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Black Jewel Orchid (Ludisia discolor)

Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial perennial orchid with creeping rhizomes and a creeping to upright habit, with records of growth on rocky substrates. It is an evergreen perennial herb.

LightLow to medium light, with partial shade, shade, or deep shade, is suitable; overly strong light may fade the dark green leaves and reveal more pale red coloration. Medium light is also indicated.
WaterThe growing medium should drain well, and watering can be regular without leaving it persistently waterlogged; sources differ between keeping it moist, watering it amply throughout the year, and letting the medium dry be
HumidityLudisia discolor prefers high humidity and needs good airflow.
TemperatureIt is generally reported as RHS H1A. It is warm-growing.
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Black Jewel Orchid illustration

Overview

Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial perennial orchid with creeping rhizomes and a creeping to upright habit, with records of growth on rocky substrates. It is an evergreen perennial herb.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, describing tropical to subtropical parts of Asia including the Himalayas or northeastern India, southern China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia including Sumatra and the region from Borneo to Java, and the Philippines. It is reported from shaded, moist forest floors, including well-watered sites in evergreen forest, moist forest along rivers, and some habitats with rocky substrates. It favors hot to warm, highly humid environments.

Characteristics

Sources differ and are few, placing mature height and spread at about 10–50 cm. Growth is generally reported to be moderate. The leaves have a velvety texture, are often dark green to deep purplish brown or dark burgundy, and have conspicuous red, pink, or gold veins; they may be elliptic-lanceolate. Sources differ in describing the small white flowers, which are borne in upright inflorescences and have a twisted column with a yellow structure, and they also differ in reporting spring as the flowering season.

Light

Low to medium light, with partial shade, shade, or deep shade, is suitable; overly strong light may fade the dark green leaves and reveal more pale red coloration. Medium light is also indicated.

Watering

The growing medium should drain well, and watering can be regular without leaving it persistently waterlogged; sources differ between keeping it moist, watering it amply throughout the year, and letting the medium dry between waterings. It is also generally reported that you should let it dry between waterings.

Humidity and airflow

Ludisia discolor prefers high humidity and needs good airflow.

Temperature and dormancy

It is generally reported as RHS H1A. It is warm-growing.

Growing medium and mounting

It needs a well-drained, airy medium; cited options include loam, humus-rich soil, fine tree-fern fiber, general terrestrial orchid medium or fine fir bark, as well as peat-free houseplant medium or medium-coarse bark with a small amount of sphagnum moss. It is terrestrial and prefers a terrestrial mix.

Feeding

Orchid fertilizer can be applied regularly during the growing season, with sources recommending frequent feeding.

Propagation

It is reported to be propagated from fleshy stems that are broken or cut off, placed in sphagnum moss to root, and then transferred to potting medium after roots develop.

Common problems

Possible pests include aphids, mealybugs, thrips, and greenhouse red spider mites. Persistently wet medium can cause root or stem rot; sources also differ in reports of powdery mildew and stem rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Overly strong light may fade the dark green leaves and produce more pale red coloration. It favors warm, highly humid, shaded conditions and does poorly in strong direct sunlight; RHS lists it as H1A and suitable as an indoor, greenhouse, or warm glasshouse plant.

Identification

Its principal ornamental feature is its dark, nearly velvety foliage with red or gold veins; it is a terrestrial jewel orchid noted for its foliage.

Photos

Ludisia discolor
📷 Matth · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Ludisia discolor
📷 Nitesh8de at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source

Sources