How to Care for Jewel Orchids
The fascinating characteristic of the jewel orchid, at first glance, its fine, thin, pointy leaves. The pointed lancedellate leaves also have striking pinkish-white veins running from the center to the edge. The jewel orchid (Ludisia chrysopalla, ) has alternate, waxy black and white domains running across its entire head.
Sunlight For Jewel Orchids
The most obvious way to recognize this plant is by the most common way to cultivate it, direct sunlight. If the leaves appear red, the plant is in full sunlight. If the veins appear reddish-brown, the plant is in partial shade.
Partial Shade
For the first several months, let your jewel orchid grow under partial shade and only water it twice a week. This allows the roots to become accustomed to the lower light levels needed to thrive. Once the plant has established itself under the shade of a screen or piece of wood, it will be ready for some serious growing. Allow the potting medium to settle before adding any new soil, as it must be tight and compact to maintain the humidity needed by the plant. Water only when the potting medium is completely moist.
Varieties of Jewel Orchids
Some of the common varieties of jewel orchids are the vent, orchids, pedunias, Albicans, acacia, annuus, japonica, and ludibranchs. The most important factor in growing any kind of orchids is proper soil care. A well-composted loamy soil, well-chlorinated water, and correct amounts of nutrients will do the majority of the job in producing healthy, blooming plants.
Difference Between All Types of Jewel Orchids
The main difference between all types of orchids grown indoors or outdoors is the way they are planted. Potted plants need a deeper planting depth than those that are grown in the ground. Potted orchids grown in pots also benefit from frequent watering but should be placed only about one inch below the level of the main trunk. If the buds reach too high, the foliage will not be properly supported and could bend, causing it to wilt. Since the roots have so much room to grow, they may reach the topmost portion of the pot.
Ludibranch
The most common of the many types of terrestrial orchids grown indoors is the ludibranch. They grow on the sides and along the base of rocks in caves and are extremely hardy even in poor conditions. They will grow well in an average climate. When kept in the dark, the ludibranch will produce white, bell-shaped blooms that contain large numbers of tiny white flowers. These blooms bloom for a few weeks in spring, before turning brown and drying out.
Soil
A nutrient-deficient soil is one of the most common causes of death for most terrestrial orchids. The problem is not difficult to correct, as long as you know how to care for your plants properly. Clay pots require more frequent watering than peat-based pots because clay soils don’t retain moisture well. If you wish to cultivate a Loojeed ludibranch, add about a teaspoon of bone meal to every quart of potting soil.
The most aggressive of the bunch of orchids is the ludibranch. This orchid typically produces large blooms but has very sharp leaves which can cut off the flow of air in its container. To control this plant’s growth rate, begin by giving it room to grow up to its maximum height. You should eventually allow the plant to reach its maximum height. If you don’t do this, the foliage will turn yellow with age and the flower buds won’t be as attractive.
The ludibranch is not aggressive and is rarely affected by disease unless you give it a large amount of light. In fact, it may stop growing altogether if you find it too dark to illuminate it properly. Occasionally it may produce cream-colored foliage with velvety leaves that resemble the underside of the leaves of a cabbage.
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An indoor plant likes a steady supply of light and will grow jewel orchids just fine if it has access to an adequate window. In fact, there are some houseplants that actually prefer being outdoors. They can tolerate partial shade and have no problem growing indoors if they have a window that provides some exposure to indirect sunlight. Some of these houseplants can tolerate partial light that is provided by a plant hanger, which allows a little bit of sunlight to filter through the leaves. If you grow jewel orchids in a pot, be sure to move them periodically to provide the best growing conditions. If you do not move them, they will remain in the same spot unless you decide to report them.
All three types of jewel orchid, terrestrial orchid, ludibranch orchids, and ludibranchs can be propagated by spores and this gives you another way to introduce new plants into your home. A terrestrial orchid can be moved indoors and then placed in a dark corner in your house. If you want to introduce a terrestrial orchid to a tropical location where it will not receive much direct sunlight, you can place it in a plastic pot that has holes cut in the bottom for the roots to spread out. It would be best to provide shady conditions to your ludibranch orchid or the growth will slow down considerably.
