I recently won a rather nice sized plant of Ludisia discolor. How in the world do I grow this?? Egad! I know about Oncidiums, Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, etc. but how to I handle this?
I got it buried in Spagnum moss. It is a clump of about 5" wide and 4" deep. It has several above ground growths as well as several whitish to very pale yellow growths under the sphagnum.
I am assuming, unless you guys and gals advise me otherwise, that these growths appear to be along a rhyzome or perhaps elongated tubers?
I have read where people suggest a mixture of peat moss and perlite, both of which I have. Can I bury like 3/4 of that clump getting the whitish or pale yellow sprouts in the mix while leaving the obviously tuberous growths above ground. Those that have leaves I guess. These above ground growths kind of remind me of tuberous begonias.
I am assuming that I keep it in Phalaenopsis light and somewhat moist, not sopping wet. They bloom during the winter. Plastic pots are best.

Mine is planted in a mix of bark, perlite, and indoor potting soil. I didn't bury anything, just laid the stems on top of the mix and pinned them down but I started with cuttings, not rooted plants. I think the rhizomes are more like stems, less like roots because it does have fat little roots down there. And they do grow branches off those rhizomes but they are not underground on my plant. My pot is short and wide because of what I started with but, in repotting, I discovered the roots are right below the surface and the surface is a tangle of these rhizome/branches so its still in a shallow wide pot. It sits behind a row of other orchids so no direct sun - its the dark spot in an otherwise very bright greenhouse and gets watered daily in summer. Its been blooming since January.

Thanks

In my hands the Sphagnum is deadly! Mine sits right now actually in a fairly bright spot, no problem.
I think most of the time I have it in Phalaenopsis light, it is doing well. But, considering that my greenhouse is very bright. In Summer outside I would protect from noon time sun.
Now I have told this probably a few times, but here it is:
Many years ago, I had a Ludisia not doing well, a few pieces were hanging on, it was probably handled a bit too wet. Spring time came, that pot wound up in a sunny corner with the rest of reusable pots, ready for the compost! At the end of the Summer I pulled out that pot to clean and reuse it. Surprise! The sunshine in our NJ Summer had cleaned up the plant and it was perfectly fine and looked really healthy.
I learned that under my daily watering schedule it needs to be well draining and can take stronger light if acclimated.
Took some pics just now -
Mine is now in a large metal basket lined with coconut fiber and planted into smallish bark mix.

Absolutely beautiful!!
I'll bet it is spectacular in bloom!

It was! This is now the tail end.

Well, I think I am going to try 50% peat moss, 25% fine perlite and 25% bark as a mix. I could cut down on the peat a bit and throw in some fine charcoal.
I'll try Phalaenopsis light and water it often. Not every day but I'll shoot for the difficult target of "Evenly Moist"! Is evenly moist not too dry nor too wet? I don't know.

Nick, at USF we use a basic mix of potting mix with some small bark mixed in. We grow the cuttings as you would pothos or philodendron. Remove the lowest leaves and just stick the cuttings in. We grow it in low light and water once a week.

I am finally getting around to showing how my Ludisia discolor turned out. A good friend of mine is responsible for the beautiful container!







I await questions. I have noticed improved color and definition from the time that I potted it up about 10 days ago.
It is 16" below a triple tube light fixture with T-5 bulbs. Light reads around 1,200 foot candles which is like Phalaenopsis light plus 20% maybe.

Looks very pretty!

I really think that it is a bit happier now. I see a good amount of new leaves developing so it should only get better. Imagine if I can flower it next winter? At least I think that is when they bloom.
Since I killed the only one I ever tried, I could be batting .500!!!


I wish I could say that about Cattleya schilleriana. There I might be 0-15!!!
If I was an Air Force pilot I would be an "Ace". In reverse of course.