Plant Category: Colombia

Spathiphyllum wallisii ‘Bingo Cupido’ (‘Spapril’) (PBR) is a regular sized Peace Lily plant that has been bred to produce larger sized flowers.  This plant displays a more floriferous habit with a greater number of flowers held during each flowering period, as well as more frequent flowerings.  Spathiphyllum wallisii ‘Bingo Cupido’ plants grow up to around 70cm (2.2ft) tall.

Grow Spathiphyllum wallisii ‘Bingo Cupido’ in a warm room, where your plant will enjoy stable temperatures that are unlikely to drop much below 15C (59F). 

I bought this endearing little plant about ten years ago.  For me this is a truly charming terrarium plant.  I adore Goeppertia micans leaves; their foliage may appear to be lovely, but fairly ordinary, plain green, narrow leaves, but when you touch this foliage it’s a delightful surprise to discover that these leaves are sumptuously soft!  The undersides of every leaf are smooth and silky, they feel like the softest velvet. 

Ranunculus flammula is an aquatic plant with beautiful shining-yellow, bowl-shaped flowers.  This plant’s common name is Lesser Spearwort, but it’s very much like a lovely buttercup to grow in a pond!  Ranunculus flammula can be grown in streams, ponds, lakes, or continually wet bog gardens; if you don’t have a pond, you could grow Ranunculus flammula in a container filled with rainwater. 

Yacon (also known by the botanical name Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a South American vegetable that produces large soft leaves and yellow flowers; it’s the large underground tubers that are formed at the base of the plant, which we harvest during autumn and wintertime.  The tubers have an astoundingly firm and crisp texture.  When they’re peeled and sliced, yacon tubers are semi transparent and have a very firm composition, at this stage they remind me a little of ice!

Maxillaria acutifolia is a small and compact orchid species from: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Venezula, Trinidad and Tobago.  From winter to springtime, mature Maxillaria acutifolia plants produce these very cute yellow-orange coloured flowers, which are fragrant and have a nice scent.  The blooms are held low down at the base of the plant, underneath the leaves; however the blooms aren’t completely obscured and the flowers can be easily admired.

Platystele misasiana is a mini miniature orchid species that’s endemic to Colombia.  In the wild, Platystele misasiana can be found in forests at around 200m above sea level.  These orchids grow in Colombia’s cloud forests, where they enjoy cool, moist, and shady growing conditions.

This is an epiphytic orchid species with a naturally compact and bushy form.  I often think of Platystele misasiana as being an orchid with a graceful air and poise, as the plants grow and hold themselves so elegantly. 

Stelis tridentata is a miniature orchid species that grows as an epiphyte – instead of growing in the soil – this orchid grows upon other plants.  In the wild, Stelis tridentata plants can be found growing upon trees in the rainforests of Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.  Stelis tridentata grows in cloud forests, where these plants flourish in this humid environment.

Pilea microphylla is a low growing tender perennial; it’s a native plant of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and nearby countries.  A very small-leaved plant, with leaves measuring just 1-2mm (0.04-0.08″) in size; at first glance, Pilea microphylla looks quite similar to mosses or ferns.  This diminutive plant would be an ideal choice for an indoor fairy garden!

Plants thrive in a humid environment; Pilea microphylla is an ideal plant to include in a terrarium. 

Porroglossum echidna is a mini miniature sized orchid species, from the cloud forests of Colombia and Venezuela.  Plants grow at a range of locations in these mountainous regions, at heights from between 2500m and 3200m above sea level.

This cute little orchid species flourishes in very humid environments; it’s perfectly suited to growing inside a terrarium or bottle garden, or another enclosure where the humidity levels remain at 75%RH and above. 

Ilex is the latin name for the genus of plants we often refer to as hollies.  This is an interesting and diverse group of plants, that includes evergreen and deciduous plants, that form small shrubs, tall trees, and everything in between – depending on the Ilex species or cultivar grown.

Ilex are native plants of the United Kingdom, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Americas, China, North America, South East Asia, and other areas around the globe.

Porroglossum muscosum gets its genus name – Porroglossum – from the Greek for ‘far, far away’ and ‘tongue’ – a reference to these plants flowers’ distinctive lip.  While the specific epithet, this plant’s species name – muscosum – means mossy – a reference to the plant’s hairy flowering stems.  This is a miniature orchid species that grows both as an epiphytic orchid – on other plants, and as a terrestrial orchid – when it grows on the forest floor, often in leaf litter. 

Oxalis tuberosa is more commonly known as Oca, in the UK.  One of the traditional Inca crops, Oxalis tuberosa is also known as the New Zealand yam; Oxalis tuberosa has many other common names, at least one in each of the countries that grow this vegetable.  This is an easy to grow vegetable, that produces small, cream, pink, red, orange, or peach coloured tubers, which have a taste that is somewhat similar to potato, when cooked. 

Lepanthes telipogoniflora is such a tiny little mini miniature, epiphytic orchid species.  This orchid is small enough for any size of terrarium!  Lepanthes telipogoniflora is endemic to Colombia, where the plant grows as an epiphyte on trees growing in cloud forests.  This orchid species is usually found low within the forest canopy, in very humid, wet, and shaded conditions.

Lepanthes telipogoniflora produces leaves that grow to a maximum of about 1cm (0.3″) in size. 

Masdevallia nidifica is a miniature epiphytic and lithophytic orchid species, which is widespread: this species originates from Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, where this plant can be found growing in areas of mountainous forest and cloud forests.

Given cool to intermediate temperatures, a shaded environment and a moist environment Masdevallia nidifica is a reliable and floriferous orchid species.  This plant requires very high humidity and constant growing conditions all through the year to succeed, when it will grow into a rewarding plant that can flower at any time of year.

Potatoes can be planted and grown in the soil, but don’t worry, if you don’t have the ground available, you can grow your own successful harvest of potatoes in a container.  I have grown potatoes very successfully in various different containers, including an old bin, which worked exceptionally well!  Tall containers, like old plastic bins, take up less room and can grow a greater crop than shallower containers like regular garden pots. 

Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘White Tiger’ (PBR) is an evergreen perennial, a tender plant that is suited to growing indoors as a terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden plant.

Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘White Tiger’ grows best when it’s planted in moist, well drained soil or compost, in a warm (15C – 27C (59F to 80F)), humid environment, under low light levels. 

Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Joly Josan’ (PBR) is a small, spreading, tender plant that thrives when it’s grown in a shaded location, in moist, but well drained, compost, in a humid environment.  This Fittonia is an ideal bottle garden, terrarium, or vivarium plant.

Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Joly Josan’ (PBR) is a small, creeping, tender plant, that grows to about 15cm (6 inches) in height. 

Fittonia albivenis ‘Mosaic White’ is often known by the plant’s common name of the nerve plant – this name references the leaves of this tender plant’s white veining, which stands out against the lovely green of this plant’s leaf.  Fittonia albivenis ‘Mosaic White’ is an attractive, easy to grow plant, which will help to brighten up any terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden.

Epidendrum porpax is an epiphytic orchid species that originates from Colombia and Venezuela, where this miniature sized plant can be found growing on trees in areas of humid forest.  Epidendrum propax has a naturally creeping habit, this orchid forms spreading plant mats, that clothe the areas of the oak and pine trees that this orchid grows upon.

Epidendrum porpax is a fairly tolerant, easy going orchid, however this miniature orchid species favours intermediate to warm temperatures, with bright, filtered, diffused light, and high humidity.  

Spathiphyllum wallisii is known widely by its common name of Peace Lily.  This is such a charming name and very fitting, as the flowers appear like a white flag for peace or a candle of hope.  In Europe, Spathiphyllum wallisii is often grown as a houseplant.  This versatile species originates from Colombia and Central America.  In Spathiphyllum wallisii plants’ natural environment, this species’ flowers are very popular with butterflies.