How to Care for Jewel Orchid: Expert Tips for Thriving Plants

The Jewel Orchid is obviously part of the orchid family Orchidaceae. There are many different types of Jewel Orchids, such as Macodes, Ludisia, and Anoectochilus, and each one is special in its own way. But when it comes to caring for them, they all need pretty much the same things. Jewel Orchids differ from other Orchids because Jewel Orchids are grown for their outstanding foliage rather than the flowers. The main reason for this is that Jewel Orchids are terrestrials.

This means they grow in soil on the ground, whereas many other orchids are epiphytic and grow on trees. The unique growing conditions and habitat of Jewel Orchids have led to the evolution of striking foliage as a way to attract pollinators and compete with other plants for resources.

Another characteristic is that Jewel Orchids are crawling rhizomes, which means they grow stems horizontally and underground. These stems also develop roots and even store food reserves! Wooh, quite a biology lesson here.

Caring for your Jewel Orchid isn’t that hard, but these plants are pretty fragile. Therefore it’s wise to always keep an eye on your beauty to know which care it thrives on best, especially when it comes to watering.

Jewel Orchid Care: 10 expert tips for growing it successfully

1. Place your Jewel orchid in bright indirect light. They like to grow in bright spots but not in direct sunlight because it can harm their leaves.
2. Water really-really carefully. Overwatering is a common issue that you'll want to avoid. To prevent this, make sure you let the top layer of soil dry out before watering again.
3. Remember to remove the excess water from the saucer after you've watered the plants. These plants prefer to stay away from standing water.
4. Keeping your Jewel Orchids happy requires high humidity! These plants thrive in humid environments, so keeping a humidity level between 50-70% in their spot is best.
5. If you notice that your Jewel Orchid's leaves are dry, wilting, or have brown spots, it may be due to low humidity levels. You can check the humidity levels in the air with a hygrometer and raise it if necessary to help your plant thrive.
6. Jewel Orchids prefer to be slightly root-bound, but they need to be repotted if they become too crowded in their pot. Wait until the plant has bloomed, then repot into a slightly larger pot with fresh potting mix.
7. Monitor your plant regularly for pests such as spider mites or mealybugs. Treat infestations immediately with insecticides or insecticidal soap.
8. Be careful when misting because even slightly harder water will leave unsightly stains on the leaves. These stains can be tough to remove and can ruin their beautiful leaves.
9. It's best to avoid touching the leaves of Jewel Orchids directly. The foliage is fragile and can be easily damaged, so try not to handle them or accidentally brush against them.
10. Don't get frustrated if your Jewel Orchids don't bloom right away, as they can take time to establish and grow. These plants can be slow-growing, but with the proper care, they will eventually flourish and produce beautiful blooms.

Jewel Orchid Care Tips

Light and placement for Jewel Orchid

Jewel Orchids have a unique growing habit as they are known to grow close to the ground. This means they are naturally adapted to growing in areas with lower light. So, if you're wondering where to place your Jewel Orchid, a north-facing window or an area with filtered light is ideal. Be aware that you should protect her from direct light. Just like most plants, her beautiful leaves will burn in this light.

Good to know! It's worth noting that the leaves of Jewel Orchids can be vibrant and colourful with bright, indirect light. However, the leaves may appear paler if the light conditions are too low or too bright.

Watering

Proper watering is one of the most important aspects of caring for Jewel Orchids. While it may be challenging, it's crucial to get it right to ensure the plant stays healthy. As terrestrial orchids, Jewel Orchids require soil around their roots to be evenly moist, but not too wet, as it can lead to root rot.

It's best to water it when the topsoil is slightly dry. To determine when it's time to water your Jewel Orchid, check the topsoil by sticking your finger 2-3 cm into the soil. If the soil keeps sticking, your Jewel Orchid doesn’t need any water. Alternatively, you can use a water meter to check the moisture levels.

When you water, make sure to thoroughly soak the soil and let any excess water drain away. As jewel orchids do not like standing water, you should use a pot with drainage holes and soil that drains well.

Nutrition

Special Orchid nutrition can be used to feed your Jewel Orchid. They are not very dependent on food, so only a few (2-3) times during the growing season is more than enough.

Temperature & humidity

Jewel Orchids love warm and humid environments, just like in the rainforest! Temperatures between 18 and 28°C are best for them. The average home humidity level can be challenging as they need humidity levels between 50-70%. So you might need to raise the humidity, especially in the winter.

Expert tip! Avoid misting your Jewel Orchid in the evening because standing water drops on the leaves can cause ugly spots, especially when it's hard water. Mist it with filtered water earlier in the day to ensure the leaves have time to dry before the evening temperatures drop. Jewel Orchids are an excellent choice for terrariums because they are small, have beautiful foliage, and love living in high humidity environments.

Soil & repotting

Generally, Jewel Orchids require repotting every 1-2 years. It's best to use a wide and shallow pot because these orchids tend to grow their rhizomes more horizontally than vertically. This type of pot will give the roots more space to spread out and allow the plant to thrive.

Expert tip! When repotting a Jewel Orchid, it's important to handle the plant with care as its stems and leaves can be fragile and easily damaged.

When it comes to soil, Jewel Orchids love a slightly acidic and well-draining mix. You can easily make your own by combining peat moss or sphagnum moss, perlite, and bark. Or, you can choose a pre-made orchid mix that's specially designed for terrestrial orchids. Another option is to grow Jewel Orchids in 100% sphagnum moss.

Jewel Orchid Propagation

We can imagine that you would like to propagate these beauties! The perfect method for propagating Jewel Orchids is through stem cuttings. Take a piece of the stem with upper leaves, and pot it into a similar potting mix she comes from. Keep the soil moist and place it in a warm, humid place. New roots should start growing within two months. How exciting!

Once the new plant is established, you can transplant it to its own pot and care for it just like you would a mature Jewel Orchid.

Most common pest on Jewel Orchid

Mealybugs are the most common pest that can affect your Jewel Orchids. You can easily recognise them as they look like white cotton clumps on the stem, and the insects are small white bugs. Other insects that could bug your plant are scales, spider mites or thrips.

Do you suspectsome uninvited visitors on your plant? Check our PLNTSdoctor page for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Are Jewel Orchids toxic for pets or children?

Good news! Jewel Orchids are not toxic for pets or children. Another reason to add these beauties to your plant collection!

Buy your new Jewel Orchid online at PLNTS.com

At PLNTS.com you can buy your Jewel Orchid online, like the Jewel Orchid Moonstone, Jewel Orchid Coral and the Jewel Orchid Macodes Lowii.

Whether you like your Jewel Orchid big from the start or prefer to grow them from tiny BabyPLNTS into full-grown PLNTS - buy your new Jewel Orchid online at PLNTS.com.