Is a jewel orchid epiphytic?

[koshki]

Hi all,
I just received my first jewel orchid, ludisia discolor, which seems to be happily settling in on a shady step outside. The ebay vendor from whom I bought this (an outstanding fellow!), recommended that I not repot until next spring so as to allow it to bloom this November. Assuming that it gets the appropriate temperature differential needed to set blooms, that is.

The plastic pot it arrived in has only very small holes in the bottom, and none on the sides, which made me concerned about air being able to get to the roots. Is this important to a ludisia? I've read that they can grow in terrariums, so I'm not quite sure what to think about this one.

TIA,
Koshki

[lance]

If i am remembering correctly ludisia are terrestrial, not epiphytic so smaller holes will not trouble it as much as they would say a Cattleya. Lets have some members that are more familiar with ludisias to chime in too, (I only had one, it did not make it for long so don't hold this as the complete truth)

[kmarch]

Ludisia and other jewel orchids are terrestrials, and I often see them grown in in loose, loamy, mix similar to what African Violets are grown in. As they're not epiphytes, it's not so crucial that their roots get access to the air. The small holes in your pot are probably ok.

Originally Posted by koshki

...ludisia discolor, ...Assuming that it gets the appropriate temperature differential needed to set blooms, that is.

Capital "L" on the genus and I don't know that it needs a "temperature differential" to flower. These are often grown as house plants for the leaves. Did the vendor say this needed a "temperature differential"? Not all orchids require a "temperature differential" to bloom.

[koshki]

Ludisia, yes sir! I won't make that mistake again!

The vendor told me that I can keep it outside as long as the night time temps stay above 45 degrees, and that he thinks the day/night differential is what helps it set flowers.

The foliage is very pretty, but if it can flower too, so much the better! I think I have an ideal place for it when it comes inside.

[kmarch]

45F seems cold ot me as Ludisa are intermediate (55-65F) to warm (65+F) growers. Of course these are "recommended" temp ranges not absolute. Maybe the person you bought it from lets it get that cool. If so then I wouldn't worry. Oh, hey, I see oyu're from Michigan. Who dod oyu get the orchid from? I might know them.

[koshki]

I bought it from a gentleman from Illinois (I think the Chicago area); his ebay name is javaplant. He has been delightful to communicate with...it's as if he's sent a favored child to live with me!

He is familiar with my area and thinks the plant will do just fine in my southeast Michigan home. We are only a block from Lake St. Clair (part of the Great Lakes system), so we get a fair amount of humidity, and the lake tempers our weather a bit. Our lows are projected to be in the mid-50s through the next week. I think we're probably very similar to his area. I'm in zone 6.