Training Ludisia discolor growth

[Kaykay]

Quite simply, how do you do it? I have a single stem Ludisia which is happily putting out 2 new growths, 1 about 1" down from where its previous spike was, the other about 2" below that. It is also putting out 2 newer growths from the rhizome. How do I go about training this (and any future growth) so that my Ludisia grows bushy and not leggy? (for lack of scientific words!)
All ideas welcome!
Kay
x

[RosieC]

Hmm, would like to know the same thing. Mine is leggy and all leaning over one side of the pot

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Rotating the pot?

It's leaning because it's growing towards the light source.

[Izzie]

I could say that you might try a clicker for training dogs...but I already used that one.


Will be interesting to see what people say.


I'd agree with rotating the pot- it's a must for almost all of my potted plants indoors and out to keep them in better shape.

[Kaykay]

I was meaning more than just pot rotation. I read about someone getting the branched growths to grow back down towards the medium, encouraging them to root there. They just didn't say how they did it...hmmm... or maybe I should resort to dog treats as Izzie suggests (but I don't hold out too much hope, this orchid won't even sit on command... )
Keep the ideas coming! It seems that quite a few people have misbehaved jewel orchids!
Kay
x

[Izzie]

I wasn't clear. I would do rotation in addition to some other suggestion. You could call it a preventative? sort of? maybe?

Good luck!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try clamping it down with twisty wire.

[Judi]

I found that mine wasn't so leggy once I gave it more light. There seems to be some difference of opinion on how much light it should get, right now mine is outside and gets bright light all day with direct sun for a few hours in the late afternoon. It is doing better than ever! When it got leggy before, I snapped off the top above where a new growth was starting and let it dry for a few hours. Then I stuck it back in the pot with just the top of the stem with the leaves above the soil level and 9 out of 10 times it rooted and started a new plant. After I filled in my pots I give away a ton of these beauties using this method. And everyone appreciated it!

[Call_Me_Bob]

do you mean trying to train it like you would a bonsai, with bonsai wire

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Judi

I found that mine wasn't so leggy once I gave it more light.

I've found this to be true with all of my sympodial orchids (and garden plants). The more light I give them, the more compact the growths are.