Ludisia discolor

[Helen]

Originally Posted by Nic100

Nicole, what's cocosoil??

Out of curiosity, once it's done flowering do you just cut the spikes back. Mine has 3 new shoots which I assume it will spike from (fingers crossed) next time.

Lucky it's pretty because still no fragrance!!

I only have one single stem which has just finished spiking. I am going to cut the spike, but how do I initiate new growth for subsequent spiking? Do I cut the top off of this one, but then the new growth will shoot off to one size which would probably not be too pleasing visually. Or, am I missing something here?
Thanks
Helen

[syspila]

Rosie, Hi, I see you on the Neo Board now. I just wonder if you still have your Ludisia? In my history of their culture, I find it very easy potted in a very light/Loamy soil. I like L. discolor so well I have a couple of different plats; one is White Lightning, an Alba, Ambrosia, and, of course Red Velvet type. I enjoy them all keeping them in lower light in the winter with some brief South Window exposure. During the summer here, they are in shade in the orth of the house. Older, long stems are snapped off and then put upright and some horizontal in the soil. They root in about a month and a half. Mine blooms in February/March and is so pretty, though I detect no scent. I do keep mine moist but not wet or really dry. I have many orchids though these are a favorite of mine, so I have divided a lot of space to them!

[RosieC]

Hi Syspila,

I'm not on the Neo Board. Neo's are one section of Orchids I've never really got into. Must be someone else with a similar name

Yes I still have the Ludisa, now with several divisions around the house, as you say the older stems snap off and I've then rooted them. Recently I had to repot one of the divisions that had had growths coming through the holes in the bottom of the pot. They broke off and I'm now trying to root those. I've found I have more luck rooting them in a glass of water than in soil. Got some good roots growing already on the latest.

I mostly grow mine in an east exposure and as you say try and keep it moist. I have them in peat & bark mix (mostly peat) which seems to work well.