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Description:
Anoectochilus roxburghii, often called the "Golden Vein Jewel Orchid," is a terrestrial orchid admired primarily for its luxurious, velvety leaves rather than its flowers. Native to the shaded forest floors of East and Southeast Asia—including China, India, and Vietnam—this plant thrives in moist, low-light conditions.
Its most striking feature is its foliage: broad, oval-shaped dark green leaves with a soft velvety texture and prominent golden to coppery veins that shimmer under light. Each leaf grows up to 7–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide, arranged in a basal rosette or along a creeping stem. While it occasionally produces delicate, small white or pale yellow flowers on upright spikes (typically in winter), the plant is cultivated primarily for its dramatic leaf patterns.
Anoectochilus roxburghii is ideal for tropical-themed terrariums. It remains compact, forms low-growing mats over time, and adds visual interest with its luminous, richly veined leaves. It pairs well with other jewel orchids, mosses, and humidity-loving plants. While a covered terrarium provides optimal conditions, it can adapt to open containers if humidity is maintained through misting.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Cultivation | Best suited for terrariums or high-humidity plant displays. Grows well in loose, moisture-retaining substrate, such as sphagnum moss mixed with orchid bark, perlite, or coco coir. |
| Substrate | Airy and moisture-retentive. Ideal mixtures include sphagnum moss with bark, perlite, or finely chopped fern fiber. |
| Watering | Keep the substrate consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top layer begins to dry slightly. Avoid waterlogging, which can cause root rot. |
| Humidity | Requires high humidity (70–90%). Best grown in closed terrariums or with regular misting in open containers. |
| Light | Prefers low to medium indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch leaves. Artificial lighting (LED grow lights) also works well. |
| Temperature | Thrives in warm temperatures (18°C–26°C). Protect from cold drafts and temperatures below 15°C. |
| Flowering | Blooms in cooler months with slender spikes bearing small, tubular white or yellowish flowers. Not the primary ornamental feature. |
| Special Features | The velvety leaves with glowing gold veins make this species a prized terrarium plant. Sometimes used in traditional medicine in Asia. |
