Macodes petola (Jewel orchid) — H8 cm | Pot Ø6 cm
- Regular price
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€30,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€30,95
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Frequently asked questions
Can Macodes petola live in a terrarium? Yes, its small size of about 20 cm and its need for humid air, between 60 and 80%, make it very well suited to terrariums.
What is the difference between Macodes petola and Ludisia discolor? Macodes petola has dark green leaves veined with gold and stays more compact, whereas Ludisia discolor has velvety, almost black burgundy-brown leaves with coppery-pink veins.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
✨ Green leaves veined with a golden network • 🌥️ Low to medium indirect light • 💧 Humid air, substrate always moist • 🐾 Non-toxic • 🌱 Young plant to grow on • 📏 H8 cm | Pot Ø6 cm
Macodes petola is a terrestrial orchid grown for its foliage. Its oval, pointed leaves, dark green marbled with lighter green, are traced with a fine golden network of veins that catches the light; young leaves first unfurl in soft green spotted with brown, on a pinkish stem. In the wild it grows on the floor of humid forests in Southeast Asia, from Malaysia and Sumatra to the Philippines and New Guinea.
It is delivered as a young plant 8 cm tall, in a 6 cm nursery pot. Its growth is slow and it rarely exceeds 20 cm in height: its small size and its liking for humid air make it one of the most sought-after terrarium plants, where its foliage can be admired up close.
Which jewel orchid should you choose?
The catalog includes two jewel orchids, two terrestrial orchids grown for the pattern of their leaves rather than for their flowers:
- Macodes petola (this plant) — dark green leaves veined with gold, compact plant of about 20 cm, H8 cm | Pot Ø6 cm. The choice for luminous foliage and a terrarium.
- Ludisia discolor — velvety, almost black burgundy-brown leaves, coppery-pink veins, clump up to 30 cm, H13 cm | Pot Ø6 cm. The choice for dark foliage and growing in a pot, easier outside a terrarium.
Light & placement
As on the forest floor where it grows, it needs low to medium light, always indirect. Direct sun scorches its leaves and dulls the pattern of the veins.
- Light: near a north- or east-facing window, or set back from a brighter window, with no direct sun.
- Placement: shelf, desk, bright bathroom or terrarium, away from radiators and cold drafts.
- Temperature: 18 to 25 °C, never below 15 °C.
- Humidity: high, 60 to 80%; a tray of damp clay pebbles, a bright bathroom (see bathroom plants) or a terrarium provides it.
Air that is too dry dries out the leaf tips: the balance between brightness and humidity is explained in light and humidity.
Watering & care
It likes a substrate that is always slightly moist and does not tolerate drying out: water as soon as the top third of the pot starts to dry, with lukewarm water, then let the excess drain away.
- Drainage: pot with drainage holes, saucer emptied after each watering; a waterlogged substrate rots the stem (see saving rotten roots).
- Substrate: light and airy, based on houseplant potting mix, sphagnum moss and perlite; see substrates.
- Fertilizer: diluted houseplant fertilizer, once a month in spring and summer.
- Repotting: rarely, in spring, into the next pot size up; its slow growth needs no more.
Mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and aphids are the pests to watch for; treatments are described in indoor plant pests.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its network of golden veins is best seen up close: place it at eye level, on a shelf or a desk, or in the foreground of a terrarium. More patterned foliage can be found among the plants with decorative foliage.
- Echoing veins: next to a Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator Lemon Lime', with lemon-green veins on a green background; two veined foliages that like the same indirect light and a moist substrate.
- In miniature: with a Peperomia prostrata, another young plant in a 6 cm pot, with small round leaves patterned like a shell, which also enjoys the humid air of a terrarium.
- Play of shapes: near a Pilea depressa, with tiny round light-green leaves, which forms a low carpet in front of its oval leaves.
- Collector's plant: its small size and rare foliage place it among the unusual and rare plants, to be grouped together on the same shelf.
Verdeia tips
- Clean without leaf shine: its leaves are sensitive to leaf-shine products; simply rinse them with lukewarm water or wipe them with a damp cloth, following the steps described in cleaning foliage.
- Prepare its winter flowering: on a mature plant, watering cut by half and a slightly cooler room in the fall encourage small reddish-brown flowers edged with yellow, with a white lip, to appear in winter.
- Take cuttings in spring: a section of stem at least 8 cm long, stripped of its lower leaves, roots in about a month in a moist substrate, under a bag pierced with small holes. The method is explained in propagation by cuttings.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Macodes petola
- Common name: jewel orchid
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Origin: species native to Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Sumatra, the Philippines, New Guinea)
- Dimensions at delivery: H8 cm | Pot Ø6 cm (young plant)
- Mature size: about 20 cm tall
- Growth habit: compact, leaves spread around a short stem
- Light: low to medium light, indirect, no direct sun
- Watering: regular, substrate kept slightly moist
- Humidity: high, 60 to 80%
- Temperature: 18 – 25 °C, minimum 15 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, oval and pointed leaves, marbled dark green, golden veins
- Flowering: in winter on mature plants, small reddish-brown flowers edged with yellow, with a white lip
- Growth: slow
- Care: moderate
- Toxicity: non-toxic to animals
- Decor style: Urban jungle / Architectural / Collector
Each plant is unique: the pattern of the veins, their shade from pale yellow to gold and the marbling of the leaves vary naturally depending on the plant, the light and the age of the leaves.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.