This botanical orchid species has a wide distribution, from northern India to Southeast Asia, north of southwest China and south to Malaysia and Indonesia. In China, Ludisia Discolor populates swampy areas in forests, at altitudes between 950 - 1000 m, in the provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan. There are reports of the species in many mountainous regions of Vietnam, Cha Pa in the north, to Dalat in the south, but only one of the locations includes altitude indications, the species being found at 1200 m.
Currently, two variants of the species are known, namely Ludisia discolor "Alba", an albino variety, and Ludisia discolor "Nigricens", a mutation frequently encountered under the name "black velvet" - black velvet.
Nicknamed the jewel orchid, Ludisia Discolor is historically known by the following synonyms: Anoectochilus dawsonianus, Anoectochilus ordeanus, Anoectochilus ordianus, Gonogona discolor, Goodyera dawsoniana, Goodyera discolor, Goodyera ordeana, Goodyera ordiana, Goodyera rodigasciana, Goodyera rubrovenia, Haemaria dawsoniana, Haemaria discolor, Haemaria discolor var. concolor, Haemaria discolor var. condorensis, Haemaria discolor var. dawsoniana, Haemaria discolor var. denisoniana, Haemaria discolor var. grandis, Haemaria discolor var. ordeana, Haemaria discolor var. rhodoneura, Haemaria discolor var. trilineata, Haemaria otletae, Haemaria pauciflora, Haemaria rubrovenia, Kuhlhasseltia carrii, Ludisia dawsoniana, Ludisia discolor var. ordiana, Ludisia furetii, Ludisia odorata, Ludisia otletae, Myoda rufescens, Neottia discolor, Orchiodes discolor, being described by Achille Richard (French botanist and physician, April 27, 1794 - October 5, 1852) in 1825.
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A small-sized species, Ludisia Discolor rarely exceeds more than 15 cm in height without pseudobulbs. It prefers warm to very warm climates, which it occupies in terrestrial or lithophilous stations, where the fleshy, reddish, twisted, erect or pendulous stems reach 20 - 25 cm in length and bear elliptic-lanceolate leaves, over 7.5 cm long and 4.3 cm wide, dark red in color, velvety, with strongly contrasting white venation.
Flowering takes place in the apical area of the stems, in the form of long, relatively racemose inflorescences (in clusters), 10 - 30 cm long, with white, asymmetric flowers that last 2 to 3 weeks. The white flowers, about 2 cm in diameter, with a pollen chamber colored light yellow and petals about 1 cm long and 0.5 - 0.7 cm wide; have the shape of a cup, with the lip twisted counterclockwise.
From the point of view of cultivation requirements, Ludisia discolor requires light intensities of 8000 - 10000 lx, which places it in the category of shade plants - light will be filtered and diffused, and the plant will never be exposed to direct light. Also, a constant strong air circulation is necessary.
Thermophilic plant, it requires the average temperature during summer days to be around 27 °C, and the night temperature not to exceed 21 - 22 °C. In winter, the average daytime temperature should be 15 - 18 °C and in winter 9 - 12 °C.
Relative humidity will be quite high, with values between 85 - 90% throughout the year.
Occasionally terrestrial species with a creeping habit, Ludisia discolor will prefer shallow containers with generous drainage and loose substrate with quick drying - such as medium-grain bark or dried plant fibers. Other suitable materials that retain moisture, like perlite or chopped sphagnum moss, can be occasionally added to the growing medium. Another important element is charcoal, which ensures air permeability and reduces acidity. Substrate change is necessary when the beginning of its decomposition is noticed. If the substrate change is done at the time of new root growth, guaranteed success of rooting and establishment in the new growing medium can be ensured in the shortest time. Propagation of the species by stem cuttings is relatively easy.
Watering will follow natural environmental conditions, where heavy rains are frequent, with only 2-3 months of drier climate during winter. Cultivated specimens will be watered frequently, but care will be taken to allow the top layer of the substrate to dry between two successive waterings, and to prevent waterlogging in the growing containers. When new growths reach maturity in September, the watering intensity will be gradually reduced.
Fertilization should take place during the active growth period, weekly, with 25 - 50% of the recommended dilution. A balanced fertilizer can be used throughout the year, but it is recommended to use a fertilizer with added nitrogen from spring until mid-summer, and then, from late summer through autumn, a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content.
The resting period for this species is during winter, when watering should be gradually reduced, especially for specimens grown in cooler climates, but caution is advised not to allow the substrate to dry out excessively or remain dry for a long period of time. During this period, fertilization will be reduced or completely stopped, but resumed with the arrival of spring, when watering will also return to its normal routine.
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