Dischidia Ovata Care Guide

Dischidia Ovata is a beautiful and unique houseplant that is relatively easy to care for. It has a life span of at least 5 years, though it will grow more vigorously with better care. In general, Dischidia can be kept in bright light indoors or outdoors on a porch or patio, but they will also tolerate some shade if needed.

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Dischidia Ovata
• Common name: Dischidia, Velvet Elephant Ear Plant, Dischidia Wallichii
• Origin: Tropical Asia and Northern Australia
• Indoor/ Outdoor plant: indoors, outdoors on a porch or patio
• Height, Structure: Dischidia Ovata grows as a groundcover and gets 4-6 inches tall.
• Temperature: Dischidia Ovata can tolerate both cold and some warmth. If the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 / 2C), they should be brought into a warmer room for the winter.
• Flower color: Dischidia Ovata does not flower.

How To Plant the Dischidia Ovata

Dischidia Ovata can be planted as a groundcover, in a hanging basket, or a container. Be sure to use a potting mix that contains organic material and is well-draining. They can also do well without extra fertilization, but if you choose to fertilize them once every two to four weeks during the growing season, it will help with their growth rate.

Planting Time

When you first purchase Dischidia at the store, they will be in a pot with dirt in it. It is best to plant them within one week of bringing them home for the best results. When considering planting, you should also consider that Dischidia will grow faster with more sunlight.

Dischidia Ovata does not need much pruning or special care to stay healthy. If you want to encourage new growth, stick the top of cuttings in water until they sprout roots and then plant them outside. You can also re-pot them when the roots start to come out of the bottom of the pot, or they might eventually fail to grow all together.

Spacing

If growing as a groundcover, place them 9-12 inches apart from one another. If growing in a container or hanging basket, space the plants 12 inches apart from each other. The spacing will allow for the best amount of sunlight to hit the ground, allowing room for new growth. They must get enough sunlight because it is what makes them grow.

Light

Lighting is the most important factor for Dischidia. They should be placed in bright light but not direct sunlight, as this can scorch your plant’s leaves and cause it to wilt. Also, be aware that they can handle some shade, but not too much.

When the temperature gets hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 / 34C), some shade should be provided for these plants so that they can keep their leaves from turning brown or burning.

Soil

When choosing a potting mix, be sure to purchase one that has organic material, such as peat or composted bark. It should also contain perlite and vermiculite and be well-draining. When choosing the potting mix, ensure that it is sterile and has no weed seeds or fungus that could harm your plant.

How To Grow the Dischidia Ovata

Growth Habits

Also, make sure that there are no snails or slugs in the area growing your Dischidia. They can damage the leaves and flowers of these plants, which would cause them to die.

When considering fertilization, you should only fertilize during the growing season, which for Dischidia is springtime. They are slow-growing plants, so fertilizing them once every two to four weeks with a special orchid fertilizer will help their growth rate if needed.

Dischidias prefer an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21C), but they will still thrive in temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15C). Dischidia flowers are yellow or greenish-yellow, about 5 millimeters wide, and appear on stems that emerge from the base of the plant. The flowers are very delicate; take care when handling them.

Staking

In many cases, the roots of the Dischidia plant will grow through their pot and cause it to tilt. If this happens, place a stake in the middle of the pot and tie the main stem to it for support.

Essentially, Dischidia is a climbing vine that grows best when it has something to grow up. You can either provide a trellis or tie it onto something else, such as a tree trunk. It is important to remember that Dischidia can be very delicate, so you must take extra care when working with it.

Watering

Dischidia Ovata should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the needs of your plant. If they are grown in a container or hanging basket, they will require more frequent watering than planted in the ground.

When considering fertilization, you should only fertilize during the growing season, which for Dischidia is springtime. They are slow-growing plants, so fertilizing them once every two to four weeks with a special orchid fertilizer will help their growth rate if needed.

Fertilizing

If you choose to fertilize your Dischidia, do so once every two to four weeks during the growing season. If they are in a potting mix with good quality organic material and fertilizer already mixed in, you do not need to add anything else.

Fertilizing is not usually necessary, as these plants are very slow-growing. If you choose to fertilize, do so once every two to four weeks during the growing season. When considering fertilization, you should only fertilize during the growing season, which for Dischidia is springtime. They are slow-growing plants, so fertilizing them once every two to four weeks with a special orchid fertilizer will help their growth rate if needed.

Humidity

When it comes to humidity, Dischidia is not too picky. They can tolerate low levels of humidity or high levels of humidity. The conditions that they are placed in will determine how much humidity they need.

Mulching

Using mulch around your Dischidia plant can help retain water and keep the soil temperature constant. It also helps with weed control in the area near your Dischidia.

Trimming and Pruning

Dischidia Ovata does not need to be pruned or trimmed. If you would like, you can trim away dead growth anytime throughout the year with clean garden shears. However, this is usually not necessary unless you are trying to propagate more Dischidia plants from a single one.

Pot And Repotting

If you are growing a Dischidia plant in a container, either a hanging basket or a pot, be sure to use a well-draining potting mix. They can also do well without extra fertilization, but if you choose to fertilize them once every two to four weeks during the growing season, it will help.

Propagation

It is sometimes possible to propagate Dischidia Ovata by rooting stem cuttings in water. However, this method is unreliable and may take up to a year for the plant to develop roots. It will be necessary to pot the young plant when it finally has developed roots. This can be tedious and time-consuming, but propagation is possible.

Divide And Transplant

Dischidia can be divided into smaller plants once every three to four years if needed. Dig up the whole clump and gently separate it with clean garden shears if you are dividing your plant.

Pests And Diseases

Dischidia is not usually bothered by pests and diseases. If you find that your plant is getting eaten by gnats, scale insects, or mealy bugs, treat the affected areas with rubbing alcohol or insecticidal soap. Some gardeners have reported finding soft brown scales on their Dischidia plants and spider mites, but those are not common on these plants.

Plant Species

Noteworthy species

#1: Dischidia rafflesiana

The Dischidia Rafflesiana, also called “Dischidia Straita,” is the largest species of this genus. This species has yellow-green flowers that open in clusters and grow up to 40 inches (1 meter) long. It is native to Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Borneo, and the Philippines.
The “Dischidia Rafflesiana” is a great plant for decoration in hanging baskets or planters. They can grow quite large, which makes them ideal for indoor use as well as outdoor use.

#2: Dischidia Hirsuta

The Dischidia Hirsuta, also called “Dischidia Simplicifolia,” is a climbing vine that can grow up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) long. It does very well indoors and outdoors, making it great for growing in greenhouses and on patios.

The Dischidia Hirsuta is best grown using a potting mix with good quality organic material mixed in. It can tolerate low levels of humidity, but it prefers to grow in high humidity conditions.

#3: Dischidia Stellata

The Dischidia Stellata is also called “Dischidia Violacea” or “Dischidia Crescentioides”. This vine-like plant has beautiful violet flowers that open in clusters and grow up to 40 inches (1 meter) long. It is native to Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Borneo, and the Philippines.
The Dischidia Stellata plant is easy to take care of and does well with humid conditions. It has even been used as a common houseplant because it can grow indoors.

#4: Dischidia Vera

The Dischidia Vera is also called “Dischidia Argentea” or “Dischidia Coccinea”. This species has beautiful white flowers and can grow up to 1 meter (3 feet) long. It is native to Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Borneo, and the Philippines.

The Dischidia Vera plant is a fast-growing vine that does well in humid conditions. They can tolerate low levels of humidity as well as high light exposure or shaded areas. These plants prefer to be grown indoors as houseplants.

Companions

When it comes to plants, companions are plants that grow well together to produce a healthy environment. Some examples of great companions for Dischidia include Brassaia actinophylla, Pandanus, Bananas, and Moringas.

What are Good Neighbors?

Good neighbors are plants that do not have to be pampered to grow. But instead, they will help your other plants survive. Some examples of good neighbors for Dischidia include Alocasia, Hoya, and Philodendron.

Toxicity

Toxicity is poisonous or harmful. Dischidia is not toxic to humans, but it is best to be aware of any allergies you might have before placing them in your home.

Is the plant toxic?

The plant is not toxic to people. However, some people may be allergic to the plant, so please keep that in mind before placing it indoors. It is best to research allergies and make sure that you are not allergic to the plant before placing it in your home.

Is it toxic for cats or dogs?

This plant is not toxic for cats or dogs. It is important to double-check with your specific pet to ensure that they are not allergic to the plant before placing it in their area.