Macoides petola - need care advice

[RosieC]

Anyone growing these?

I'm struggling with mine, it keeps loosing a lot of leaves, until recently it seemed to be growing them as fast as it was loosing them but after some attempts to correct culture it's lost a lot more.

Should it have low, normal, or high fertiliser? I have wondered if I should be using lower than I do with other orchids but don't have much to base that on.

Should it be kept cooler, or warmer? I looked at the tag which seemed to indicate cooler than my phals so as it's warmed up outside I put it in the greenhouse which is generally cooler. Since then it'g got worse.

What sort of light should it have. It was in an east windowledge, now it gets east light in the greenhouse, it's behind other plants so does not get direct light but I think the greenhouse is overall brighter because all the walls let in light regardless of where the sun is.

Anything else anyone knows about care?

---------- Post added at 10:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------

Oh, and I forgot. Should it be kept on the dry or moist side. It's been a bit variable and I though it was staying too dry, but now I'm not sure if it's needing to dry out more.

[Discus]

I dearly want one of these, but have yet to find one here.

From what I recall, they prefer warmer, humid conditions and fairly low light (phal or lower light), and like to be kept pretty moist (but definitely not soggy...). They seem to do pretty well in tropical terrariums.

Being a rainforest plant, I imagine it's pretty low in nutrient requirements, and would probably benefit from rain/RO water rather than tapwater.

---------- Post added at 12:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 PM ----------

p.s. the spelling is, IIRC, "Macodes petola" if you're struggling on google

[RosieC]

Thanks, I've also recently switched to rain water. I think I'm going to leave it in the greenhouse as that is the more humid environment. The problem is that I don't know if the recent leaf loss is due to the previous conditions on the windowledge as it's not been in the new spot that long. I think I will keep going with the rain water and low fertiliser levels and see how it goes.

Thanks for the spelling correction, yes I have had problems finding info

[Discus]

Good luck The IOSPE page had an autumnal looking leaf on the description page, which I assume means "deciduous" so periods of leaf loss may be normal? IOSPE PHOTOS

---------- Post added at 12:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 PM ----------

Oh no, my bad, that means flowers in autumn... duh!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Macodes petola is intolerant of low humidity. It also does not like sopping wet media. They like the soil to be airy and evenly moist.

They grow in top soil and leaf litter.

I don't think high mineral content in water would affect it much. They pretty much occur where there is lots of limestone.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This species is evergreen, btw.

[RosieC]

Thanks Philip.

I grow Ludicia in potting compost/fine bark and perlite. I wonder if this would prefer that to the plain bark it's in now

---------- Post added at 11:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

Hmm, I'm now wondering if it has spider mites. Spotted something while watering some others near it just now.

I've had a problem with these on some other plants but didn't think this one had been near them. Now wondering if that is why it's going down hill!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'd check to see if the humidity is dropping below 70%.

Mites could do a lot of damage to Jewel Orchids because these orchids have soft leaves sorta like those of a Fittonia.

I'd go very easy on the potting compost and have a higher percentage of bark and perlite in the mix. If fir bark is not really working, you could try Cypress bark.

These are low light level plants, but be careful not to deprive them of adequate lighting as well. If you've ever grown a Fittonia before, Macodes, Dossinia, and Anoetochilus require the same kind of lighting intensity. When in doubt, bright shade is good enough - (i.e. Phal light levels).

[Bloomin_Aussie]

I'd agree. I have another species of Macodes. They are definitely not as tolerant to conditions as Ludisia. You need to provide warmth, humidity and a low light level. They are actually well suited to terrarium culture.

[RosieC]

Thanks Philip & Dan.