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4.7 out of 5 (19 experiences)


About Jewel Orchid
While most orchids are grown for their distinct flowers, the shade-loving Jewel Orchid is known for its leaves and medicinal uses. This species is the only member of the genus Ludisia, and the name 'discolor' means two different colors, referring to its dark velvet leaves with pink parallel veins. When in bloom it grows a tall inflorescence of small white flowers with bright yellow anthers inside. This orchid is a terrestrial orchid - it grows on the forest floor, unlike most orchids which are epiphytes that grow on trees.
Taxonomy
Ludisia discolor
Ludisia
Orchidaceae
Asparagales

How to care for Jewel Orchid
How often to water your Jewel Orchid

every 9
Jewel Orchid needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Jewel Orchid in your home

a window
Jewel Orchid may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Jewel Orchid in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Jewel Orchid

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Jewel Orchid after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Just bought a jewel orchid and it seems to be dying already any suggestions/tips?
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Will this plant grow under a grow light #JewelOrchid
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POV: you bought a plant while you were out with friends and now you have class so the little #JewelOrchid learns about general relativity lmao. (Hence why she is named Mileva Marić, the first wife of Einstein that helped him intellectually during the development of the theories but got no recognition) #HappyPlants #PlantAddict #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #OrchidLovers #OrchidOrg #Orchid #GregGang #astromindthoughts
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Leaves are turning red and witty I recently picked up this jewel orchid cutting and the plant seems fairly healthy, but recently these lower leaves all started wilting pretty dramatically. This is my first experience with this plant and I am not sure what to do. Any help is greatly appreciated! #JewelOrchid #helpneeded #OrchidLovers #PlantsMakePeopleHappy
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After a long blooming cycle, Penelope, the Jewel Orchid, finally decided to show ALL the flare this morning. #HappyPlants #JewelOrchid #Blooming #NewGrowth #OrchidOrg #OrchidLovers
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Curling leaves, what does it mean? #JewelOrchid
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With the dismal time I've been having with my plants over the winter, it's nice to see that my jewel orchid is going to flower. I love it! Really was encouraging. Can't wait to see what these little blooms look like. #jewelorchid
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Why are the leaves like this? Hi everyone ! I was wondering why the leaves of this jewel orchid are like that? The humidity is good and my other jewel orchid (different type tho, see the picture) doesn’t look as bad as this one. They are both at the same place, same soil , under a growing light etc #JewelOrchid
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My jewel orchid has a new baby shoot coming in 🥹🥹
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What kind of medium to you plant this in? Orchard mix? Mine has looked stunted for a year or more, but still alive. #JewelOrchid
Jewel Orchid is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
💦 Water Needs
Jewel Orchid prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
☀️ Sunlight Needs
Jewel Orchid may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity
Jewel Orchid is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
💨 Humidity
Jewel Orchid doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
🪴 Soil
Jewel Orchid does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
💩 Fertilizer
Jewel Orchid should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
🌎 Native Region
Jewel Orchid is native to Southeast Asia.
🌸 Flowers
Yes, you may see your Jewel Orchid bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
🌦️ Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Jewel Orchid can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
🌱 Propagation
Jewel Orchid can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
🍂 Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Jewel Orchid, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
🧐 Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
Care Summary for Jewel Orchid
Jewel Orchid
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say






