help (Ludisia discolor)

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Capttommy

The ones I have don't have any roots just long segmented stalks. These long stalks are why I'm asking about propagation. They are about 8 to 10 inches long with many segments.

I'm sure there are roots Capttommy. Otherwise it wouldn't be alive. Perhaps not great roots, but who knows? The roots are down in the potting medium. It's a terrestrial, so you won't see epiphytic type roots or aerial roots. Probably should have already mentioned that to ya.

[estación seca]

I think he means roots along the exposed stem? The stems will make new roots when they're pressed unto the medium.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I think he means roots along the exposed stem? The stems will make new roots when they're pressed unto the medium.

Might be right. Not the way I took it, but the info doesn’t hurt anyway.

[Keysguy]

You guys talking about these scrawny things?

[Roberta]

Ludisia discolor is one of the few orchids that CAN be propagated from cuttings, that grows new roots from those nodes along the stem when placed into a suitable environment (like laying on top of moist sphagnum)

[Keysguy]

Break off a stem with your hands (because the ones that hang over the pot will eventually break off anyway) and just stick it into your media and walk away. The plant will do the rest. They root very quickly. Mine is actually in a mix of small bark and potting soil.

[rbarata]

I consider Ludisia to grow like weeds. It just needs to be in contact with the medium or anything humid (plain water also) and it starts to grow.

Here's some photos (sorry for the bathroom background but I live in a flat)...the plant in the pot was a Xmas present from my son and daughter two years ago and it was just a small plant with one spike only.
Now, two years after, it has this size.
It's not visible in the photos but some of the branches are broken....even though, they spike.
One of the branches was broken and separated from the other plant....a cup of water was all it needed to grow and spike (some of the new leaves kept growing under water).

[Dimples]

Hey rbarata,
How much light is your LD getting? I’m either giving 2 of my 3 pots too much light or I need to increase the water frequency on the 2 pots. The third and darkest pot is in sphag, the others are in an aroid mix.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Dimples

Hey rbarata,
How much light is your LD getting? I’m either giving 2 of my 3 pots too much light or I need to increase the water frequency on the 2 pots. The third and darkest pot is in sphag, the others are in an aroid mix.

They are in a room with a wide window faced south. At this time of the year they get some morning sun but the rest of the day they don't. In late spring/summer there's no direct sun in that room but light levels are high. Consider it to be relatively bright indirect light.
About the medium, I have never repot it but it seems to be regular garden soil. They are terrestrials and I never let them get dry.

[estación seca]

I've heard talks by commercial growers who say these prefer less light than any other orchid, less than Phals tolerate. They grow on the forest floor with stems running through leaf litter.