A magnificent representative of the flora of ludisia is an orchid that differs from other flowers with its stunning leaves. Recently it has become fashionable to plant flowers at home, which not only grow and blossom, but have their own specific features, and the owner has something to brag about before the guests. Orchid, the photo of which you will see here in abundance, is just one of these colors.
general information
In the world there are many beautiful and unique colors. Some appreciate for their buds, others for leaves and stems, still others for something else. Ludisia is an orchid, which is distinguished from a number of other similar plants by the appearance and structure of the leaves. Experts call it two-color for the fact that its leaves have a double color. The flower buds themselves are nothing special. These are small flowers of light color with a delicate smell. You will not be able to see lush bouquets, but you can always enjoy the beauty of the leaves. Of course, in case you take care of the flower. It is believed that the plant came to us from Vietnam, New Zealand and New Guinea. Some species of orchids are found in such countries as India, Japan and China. But not all of them can grow in our regions. The famous collector Bersenev dealt with the problem of breeding and preserving orchids, thanks to which we can now grow the most adapted species in our homes. Studying the literature, you can find different names of the flower:
- Orchid gemaria.
- Orchid of Ludice.
- Orchid Myspace.
Also there are variations with the name "two-color". There are authors who give the name "colorless" or "colorful". The plant is able to live up to seven years, while it almost all-the-year-round blooms.
Kinds
Despite the many names, lovers of the flora, who are breeding orchids, will recognize this species under any name. Many growers also call this type of flower ludisia precious. This name was given to the plant precisely because its main decoration is not rare buds, but foliage and stems. Stems are thick and have a creeping character. In nature, the flower grows well in caves and forests, where there is a lot of moss. The height of the plant reaches fifteen centimeters. Leaflets with a velvet coating seem to be painted with silvery stripes. The color scheme of them may differ depending on the species. If in nature there is only one kind of flower, then artificially the breeders created a few more:
- Davsoneana: the largest species of the flower, capable of growing to thirty centimeters in height, has brown leaves with a red tinge and pink stripes.
- Corduroy: can be a variety of shades: silvery, red, emerald. At the same time everything will still please the eye with a velvet coating of leaflets.
- Alda: the leaves are also velvety, and their coloring has contrasting shades.
- Odin: the silver-black leaves of this species look very impressive and always attract the admiring gaze of the guests.
Watering
To get such beauty at home, you need to properly care for the flower. It should be noted that ludisia at home is developing better than other types of orchids. What does this flower need for proper growth? First, let's talk about the irrigation system. Use soft water. Best if it is boiled, rain or peeled. At the same time, the water temperature should not be too low, on the contrary, it is better to warm it up a little, so that it becomes warmer than the room. It is recommended to water it in the morning or in the evening. It is enough to water the plant once a week. The process should be neat. Do not fill the flower leaves with water, as this will cause rotting of the stems. Water the orchid so that the soil in the pot is wet, and the remnants of glass are poured into the stand. Understand that it's time to do this, you can by checking the ground with a stick. If you shoved it into the ground and it stayed dry, then you need to water the flower.
Shine
Orchid, the photo of which you see here, needs one more factor: the correct lighting mode. Since this kind of flower prefers coolness, it is recommended to put a pot with it on the western or eastern side of the house with a partial turn to the south. The plant develops well in the penumbra. If you put a flower on the south side, you need to create a scattering effect for the sun's rays. The northern side, especially in winter, will require additional efforts to provide light. The thing is that an orchid needs it for twelve hours every day. Too intense illumination will damage the flower and cause burns to the leaves, and insufficient - will lead to too rapid growth of the stem.
Temperature
Ludizia is an orchid that prefers moderate temperatures in summer and in winter. So, in a warm period, a degree of 20 to 25 is allowed, but in winter it is not allowed to drop below fourteen degrees. During the day, the temperature should not vary too sharply, the difference should not be more than ten degrees. Do not allow the formation of a draft in the room where the flower grows. Ventilate the room you need, but neatly. Growing in moss, an orchid loves humidity, so you need to maintain this figure at about 73%.
Fertilizer
Plant ludisia, the care of which requires attention from you, needs recharge. You do not need to do this too often, it is enough to carry out feeding every two months. For this purpose, a specially developed fertilizer for orchids is best suited . Do not need to feed the flower when he is on vacation. The period of rest comes at an orchid at a time when there is no flowering. And this plant gets to fall and early spring. To flowers pleased you longer, you need to create a cool in the room and maintain a temperature of about 18 degrees.
Transfer
Like any other plant, ludisia (orchid) needs replanting. It's best to do this every couple of years. The root system during this time has time to grow and is ready to expand the place of growth. Provide good drainage in the pot. Before you transplant a flower into a new land, soak it in water for a couple of hours, and then cover it with moss. The ideal mixture for an orchid is:
- Humus (4 hours);
- Peat (4 hours);
- Needles of pine (4 hours);
- Moss (4 hours);
- Charcoal birch (1 hour).
After the transplanted flower, immediately make sure that it is in the right place and under the right light.
Reproduction
The best way to multiply this miracle plant is cuttings. Doing this is allowed at any time when there is a desire. If there is an opportunity to choose, it is better to work with cuttings in spring and in summer. In order to perform this procedure, it is necessary to take a part of the stem, on which there are several (pair) of nodes. Place the cut off with a solution of green or activated charcoal. Place the stalk in the moss, leaving the leaves above the surface. To plant properly and firmly rooted, first you need to remove all emerging buds. Then the flower will not spend power on the flowering process, but will throw all the resources on the development of the roots.
In the end, I want to add that the measures that need to be taken to properly grow the orchids are not so complex and numerous. In any case, the beauty of a flower is worth trying to create for him comfortable conditions.