A cross between Pachphytum and Echeveria is a pachyveria. Little Jewel is a fantastic succulent for beginners because it can thrive in a range of growth environments.
Where to Plant
Outdoors, Pachyveria glauca thrives. It adds “spiller” to container designs and is ideal for rock gardens. It is ideal to grow ‘Little Jewel’ in a container that can be moved indoors if you live in a region that experiences temperatures below 30 F (-1.1 C). It thrives in full to some sun.
Leaves
Gently twist the leaf away from the stem while removing it for propagation. Make certain the leaf you receive is a “a clean pull is one in which the entire leaf is removed from the stem. Your chances of a successful propagation will increase as a result.
Occasionally, Pachyveria glauca will “Fallen leaves. You can also collect the fallen leaves and spread them out (although this should not be mistaken with indicators of overwatering)!
Before planting the leaf on drained soil, give it a day or two to callus over.
Cuttings
Use a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors to cultivate “Little Jewel” from cuttings. Take a stem from the main plant and place it on well-draining soil after letting it callus for a few days. When the soil is fully dry, add water.
How should a small jewel succulent be cared for?
Grow the Little Jewel succulent as you would any other succulent, in bright light to full sun, and in well-draining cactus/succulent soil, for best results.
Little Jewel succulents can withstand temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in USDA zone 9b (-4 to -1 C.). If grown outside, they need be protected from frost.
When you do water, water it thoroughly and wait until the soil is fully dry to the touch before applying more water. Succulents require less water than typical houseplants because their leaves can store water. In actuality, the most common issue with growing succulents is overwatering. Rot and insect infestations can result from overwatering.
What You’ll Need:
- slicing shears
- gardening mitts (for handling spiny varieties)
- a little trowel
- potting soil for cacti and succulents
- jars with sufficient drainage holes
Remove Some Leaves or Behead
Take a few leaves at random from your succulent plant, gently twisting each one off the stem without breaking it.
These can be cut off the bottom of the stem, which will be discarded, when it begins to grow lanky.
To remove a specific leaf from a plant, such as a Christmas cactus, you might need to use scissors.
If you’re “beheading,” cut the stem of the plant head cleanly with your scissors or clippers about an inch below the lower leaves.
Plant
When roots start to form, either choose a site in your garden that is ideal for planting or fill well-draining containers of your choosing with potting material.
Sunshine and well-drained soil are ideal for succulent growth. They get paler in the absence of sunlight, and they decompose in excess moisture.
When the sun is less powerful, such as in the early morning or late afternoon, plant in a sunny location.
To lift the cuttings above the edge of your container or garden surface, pile dirt higher. To stabilize the roots, gently tamp the earth down; do not water.
Water and Feed
It’s time to buy a succulent/cactus food at this stage, such as Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food, which is sold on Amazon. administer as directed by the manufacturer.
Succulents can also be propagated via cuttings that are placed on top of potting soil and allowed to callus off so they can root themselves in the soil.
Can you grow succulents in water?
In water, most succulents can be multiplied. If you have a succulent that is stretched out, you can take stem cuttings and root those, or you can create roots from healthy single leaves.
The most successful succulents are those with thick, meaty leaves, like the Echeveria plant. So when you first try your hand at succulent propagation, these are an excellent option.
It makes sense to multiply a few leaves at once. By doing this, you increase the likelihood that there will be survivors. While others may decay or just wilt and wither away, certain succulent leaves will only produce roots and no new plant.
Are jewel orchids simple to grow from seed?
The Jewel Orchid, also known as Ludisia discolor, differs from all other orchids we nurture in our homes in that it is valued more for its leaves than its flowers when grown indoors.
This indoor plant requires minimal maintenance. An established, well-cared-for Jewel Orchid that is several years old and mature may eventually develop numerous growths and spread out.
TIP – Despite the fact that the flowers are relatively simple, they will nevertheless give your plant more visual interest than many other houseplants that are only grown for their leaves.
When the plant is ready to bloom, each growth will create a flowering spike that quickly ascends. When mature, the flower buds will open to reveal a variety of tiny white blossoms that are sure to leave an impression.
Unfortunately, compared to its cousins, such as the Moth and Cambria Orchids, the plant itself and the flowers are not eye-catching, making them easily missed in stores. However, it has a modern and unique charm that can entice people who happen to come across them.
Strangely, unlike its relatives, the Jewel Orchid is simple to grow and gets big enough to sell rapidly. However, merchants frequently continue to ask for quite a bit of money, which may be another factor in the Jewel Orchid’s lack of appeal.
However, you might be in luck if you’re looking for a good deal. Because of its understated appearance, it is typically only offered when in bloom, possibly because this added flourish attracts more attention and draws the eye. Therefore, retailers frequently offer steep discounts to move their remaining stock as the blooms begin to fade or at other times of the year.
TIP – Be daring and use a contrasting pot for these plants. The leaves will stand out much more as a result.
Only two varieties of Ludisia orchids are typically offered for sale. The first is known as the “Black Jewel Orchid” and features fine white pinstripe lines all over its deep, almost black-looking green leaves.
The maroon colour beneath the leaves can occasionally show through and give the white lines a reddish tint. It’s debatably the most well-known and frequently encountered of the two.
“Ludisia Discolor Alba” is the second kind (pictured just below). Even though it is more uncommon, it has more devotees and is sought for by many plant hunters. The Alba has medium-green leaves with a significant amount of silver “veins” going through the leaf.
LIGHT
Actually, Ludisia orchids require very little maintenance. And when I mention orchids, the Ludisia genus only contains one species—the discolor species. These plants naturally grow underground on the forest floor in the Asian tropics.
They are thought to be low-light orchids. My Ludisia discolor orchid has been growing in an Eastern exposure for a number of years now. It was started from a little plant that was given to me by an orchid enthusiast with a greenhouse.
Your Ludisia discolor orchid will flourish in the same window where you grow joyful African Violets or even Phalaenopsis orchids.
Although a little morning sun is acceptable, Ludisia does not enjoy a lot of direct sunlight.
If you have the option, I’d suggest an expansive window with a northern exposure or an eastern looking window. With shades or curtains, you can slightly diffuse too much sunlight.
Your windows with a western or southern aspect will undoubtedly have too much direct sunlight for these plants, therefore you will need to diffuse it.
JEWEL ORCHID FLOWERS
As I previously stated, they still produce flowers, albeit much smaller than those of many other orchids. Look at my plant down below. Even though it’s an old picture, I managed to acquire a decent shot. Photographing dark foliage is challenging!
Although the flowers are little and inconsequential in comparison to those of many other orchids, you can still tell that it puts on a good show. Flowers from Ludisia discolor will persist for a long time. Several weeks, if not longer. Late autumn is usually when my plant blooms.
When the plant is in bloom, I do think it takes on a slightly odd appearance, therefore I’ve been known to prematurely clip off the flowers to go around it and tend to my other plants.
JEWEL ORCHID SOIL
Remember, I said dirt! These plants need to be grown in potting soil because they are terrestrial. Although I believe you might also grow these in sphagnum moss, I’ve had success for years growing them in regular potting soil.
Ludisia shouldn’t be grown in a bark mix because they are not epiphytes. Because these plants prefer wetness, it will be challenging to maintain a regular watering schedule.
My potting mixes often include perlite or pumice, but I’ve had great success with Miracle Gro all-purpose potting mix. You can use it exactly as is, or you might add some perlite. You may create a fantastic medium for this plant by combining 3 parts all-purpose potting mix with 1 part perlite.
JEWEL ORCHID WATERING
In a perfect world, I would only let the soil’s top layer dry out before giving it another good watering.
You should avoid letting your Ludisia discolor dry out at all costs. The bottom leaves will begin to wilt and turn red if you allow it to totally dry out.
However, you do want your plant to dry out a little in order to reduce the chance of it decaying. It should be more than enough to let the top inch or two of the potting mix dry out.
FERTILIZING JEWEL ORCHID
With the exception of the winter, when plants are dormant, I fertilize all of my houseplants with every watering.
I love Dyna Gro Grow fertilizer a lot. It is a very high-quality fertilizer that contains all the macro and micronutrients required for plant growth and is urea-free.
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
This plant is not at all picky. Your Ludisia discolouration will be alright if you feel at ease in a space. It enjoys warm environments and can tolerate moderate indoor humidity.
Although it prefers higher humidity, it has never complained when the interior climate has been ordinary for me. Worrying about your humidity level is significantly less crucial than watering properly.
Although I currently have a humidifier running in my sunroom, I have previously nurtured this plant effectively without it.
PESTS
Ludisia discolor has largely been pest-free during the several years I’ve cultivated it, although I have had to deal with scaling.
Visit my blog post where I described a 5-step approach to eliminate scale to learn how I got rid of scale on my plant. If you are persistent, you COULD overcome scale.
Jewel Orchid Propagation
Ludisia discolor may be propagated using traditional cutting methods, unlike many other orchids that can be difficult to do so (unless you divide them)!
The stems are rather delicate; once, when I moved my plant, one of the stems snapped. I only had to submerge the cutting in water, and it quickly roots. It rooted quickly, albeit it took a few months.
To keep the water fresh and prevent rotting, make sure to replace it periodically.
Searching for a Jewel Orchid to buy? Etsy is one of my favorite and most useful one-stop sites for purchasing almost any plant. Today, have a look at the Jewel Orchid collection (link to Etsy).
That’s all there is to know about the Jewel Orchid, or Ludisia discolor. If there is one thing you should keep in mind, it is that this plant hates to fully dry out, so do everything in your power to prevent it (but don’t drown it either).
Possess you any Jewel Orchids? Please share your experiences in the comments section below.
Little Jewel, how frequently do you water her?
The Pachyveria glauca doesn’t require much water, like the majority of other succulents. You should only water extremely sparingly in the summer because the plant’s dormant season lasts during that time.
Your Pachyveria glauca will go through its growing phase in the winter. More watering is required at this point. It needs watering every 5 to 6 days. If the plant needs watering, the leaves can tell you whether it does or not.
It’s time to water if the leaves start to look withered and a little dried out. The ideal method of watering is to totally wet the soil before letting it air dry entirely before applying more water. To allow for the drainage of extra water, a pot must have enough drainage holes at the bottom.
Make sure the soil is completely dry before re-watering. You can accomplish this by sticking a finger inside to feel, or by sticking a kebab stick or a small wooden skewer within. You should be able to remove it once it is all dried.