How to grow Jewel orchids: basic care and repotting!

This week Plant Lovers we delve into the world of Jewel orchids! I was very reticent to even try growing one as I assumed they would be high maintenance, tropical-tricky! But NO! How wrong was I?! They seem to thrive in my indoor environment so in this video we'll look at three types I have: Ludisia discolor, Macodes petola 'Thailand' x 'Sarawak' and a No ID (which COULD be an Anoectochilus hybrid?). We'll cover basic care for them and a re-pot of a young plant I just received. And guess what - the leaves are FABULOUS - but so are the flowers (I think)!!
I mention the exact spot these orchids live and you can see that in my grow space video here: • Orchid Grow Space Tour!
And all things fertilising here: • What fertilisers do I ...
Lastly I also mention my Cymbidium re-pot rescue video which you can see here: • Cymbidium rescue & re-...
As ever I add mycorrhizal fungi in my potting mix and you can find the brand I use, which also has some good basic information about mycorrhizal fungi, here: biostim.com.au...

[@kenjiro2676]

Ludisia bicolor, macodes petola, and anoectochilus. Looks like I’m adding those to my list of vivarium plants. I might opt for the ludisia if that is the larger specimen, I need the more tougher species that can handle the shenanigans of a crested gecko. They jump!

[@helloplantlovers]

Goodness! Ludisia is the tougher - good luck!

[@renatecormick7399]

Back in the days when I had green houses etc. I grew discolor on the bottom shelf with not a lot of light. Fertiliser dribbled through from above. They grew like weeds and cuttings sold like hot cakes at our orchid shows. I’m sorry I didn’t keep any when downsizing to a smaller home. They’ve become a bit overpriced considering how easily they propagate. I loved seeing your collection and look forward to seeing more of them as they bloom.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - interesting how easy they are to propagate too!

[@dante1234]

Lovely video! I learned so much 🙌🏻 My ludisia discolor has some red bottom leaves. Is this something to be worried about or is it just shedding its old leaves?

[@juliashearer7842]

I received a ludisia from Etsy that has no stripes. At first I felt cheated but as I have never seen another one like it, nowi think it is special!

[@helloplantlovers]

That's a a much better attitude! You'll be able to sell it's pups and live the dream!

[@juliashearer7842]

​@@helloplantlovers Danny bought one of my non stripey ludisias in her most recent video and it has a lovely fancy name! Ludisia discolor var. nigrescens "Ambrosia" so now my little plant is showing off its own label 😁

[@newmanmansell760]

I enjoyed watching Mathew😌🙌💖I have the ludisia discolor and thanks to your comment on light levels mine did get leaf stress from a bit of direct sunshine through a glazed window. I had to repot and divide it today as I had it in sphagnum moss and had planted it on an angle so that the rhizome gave new growth except it was under the medium and the growth couldn't emerge above the sphagnum. I hope I've done a good job and the orchids survive and flourish

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no! I've killed two through getting direct sun on them as the season changed and the position of the sun moved!

[@gilagarden2535]

The NO ID might be Anoectochilus Roxburghii (Red Stem).

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you!

[@anthonylewis62]

I bought two on Etsy, got them a week ago, always had good luck with orchids, but these havent tried yet and i could not resist, but i do have grow lights, just reg bulbs i order on line, they are cheap and really come in handy , i am keeping mine about 2 feet away from the grow lights, they should do very well here, i only like the discolor, didnt care for the others

[@kat1984]

I grow my jewel orchids in self-watering pots

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonylewis62]

i always see people touch their plants and that is one thing i never do haha, i been growing plants 45 years and it was just something i was always taught not to do,

[@helloplantlovers]

Each to their own - thanks for watching!

[@jmarshal]

Always nice seeing another Australian! I’m over here in WA and I love my jewel orchids. I’m hopeless at growing most things but crossing my fingers I have quite a little collection of jewels going!

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck and thanks for finding me!

[@soiledpetals]

Your videos are so informative and calming! Glad I stumbled across your channel (:

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me!

[@wandashaw3551]

Hello Matthew, thank you for spotlighting these beauties! I have 2 Ludisias and 1 Mecodes and I love them, I am very excited to try propagating one of the Ludisia next spring. And I love your Bonsai pot idea!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - I'm keen to see if the nodes will root on the surface!?

[@Sandra-lk5yt]

Me too! I’ll try the bonsai pot idea in future

[@josiehollerbach4429]

You are fun to watch❤😂 I will follow you 😊

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me!

[@JuliesOrchids]

Hi Michael, I agree with garnet spagrud. anoectochilus reinwardtii for the No Id. beautiful discolour.

[@beehivealchemylab]

What a wonderful video. You have a great talking/teaching style. I just purchased a jewel orchid on the clearance rack and was doing research on care and found your channel. Off to watch more of your content. One note... I believe the mycorrhiza needs to be in direct contact with the roots to work.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! The Mycorrhiza will grow throughout the entire medium so no worries there!

[@Reneesstuff]

I love your personality. This is the first video I’ve watched from you but instantly subscribed!!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Well thank you!

[@lordpetrolhead477]

Me too 👍

[@Tamaclock]

Me too :)

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Hi Matthew, just found your channel and subbed. Thanks for sharing the information and good video! How often do you water your ludisia? And yes they can root if you repot in a wider pot. How are they doing now?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me! I think I cover watering in the video, it really depends on your conditions. Essentially don't let it dry out but don't keep it soggy. The exact frequency depends on your conditions. Good luck!

[@lordpetrolhead477]

Hi Matthew, searched jewel orchids found you and as you have very good communication skills I instantly subscribed. Q: do jewel orchids all have white flowers? I tried searching but only ever see white ones. However, the leaves are the real winners 👍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me! Not sure to be honest! The only ones I've seen are white but there are probably some with hints of colour?

[@sarahjane81881]

They remind me of a tradescantia

[@helloplantlovers]

They do a bit!

[@samisgold]

Will you make an update video?

[@helloplantlovers]

Probably not much to add! I'll add to the range later in the year so might make another film then.

[@louisechristinelarsen2248]

Oh, what tales the leaves of the Macodes petola are telling - they could be ancient runes (Scandinavian here). Thank you for another informative and enjoyable video!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - they do look like secret messages!! We'll have to the find the Rosetta Stone of Jewel orchids!

[@stitISH]

do they live in Leca? thanks

[@helloplantlovers]

No idea I'm afraid.

[@Garnetspagrud]

Hi Mathew I think your NOID Jewel is Anoectochilus reinwardtii 😀

[@helloplantlovers]

Hurrah! Thank you!!

[@anetaringholm7881]

Hello from cold Sweden, Europa. Lovely to see your video, thanks for sharing. I have 2, a Ludisia Alba and a recently rescued Macodes. Love them and the beautiful leaves. I also love other orchids, and anthuriums. Will check more of your videos. Have a great day! Aneta

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me!

[@stitISH]

where can I find them online?

[@helloplantlovers]

Best bet is smaller specialist nurseries or ebay.

[@EMuro-wu7uy]

Super excited got two macodes petola, one is variegated. I love this little guy. Going to repot him in a bonsai pot. Loving this little guy. I have a ludisia discolor. The ludisia flowered for me. They were gorgeous flowers

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! The flowers are fabulous!

[@christmassnow3465]

I checked the temperature and humidity range of Melbourne and it is very close to that of my city, though I live in the Mediterranean. Making-up for different precipitations seems easy and I will try to grow them.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck!

[@MNichole08]

Lovely video! Thank you! Jewel Orchids can be propagated and grow from the nodes. I purposely purchased an elongated Ludisia Discolor with the intent of cutting off the top portion and propagating the rest of the stem. I am currently rooting the top portions in water (they can be rooted in soil, but I prefer water to see the progress of the roots) and the stems are in an airy soil mix and growing new leaves. I keep the broken stems in a seedling tray because the lid helps to maintain moisture while growing, but any covered container that light can penetrate would work. 😊

[@helloplantlovers]

Good to know! Thanks for watching!

[@pudik2008]

New subscriber here from Adelaide! My son gifted me 2 of those orchids yesterday,like you I had a fear about growing them! So good to know that they are not finicky as I first thought! Thank you for a very informative video! Planting mine up today!

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! I find them a doddle!

[@bbost3]

Their leaves are beautiful and striking but I find their creeping nature frustrating. They take really well to artificial lights.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good to know - thanks for watching!

[@TheTuidi]

First video I see from you but really like your personality. Seem like you will easily hit my top 3 regarding plants 😁

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@EMuro-wu7uy]

I have two jewel orchid, a ludisia discolor and a macodes. Absolutely gorgeous

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@TrishsOrchidLife]

Hi Matthew from Colorado 🤚. I also put one in a Bonsai pot. Another set up I used for one struggling (came in poor shape) is an African Violet pot. Moss inside and keeping just enough H2O in the reservoir to stop moss from drying out. She has perked up and grown two leaves since March 2022. I know sounds slow but she has one poor root and two tiny leaves that were dying and since fallen off.

[@helloplantlovers]

Well done!! Thanks for watching!

[@davidpaylor5666]

Good vid, excellent advice. I use pretty much the same potting mix but I add a bit of dry leaf matter from my garden (heat it to 80C in the oven to kill any bugs) crumbled in. Not sure it improves the plant but it looks nice.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@aduxvemus6534]

Would it be good to use expanded clay at the bottom?

[@helloplantlovers]

I'm not sure - for what purpose?

[@aduxvemus6534]

@@helloplantlovers To mantain humidity

[@helloplantlovers]

@@aduxvemus6534 You can certainly sit the pot in a dish with clay pebbles and moisture if you want. But if you mean putting the clay beads inside the pot at the base of the mix I'm not sure it would achieve much. But my plant is just fine with the humidity of the house - I don't do anything to increase it.

[@Sandra-lk5yt]

Delightful video 😄🌿💚 thank you for sharing. I was of the same mind about jewel orchids and like you got a L. Discolor with the nothing lost, nothing gained mentality. I’ve had it for two winters now and for the first time it has two giant flower stalks about to bloom! I’m so excited. I live a little west of Brisbane so it’s quite cold during winter and my discolor is roughing it outside. This winter I got THREE 🫣😅 macodes sanderiana and they’re inside, on a marble slab heated ever so gently by a reptile warming mat hahaha talk about the favourite child. They have put out much more new growth than my Ludisia ever has so I think after she flowers I’ll bring her inside to the spoilt life too. Won’t need that heat pad much longer as it’ll be getting much warmer here soon 😊 Thank you again for the fab video, I really enjoyed the book Segway and botanical history/ natural environment information of the species!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and good luck with all of yours!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Your videos are enchanting! I wish i could grow cooler growers, the summer in NY is just too hot for them. My jewel orchid is about to bloom for the first time it's exciting :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me!

[@christinamurphy3441]

Love Matthew's idea about jewel and lusidia plants thank you

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@lucythecat529]

Great video! Thanks for the info! I grow a LD in self watering leca. So far so good. I lost a noid jewel orchid to mites. Have you had to deal with any bugs on yours?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching. Not really - possibly mealybugs on one once if I remember correctly otherwise no!

[@mareikedaubert1139]

Goodyera repens is an orchid you might find a bit south to where I live (Northern Germany). I see the similarities to Ludisia, so I am not surprised they were lumped once upon a time. As a side note, I have seen some massive L. discolor in a botanical garden recently. They really can cover literal square meters. Mine has outgrown its pot and now lives in a wide, shallow glass container. I hope it does well.

[@mareikedaubert1139]

I just came home and looked it up, because I was interested myself. Goodyera is named after a John Goodyer who was a plant collector and translator.

[@helloplantlovers]

Mine is due for a re-pot! Thanks for watching!

[@rimenthongni662]

I have one jewel orchid but i dont know how to take care so thank you for your sharring your video sir

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@MikeCoger-y1w]

I am a beginner to growing orchids and I really enjoy watching your videos. All of them have been extremely informational and easy for me to follow, definitely enjoy them. Thank you very much!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@christinamurphy3441]

I just started buying these the so beautiful so I need all information about keeping them healthy

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck with yours!

[@adevlogs11]

bellas plantas

[@patsfreund9164]

Thank you for your interesting video. I was especially happy to see your repotting segment at the video's end. It's been a while since I've grown this type of orchid. I needed a refresher on the potting medium and procedure. Like that you used a small bonsai pot for this plant.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@plaidribbon]

lovely video! i am a recent convert as well, so glad i found this video too :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@Gigi-pf6ik]

Hi Matthew, loved the video again and the book you mentioned! 😍　I need to get jewel orchid now. Thank you.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@valiaudet3415]

They are beautiful. The leaves are amazing.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@sdqsdq6274]

many seem to not know jewel orchid is a medicinal herb

[@helloplantlovers]

I've never eaten it! Thanks for watching.

[@indravidal3285]

Lovely tutorial

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@stitISH]

can we propagate them from flower stem?thanks

[@helloplantlovers]

Hi there - I don't know! I've never tried - can't see why not though!

[@brandonallen9853]

Beautiful! I need to get some of these.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck!

[@redfulla1494]

I've just bought one, with a similar "nothing ventured nothing gained" audacity. I'm sunshine state though, so hopefully I will have as much an fussless time as yourself. Wonderful presentation, and I adore your fab demeanor. looking forward to seeing more!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and good luck!

[@rutak2634]

Love your energy 💜

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@glennsinclair9235]

Great tips ty!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you!

[@inesguedes3482]

i love their flowers! I think they are so delicate