Is this a light-starved jewel orchid?

[Fishkeeper]

I bought this as a jewel orchid, and when it didn't arrive with that deep purple color, I thought it must have been kept in dim light for awhile. It came with a bud, though, and the flowers don't look like jewel orchids I've seen pics of online.

So, what is it? It's been losing leaves, any clue on how to keep it happy?

[Roberta]

It is certainly one of the terrestrials - with lovely leaves. I don't know which one. The term "jewel orchid" can be applied to essentially all of the the terrestrials with attractive leaves, not just Ludsia discolor (which I suspect was the one you were thinking of... another argument to use scientific names for species, they accurately describe the plant unlike common names that mean different things to different people in different places) Loss of leaves after flowering is characteristic of the whole group - after the flowers wither and the leaves drop, it will start growing a new "rosette" of leaves.

[Fishkeeper]

OK, thanks. Good to know.

Is it possible to tell, without knowing the exact species, if it's supposed to have leaves that are a bit wrinkled around the edges? I'm not sure if that's normal or if it's dehydrated. I've been treating this like most terrestrial orchids, keeping it slightly damp at all times, but I don't know if it would like to be wetter.

EDIT: Found it! Goodyera pubescens, AKA downy rattlesnake plantain. I Googled descriptive terms until I found a match.
Apparently they prefer acidic soil and need a winter rest, so, after this one is done flowering, I'm going to move it into an actual pot instead of keeping it on my living wall. I'm also going to start looking for an actual Ludisia discolor to plant on here.

[Roberta]

I don't think that one can tell much without knowing exactly what it is. The wrinkling around the edges could be its natural form, could be what it does before the leaves do their normal exit, or wanting more water... terrestrials do like to be damp. But since these go through a life cycle, it's probably normal. If you grow other terrestrials, I think you'll be fine treating this the same.

[syspila]

Rattlesnake orchids are found throughout the Eastern and Midwest USA.

[Salixx]

Just to confirm, this is Goodyera pubescens. I have several wild colonies on a trail near my house.

They seem to like to grow on the trail - maybe they like slightly compacted earth? They do have fairly shallow root systems, however. They also seem to grow best under deciduous tree stands, particularly oaks and American beech. With that in mind, you might want to consider giving them bright light during early spring and late fall and then shade for the growing season, to mimic their natural light cycle. An unheated garage might be a good place for it during the winter.

Good luck with it. I tried to keep a piece of one alive last summer. It had been trampled and broken off the original plant. It hung on for a while, grew some short roots but never really got better. The colonies were just starting to spike when I saw them a few weeks ago. I've thought about collecting a seed pod or two and trying to grow them from seed. It's probably just a pipe dream though.

Edited to add a photo of a spiking one near my house, for reference:

[syspila]

That is why you leave them in their habitat!

[Orchid Whisperer]

If you can, this is a perfect species to grow year-round outdoors. Especially in a shade garden. They are common in north Georgia. Known to occur from Florida to Quebec, west to Oklahoma. You can find care information at https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_gopu.pdf

also see Wildflower of the Year 2016, Goodyera pubescens, (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain) - Virginia Native Plant Society

The fact that the plant is blooming tells you that it is getting enough light. It does prefer shade.

Note for future purposes: This is a commonly nursery-propagated species. Unfortunately, it is a commonly wild-poached species. Beware mature bargain plants on E-bay, sometimes these are poached.

[Salixx]

Originally Posted by syspila

That is why you leave them in their habitat!

Not sure if this was in response to me.

The piece I tried to revive was exactly that, a piece. The plant it came from was growing in the middle of a hiking trail and had been trample to the point that part of it broke off and was wilting in the middle of the trail. That wilted bit is what I tried to revive as it most certainly would have been dead by the next day otherwise.

Of course established plants should be left in their habitat. I'm certainly not trying to advocate the removal of plants in general.

Edit: The plant in the picture I posted above is still growing in the wild. All I did was take a photo of it.