Jewel Orchid blooming with no leaves. Can it grow leaves again?
 

Hi everyone. I got a Prescottia Maculata / Pelexia Laxa several weeks ago. It arrived with 2 leaves but they died soon after. There was some growth in the middle. I first thought it was a new leaf but it turned out to be a spike. I digged into the soil a bit and the roots seem very healthy.

I have Macodes Petola, Aspidogyne Argentea and few others which keep growing from new branches after flowering. But this orchid seems a bit different as in it seems to only grow from the middle, and not really branch out. I thought about cutting off the spike as I do with my Ludisia Discolor but I am afraid of stressing the plant.

Most of my plant experience is about Philodendrons, Alocasias and such. In those cases, I wouldn't be concerned about the possibility of a new leaf growing. But I am not sure if a jewel orchid in this condition can grow new leaves.

I was hoping someone could give me some pointers.

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Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I looked and noticed Prescottia is a current Reddit fad.

The colloquial term "jewel orchids" refers to many different, only distantly related orchids with dramatic leaf markings. They vary in growth requirements and can't all be grown the same.

Prescottia is is a genus of tuberous orchids. Its growth habit is unlike Macodes or Luidisia. Tuberous orchids wake up from dormancy and form a set of leaves. They grow for a while, then send up a flower spike from the center. The leaves die off and the plant goes dormant until the next cycle. Some tuberous orchids form basal offsets and increase by clumping; others remain solitary. If the leaves die too early the plant might make more, might go dormant or might die. Some need dry, moist, cold or warm dormancy, or a combination of these. I don't know enough about this genus to advise what to do next.

Luidisia and Dossinya are not tuberous. They form above-ground stems with leaves. Stems readily branch and creep over the surface. Eventually a stem matures, makes an inflorescence from the tip, and stops growing. It will branch from the stem below.

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to respond.

It does make sense now that you mention about their being tuberous. Because the below section of the plant is so chunky and fleshy. I was surprised.

When Caladiums go dormant, you can take out the bulbs and wait until the next Spring to plant them. I take it that this is not the way to go with tuberous plants?

I know you said you don't know enough to advise what to do next. However, what's the overall procedure with tuberous plants? Should I ease on the watering and see if it grows leaves again after dormancy?

Thank you again :)

Most tuberous orchids go dormant sometime after flowering. I would only be guessing if I gave advice. I would suggest going to orchidspecies.com and looking it up. Find out where it's from and when it normally flowers, then go elsewhere and look up the climate there. Some tuberous orchids expect moist soil in the dry season and some expect dry soil.

I was going through this plant's tag on instagram and found someone that seems very knowledgeable about terrestrial orchids. I asked for her help.

She very kindly shared a video of a grow tent with several of these orchids. They had few dried up 'past' growth points that showed their cycles from before. As you also mentioned, she said the leaves come back some time after the flowers die and that she doesn't cut on the watering during its dormancy. She also added that she found this species easier than Macodes and Ludisia, and similar to the easiness level of some Aroids like Philodendrons.

I also will do what you advised and see if I can get hold of more information that way.

All in all, I probably shouldn't have panicked but I wasn't sure about what to think of only flowers but no leaves :)

Thank you so much for your help! Much appreciated.