Are there any Jewel Orchid experts here?

[backyarder1]

I have a bunch of jewel orchid plants. I believe they are Ludisia Discolor. Many of the leaves are turning very pale. Can someone tell me why this would happen?

Thanks
Betsy

[RandomGemini]

Too much light.

Not enough fertilizer.

Not keeping the roots moist enough.

Bug infestation.

Disease.

There are a lot of reasons why that can happen. Some pictures will tell us more about what's going on with your plants so that we can help you.

What are your growing conditions like for this plant?

[backyarder1]

I tried to post photos but I got a message that said that I couldn't because I am a new member. Unless I'm doing something wrong. I'll try again in this message.

The story is that my husband passed away in October and he was the orchid guy. So I'm trying to keep his orchids going and decided to start with the jewels because I love them. They have been sitting right where he always left them so it doesn't seem like they would be getting more light than they used to. It has been raining a lot lately but like I said, they are right where hubby always kept them.

I still can't figure out how to upload a photo. I uploaded it to my blog and then tried to link to the photos from here and I get a message that says new members are limited to the number of links they can add.

[RandomGemini]

It's ok. You need five posts to post pics. Do you have a local orchid society? They might be best equipped to help you out. They are usually very friendly people.

[backyarder1]

Yes, I just joined the local orchid society. But they only meet once a month and we just had a meeting so I need to wait a whole month.

[RandomGemini]

Send an email to the club president. It sounds like you could use a lot more help than with just these few plants. I bet they would be willing to come out and show you how to take care of everything.

[RandomGemini]

Oh and feel free to post in this thread a couple more times to get yourself up to five posts so you can post the pictures.

[backyarder1]

Let's see if it lets me post photos now?

---------- Post added at 01:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------

I did send a message to the club president. He didn't offer to come out and look at things but said that he would offer advice if I could give him the names of all of the orchids. My husband didn't keep the name tags on most of them.

[RandomGemini]

I'd say this is a combination of too much light and not enough water. I don't keep this orchid myself, but I know they like to be moist. A lot of people I know that do grow them, grow them in terrariums. So I would definitely increase the water and move it back away from the window as a good place to start.

[backyarder1]

Thanks. I have moved them into the patio. But some of the stems seem almost mushy so I'm not sure it is from lack of water. But could be. Still have one plant that looks pretty good and it got as much water as the others but may have been in different light. I can't really remember now since I've already moved them all to the patio.