid spots that get direct sun as the sun may scorch your orchidaceous plant ’s fragile leaves . Rooms with north- or due east - facing window are idealistic . Jewel orchids also love slightly humid spaces ( like kitchens and bathrooms ) but can thrive in average menage humidity ( between 40 % and 60 % ) if watered on a regular basis and kept out of direct lighting .
Plant your gem orchid in a shallow container filled with loamy , well - draining potting mixture ( a mix of orchid potting premix , perlite , and peat moss would work ) . If implant your jewel orchidaceous plant in a terrarium , choose a substratum that retains moisture , but has excellent drainage . An orchid bark is not a suitable substratum for jewel orchid as they are terrestrial and prefer to spread their roots through dirt .
Jewel Orchid Care Tips
Jewel orchids — which are prized not for their flowers but for their pretty leave — are easier to give care for than notoriously fussy orchids ( such asMasdevalliaandDraculaorchids ) . They can also be grown in modest spark and are a popular choice for terrarium .
Light
Jewel orchidaceous plant are tolerant of grim - visible light situations . They are , after all , natives of the dappled forest floor where sunlight is filter through a canopy of tree diagram . Keep your jewel orchid out of verbatim sunlight and place it rather in an region with bright , collateral visible radiation ( such as an east or north - face up window ) .
Soil and Water
Jewel orchidaceous plant develop skilful in territory and not orchid bark . Since jewel orchids are mundane , they choose something loamy with fantabulous drainage . try out shuffle orchid potting commixture ( or another in high spirits - quality potting commixture ) with perlite and peat moss or coconut coir .
Jewel orchids thrive with consistent wet throughout the year , but do n’t care being waterlogged . Water your plants only when the soil is just barely dry to the touch . High humiditywill also stimulate steady development . Create a humid growing environment by set your orchid container on a tray of pebble . Add weewee to just below the top of the pebbles so the orchid can drain freely .
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature for gem orchidaceous plant is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit , but they can hold temperatures as low as 50 ° and as high as 90 ° . deflect exposing your gem orchid to extreme temperature shift and verify the plant is kept forth from radiator , vents , and place fastball .
Jewel orchids also bask a relatively humid environment ( between 50 % and 70 % humidity ) . If your space is dry , moot using a humidifier orwet pebble trayto increase the plant ’s environmental humidity . You could also expose it to more moisture by keeping your orchidaceous plant in a privy or kitchen .
Fertilizer
inseminate your jewel orchid every 4 to 8 weeks ( from leap through capitulation ) to advance more leaves . In the wintertime , take a suspension . Opt for an orchidaceous plant - specific fluent fertilizer or a balanced plant food diluted to 50 per centum .
Pruning
If your jewel orchid becomes leggy , use sharp , sterilized shears to reduce the flora back in a symmetrical fashion to help it keep its shape . You should also trim away any yellow , dying , or pathologic leaf and stem .
If your precious stone orchid blooms , prune the flowers offas they wilt . Once flowering has finished , cut off the flower husk at its base with penetrative shears . you may also pinch off the blossom stalk as soon as it emerges ( before flower ) to advance more lucullan foliage .
Potting and Repotting
Your gem orchid should be repotted every 2 to 3 years or when it commence to show signs of distress ( like uncover , tangled roots ) . To do so , soak your jewel orchid for several hour and then rinse away the old substratum . partly fill your new container ( keep it shallow ) with a refreshful mix of potting soil , perlite , and peat moss . target your orchid in the center of the container and insure the roots with more of your soil and substratum mixture . Water soundly .
Pests and Problems
Jewel orchid are prostrate to issue with mealy hemipterous insect , wanderer touch , and aphid . If you see these plague or signs of them , remove the pests manually and spray the plant and substrate with horticultural oil colour or isopropyl alcohol . Repeat once a week until the pests are gone .
Jewel orchids are n’t acknowledge for issues with plant life disease , but may struggle with powdery mildew if let to dry out out too often . Overwatering and soggy conditions can also cause origin rot .
How to Propagate Jewel Orchid
The easiest way to propagate precious stone orchidaceous plant is via sectionalization or cuttings . To divide yours , soak the plant and gargle out the old soil and substratum . Carefully tease apart the roots and separate them into two or three division , each with a sizable system of roots . Repot each subdivision into a new container and water thoroughly .
To propagate your jewel orchid via root cuttings , use sharp , sterilized shears to cut a sound 3 to 4 - inch stem from your plant ( just below the lymph gland of the stem ) . take away any leaves from the bottom of the stem and plant the cut end in well - draining potting mix . Keep it in a place with indirect sunshine and irrigate the cutting weekly to keep the soil evenly moist . you could also place the pot in a ventilate plastic bag to increase the humidness around your cut . It should take solution in several week .
Types of Jewel Orchid
Ludisia is a monotypic genus , which mean it contains only one species . There are , however , different cultivars ofLudisia discolorto moot .
Ludisia discolor ‘Alba’
This cultivar is a lighter variant with light green leaves elaborately - veined with silver and white .
Ludisia discolor ‘Nigrescens’
This variance of jewel orchid features velvety , olive - green parting with a unmarried , central nervure in ash grey .
Ludisia discolor ‘Dragon Fire’
A unique ( and comparatively new ) cultivar , the ' Dragon Fire ' jewel orchidaceous plant features emerald - green foliage with a web of shimmering , copper - amber veins .
Companion Plants for Jewel Orchid
Thanks to its midnight - hue foliage , jewel orchid is peculiarly come to when paired with houseplants with the usual greenery . Trailingpothosandphilodendronare two easy - to - develop companion plant . Pair gem orchid with other orchids in a fond , humid spot where they can break up the humdrum of strappy green leaf with their thick magenta striped parting .
Frequently Asked Questions
The most plebeian cause of browning is overexposure to the Dominicus , but jewel orchid can also develop brownish spots or brown leaf tips due to pests , low humidness , or overwatering . To address the issue , murder the affected farewell , reevaluate the plant life ’s location , and wait to water until the dirt is just barely dry to the touch .
Typically , when jewel orchid leaves curl , it is a cry for aid . Some leaf curling is natural , but inordinate curling is a defense mechanism design to protect the plant from juiceless environs , excess sun or warmth , and underwatering . If this happens , reevaluate your watering schedule and consideradding a humidifier , pebble tray . or other methodto keep your gem orchidaceous plant moist and happy .
Yes , but exercise caution . Do not mist your precious stone orchidaceous plant in lieu of regular watering and when you spritz , avoid hook the leaves and stems . Too much wet on the foliage could put your plant at danger for fungal infection .
