Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl.

Roxburgh's Jewel Orchid, Copper-Glint Orchid, Jewel Orchid

Moderate careTerrestrialNon-toxic8–25 cm

A small terrestrial orchid from the shaded forest floors of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, where it creeps through deep leaf litter and humus at elevations between 300 and 1800 metres. It is grown almost entirely for its foliage: velvety, dark green leaves overlaid with a luminous network of gold or copper veins that seem to glow in low light — the characteristic that gives all jewel orchids their name. In a closed terrarium it replicates its natural understory habitat well, rooting into moist sphagnum or a fine terrestrial orchid mix while the enclosed air keeps humidity steady. With stable warmth and gentle light, it may reward patient keepers with a delicate flower spike — small white blossoms on a pinkish stem — but the leaves are the real spectacle.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Roxburgh's Jewel Orchid image

Care

Light

Shade tolerant(preferred)Indirect light

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Very high (80%+)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
15°C – 30°C

Soil

Sphagnum mix(preferred)Orchid mixPeat moss

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 6.5

Appearance

Growth habit

CreepingUpright

Leaf shape

Oval

Leaf texture

Velvety

Distribution

Propagation

Cut a stem section just below a node using clean, sterile scissors. Allow the cut end to dry for an hour or two before laying the cutting on the surface of damp sphagnum moss — do not bury it. Keep in a warm, humid, shaded environment and mist lightly if humidity drops. Roots develop along the nodes where stem contacts moisture, typically within two to four weeks in a closed environment. Light rooting hormone can improve success.

References

  1. 1

    POWO (Kew) — Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (accepted name; first published J.F.Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts.: 368 (1839); family Orchidaceae; native distribution: Assam, Bangladesh, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya; 13 synonyms including Chrysobaphus roxburghii Wall., Zeuxine roxburghii (Wall.) M.Hiroe, Anoectochilus setaceus Lindl., Anoectochilus latomaculatus Blume, Anoectochilus xanthophyllus Planch.)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20008194-1
  2. 2

    Orchid Species (orchidspecies.com) — Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. 1832 (miniature to small terrestrial; erect peduncle 7–15 cm; leaves subcordate to ovate-acute, velvety, dark lime-green reticulated with gold above, purple-black beneath; blooms fall; 2–10 flowers on pinkish stems; grows in shady broadleafed humid primary forests at 300–1800 m; found in eastern Himalayas, Assam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, western Himalayas, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Yunnan, Vietnam, Java and Sumatra; hot to cool growing; grows in rich humus in damp crevasses)

    https://www.orchidspecies.com/anoroxburghii.htm
  3. 3

    ASPCA — Non-Toxic Plants: Jewel Orchid (Haemaria discolor; non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses; no toxic principles listed; family Orchidaceae)

    https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/jewel-orchid
  4. 4

    Orchid Bliss — Jewel Orchid Care: The Complete Guide (humidity 50–70%; temperature 16–25 °C / 61–78 °F; minimum threshold ~10 °C; avoid direct sun; wide shallow pot; spreads horizontally; white flowers late fall/winter; stem cuttings, offshoot separation, rhizome cutting for propagation)

    https://orchidbliss.com/jewel-orchid-care-the-complete-guide/
  5. 5

    Araflora — Anoectochilus roxburghii care (humidity daytime 60–90%, nighttime 70–90%; temperature max 30 °C, min 15 °C, winter min 10 °C; pH 6–7; semi-sun, no direct sun; flowers white/yellow, 2–15 per stalk to 25 cm; flowering August–December; adult size under 10 cm wide; easy care; native to Himalayan regions at 300–1800 m)

    https://www.araflora.com/p1273/orchid_anoectochilus_roxburghii
  6. 6

    Orchid Bliss (Plantiary.com) — Anoectochilus roxburghii (temperature 18–24 °C; consistently moist substrate; non-toxic; well-draining substrate with orchid bark, sphagnum moss and perlite; gold/copper/reddish-pink metallic veining on deep velvety leaves; small white or pale yellow tubular flowers with fringed lips)

    https://plantiary.com/plant/anoectochilus-roxburghii_18262.html
  7. 7

    Raingreen Tropicals — Culture of Anoectochilus (light: ~500 fc / low; humidity above 50% minimum; temperature 15–30 °C; soil pH 5.5–6.0 fragmentary data; soil: well-drained humus-rich; grows in thick humus in hilly areas; easy to moderately easy)

    https://raingreentropicals.com/culture-anoectochilus.htm
  8. 8

    NE Herpetoculture — Live Jewel Orchids for Terrariums & Vivariums (low-light; temperature 65–75 °F / 18–24 °C, avoid above 78 °F; quick-draining orchid substrate or loose sphagnum; humidity-holding enclosure required; not to be kept outside a humid enclosure; forest humus terrestrial species)

    https://www.neherpetoculture.com/jewelorchids
  9. 9

    Botanico Hub — Anoectochilus roxburghii (height up to 30 cm; leaves ovate-lanceolate 8–14 cm × 3–5 cm; inflorescence 10–20 cm; temperature 18–24 °C; medium to bright indirect light; division every 2–3 years; dark green with silver veins; flowers greenish-brown, fall/winter)

    https://www.botanicohub.com/plant-species/anoectochilus-roxburghii
  10. 10

    Terrarium Creations — Jewel Orchids in Terrariums (humidity 60–90%; temperature 15–18 °C for A. chapaensis; grows to ~30 cm; open terrarium suitable for flowering stem to extend upward; half soil dry between watering; substrate: coco fibre with sphagnum, perlite, sand layers)

    https://terrariumcreations.com/jewel-orchids-in-terrariums-care-guide-for-anoectochilus-chapaensis-in-terrariums/