🌿 Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Macodes Petola’ – Terrarium Care Sheet
Family: Orchidaceae
Origin: Southeast Asia (tropical forest understory)
Growth Habit: Terrestrial jewel orchid with creeping rhizomes
Foliage: Dark green leaves with striking golden veins forming intricate patterns; highly prized as a “living gemstone”
Flowering: Small white to pale yellow flowers on thin spikes, mainly decorative foliage plant
✅ Ideal Terrarium Conditions
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 20–28 °C ideal; avoid drops below 15 °C |
| Humidity | 70–90%; stable, consistent humidity preferred |
| Light | Low to medium (400–800 foot-candles); avoid direct sunlight |
| Airflow | Gentle, steady airflow; avoid stagnant or drafty conditions |
| Terrarium Type | Closed or semi-closed tropical terrarium with high humidity and moderate ventilation |
🌱 Substrate & Planting
Best setup:
Shallow layer of moist sphagnum moss over a loose base of fine orchid bark, perlite, and leaf litter.
Alternative:
Well-draining tropical mix (sphagnum + perlite + fine bark + pumice or coco husk).
Keep substrate evenly moist, never waterlogged.
Roots are delicate — avoid compacted or dense soil.
💧 Watering
Water 2–4× per week depending on terrarium conditions.
Maintain lightly moist substrate; do not let moss dry completely.
Use RO, distilled, or rainwater to prevent mineral buildup.
Mist lightly to simulate forest floor humidity, avoiding prolonged wet leaves.
🌬 Air Movement
Essential to prevent fungal issues.
Use gentle fan circulation or a slightly propped terrarium lid for passive airflow.
Avoid direct drafts or strong airflow that can dry leaves.
🌼 Flowering & Maintenance
Flowers are small and secondary to foliage beauty.
Remove yellowed leaves and spent spikes to maintain health.
Can be divided once established to propagate multiple growths.
🧪 Feeding
Feed sparingly with ¼ strength orchid fertilizer every 3–4 weeks during growth.
Flush lightly with pure water monthly to remove salts.
Avoid foliar feeding unless water is pure and lightly misted.
⚠️ Troubleshooting
| Issue | Likely Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf curling or browning | Low humidity / too much light | Move to shadier, more humid area |
| Yellowing leaves | Overwatering or poor drainage | Improve substrate aeration; adjust watering |
| Black spots or mold | Stagnant air or wet leaves | Increase ventilation; reduce misting |
| Stunted growth | Low temperature or excess fertilizer | Warm up; reduce feeding |
✅ Terrarium Tips
Ideal with other jewel orchids and low-light tropical plants.
Thrives near terrarium base or mid-level for stable humidity.
Looks stunning under LED grow lights with a warm spectrum.
Companions: Ludisia discolor, Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Red’, Macodes petola.
🎯 A living gemstone for terrarium enthusiasts:
A. roxburghii ‘Macodes Petola’ dazzles with golden veined foliage — a low-light, high-humidity star for tropical displays!