How to rebloom Ludisia?

[Blueszz]

Hi everyone,
I wonder what Ludisia discolor needs to rebloom.

- mature growths?
- when are these mature (if they ever mature?)
- shortening of day lenght?
- drop in temperature?
- what about the light level?

Anyone?

Nicole

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Why? Is it a matter of it not blooming when it should or just a matter of trying to force it to bloom all year round?

[Blueszz]

Hi King,
I just have no clue what it triggers too bloom and wonder if the conditions I provide it currently are OK to get it rebloom.
I liked the flowers and their smell so I would like get it to rebloom and not keep it as foliage plant only.

I know Ludisia can grow in very low light and for the leaf color it seems best to give it less than Phal. light, but I wonder if that will be enough to rebloom?

Also I have no clue if the growths mature on some point or that they keep growing when plants don't bloom?

So why? Trying to find out if I need to change the way I culture it in order to get it to rebloom, hopefully next winter? I dont'want to force it to bloom, but if if it wants to bloom whenever it's ready for it, I would enjoy it so much!

I tried to find the info myself but most people seem to like it as foliage plant and don't write about getting it to rebloom.

Nicole

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Holy cow!!!!!!!! I finally found some pics of Ludisia discolor in the freakin' wild! All of them in one web site of someone in Thailand admiring the wild!

http://idisk.mac.com/shutcha/Public/...discolor_s.jpg

http://idisk.mac.com/shutcha/Public/...scolor_3_s.jpg

They are flipping lithophytes on moss covered rocks along or on rivers and streams growing in shade or bright shade, sometimes underneath some light leaf litter! The countries they are found in are tropical or subtropical, which means a temperature range of anywhere around 55 F to 90 F. Humidity should be between 60% to 80% although higher doesn't hurt either. Must keep this one evenly moist. Moderate to good air circulation is good. Blooming season is during the winter months from what I've been reading.

Each growth does not keep getting taller if they don't flower. They're sympodial in nature; as in new growths will grow out along a creeping rhizome. One growth usually gets no taller than 3" (excluding flower spikes). The roots are very, very short and not plentiful (they're usually no longer than 1/2" to 3/4").

This explains so flipping much about "terrestrial" orchids with creeping rhizomes and short (almost miniscule) root systems!

Cr@p! Every time I look up pictures of orchids growing in the wild or do extensive research, I feel more and more like I've been lied to for some reason...

Man, I'm ecstatic and angry at the same time!!!!

[Blueszz]

Oh man, also I didn't know how they grow in situ! I've read complete different things than shown on these pictures! I thought they grow in kind of wet soil with part decaying leaves (along river sides), never thought they actually grow on rocks.


This explains why a cutting rooted so well in fir bark only! I saw the roots, well actually sort of clump from bark attached to the rhyzome and for a fairly young cutting I was impressed. The roots or what I saw of it looked so much better than the adult plant that I repotted and grew in soil like medium when I got it.
Glad I repotted it with lots of bark, perlite and some cocohusk. But I might change things with the new info you got me! Thank you.

A few months ago I repotted my Ludisia en indeed, it rooted only very shallow. That is why I choose a shallow terra cotta pot, which I felt was still too deep.
I didn't realize they are sympodial, I feel so stupid

Thank you King of the new information about this orchid. I think I have to be patient, wait and see if I provided it the proper care. If not I can change some things for the next year. Overal the plant looks good. Easy grower for me as it comes to foliage but I want more. I want to smell the blooms again. :-)

Again, thank you King!

Nicole