PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Orchids

Black Jewel Orchid (Ludisia discolor)

Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial orchid with creeping rhizomes and fleshy stems that may grow from creeping to upright, and it has also been recorded growing on rock. It is a perennial evergreen herb.

LightLudisia discolor grows in low to medium light and partial to deep shade; outdoors it is suited to a shaded position and should be protected from excessively strong light. Its light level is described as medium light.
WaterUse a well-drained medium and provide steady water during growth without leaving it waterlogged for prolonged periods; sources differ on whether the medium should dry between waterings. The preferred watering approach is
HumidityLudisia discolor prefers high humidity and needs good airflow.
TemperatureIt is generally warm-growing. It is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing. Its hardiness rating is reported as H1A.
Track your Black Jewel Orchid in the PLNTverse app
Black Jewel Orchid illustration

Overview

Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial orchid with creeping rhizomes and fleshy stems that may grow from creeping to upright, and it has also been recorded growing on rock. It is a perennial evergreen herb.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range: it occurs from southern to Southeast Asia, with sources explicitly listing China, northeastern India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia including areas associated with Sumatra and Borneo, and the Philippines, while TaiCOL also lists Taiwan as native. It is reported to occur on forest floors and in deeply shaded parts of moist forests, including well-watered sites, areas near streams and rivers, and rocky substrates. It favors warm, humid, shaded environments.

Characteristics

Sources differ, but the few available sources place mature height at about 10–50 cm and mature spread at about 10–50 cm. Its growth rate is reported to be moderate. The species has fleshy, velvety leaves ranging from ovate to broadly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate; typical plants may have dark purple-brown, reddish-purple, or reddish dark-green leaves with veins that may be red, gold, silver, pink, yellow, or white, while 'Alba' is an albino variant cultivar. The small white flowers are borne in upright inflorescences; the column is twisted and has yellow parts, and sources differ on the flowering season, with spring reported.

Light

Ludisia discolor grows in low to medium light and partial to deep shade; outdoors it is suited to a shaded position and should be protected from excessively strong light. Its light level is described as medium light.

Watering

Use a well-drained medium and provide steady water during growth without leaving it waterlogged for prolonged periods; sources differ on whether the medium should dry between waterings. The preferred watering approach is to keep evenly moist.

Humidity and airflow

Ludisia discolor prefers high humidity and needs good airflow.

Temperature and dormancy

It is generally warm-growing. It is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing. Its hardiness rating is reported as H1A.

Growing medium and mounting

Ludisia discolor is terrestrial and prefers a terrestrial mix. Use a well-drained, organic-rich, airy terrestrial orchid medium; cited examples include general potting medium, fine fir bark, loam, humus, and bark combined with a small amount of sphagnum moss.

Feeding

Orchid fertilizer may be applied regularly during the growing period.

Propagation

It is reported to be propagated from broken or cut sections of fleshy stem, which are first placed in sphagnum moss to root and later transferred to potting medium.

Common problems

Potential pests include aphids, glasshouse red spider mites, mealybugs, and thrips. Excessively wet conditions can lead to root or stem rot; powdery mildew and stem rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum have also been reported, although RHS describes the plant as generally having few disease problems. Prolonged excessive moisture in the medium can encourage rot, while overly strong light may cause leaves to lose their typical dark-green color and show more pale red coloration. It prefers warm, humid, shaded conditions and is recommended for a sheltered environment.

Identification

Ludisia discolor is noted for its ornamental, velvety leaves with conspicuous veins and is among the few orchids grown primarily for their foliage; 'Alba' is explicitly identified as an albino variant cultivar of Ludisia discolor.

Photos

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

Sources