Pilea hitchcockii is a handsome little plant with attractive pointed leaves in intriguing shades of deep grey and chocolate-maroon, with tints of silver. There’s a real depth to Pilea hitchcockii’s leaf colour; the combination of complimentary colour tones and such delicate and pretty serration along the leaf margins is exquisite. I adore Pilea hitchcockii leaves!
This is a small, clump forming plant that thrives in bright but indirect light.
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.
Lepanthes aculeata is a mini miniature orchid species that produces bright and cheerful, red, orange and yellow coloured blooms. The flowers arise from the underside of a leaf; as the leaves are fairly upright they actually display Lepanthes aculeata’s flowers rather nicely.
I adore almost all Lepanthes species’ leaves, but I’m especially fond of Lepanthes aculeata’s foliage. These tiny leathery leaves are two toned: the top side of Lepanthes aculeata’s leaf is a lovely leafy-green colour, while the underside of the leaves are coloured in a very handsome tone of mauve and this side has a rougher bristly-looking texture.
Here’s another miniature orchid; this is Andinia schizopogon, an epiphytic orchid species that thrives in cool temperatures and humid growing conditions. In this orchid species’ natural environment, these plants can be found growing in the cloud forests of Ecuador and Peru.
Andinia schizopogon produces rather curious looking mauve-maroon, finely striped flowers that look rather whiskery! Plants can bloom at any time of year, given optimum growing conditions.
As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’. To prove this adage, here’s a teeny tiny orchid: Trisetella hoeijeri is an absolute darling of a plant. An impossibly cute, exquisite beauty; I promise that this magnificent orchid will touch your heart, lift your spirits, and make you smile!
Trisetella hoeijeri is a mini miniature, epiphytic orchid species from Ecuador.
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.
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.
Stelis stevensonii is a lovely miniature orchid species, which is endemic to Ecuador, where these plants grow in forested areas found at about 1600m above sea level.
This orchid species is epiphytic; instead of growing in the soil, in the wild, these plants can be found growing upon the branches of trees. In cultivation, Stelis stevensonii plants can be grown successfully in tiny pots filled with medium or large sized pieces of bark, or alternatively, plants can be mounted onto a piece of cork bark or wood.
Goeppertia veitchiana ‘Medaillon’ makes a magnificent houseplant. This exotic beauty produces these absolutely gorgeous oval leaves that feature stunning patterns of exquisite variegation; they remind me of the mesmerising images I saw through my kaleidoscope, during my childhood. The undersides of this Geoppertia’s leaves are just as striking, with their deep plum coloured backing.
This plant originates from Ecuador, it thrives in the warmth inside our homes.
Pilea microphylla is a low-growing tender perennial; it’s a native plant of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and nearby countries. This is a very small-leaved plant with teeny, tiny leaves that measure just 1-2mm (0.04-0.08″) in size. At first glance, Pilea microphylla looks rather similar to mosses or ferns. I am afraid that I am hopelessly in love with Pilea microphylla. This diminutive plant would be an ideal choice for an indoor fairy garden!
Callisia repens is a low growing, tender herbaceous perennial plant from Mexico, North, Central, and South America. Plants thrive in partially shaded conditions, in shallow, free draining, acid soils. This easy-to-grow plant readily adapts to a range of circumstances; tolerating both brighter and more shaded environments, as well as moist, humid, and drier conditions and neutral compost and soils; making Callisia repens a superb houseplant, thats hard to kill!
Masdevallia polysticta is a miniature to small sized orchid species that hails from the cloud forests of Ecuador and Peru, where plants grow in very humid areas, in the mountains. An epiphytical orchid species, Masdevallia polysticta grows upon other plants.
It’s important that Masdevallia polysticta plants remain moist and never dry out; they can be grown potted or mounted onto a piece of cork bark or other substrate, but this orchid species requires continual access to moisture if it’s to succeed.
Porroglossum schramii is a mini miniature sized orchid species from the humid cloud forests of Ecuador. Plants can be found growing in mountainous areas, in locations that range from 1500m to 1800m above sea level. Porroglossum schramii blooms regularly throughout the year. This orchid’s flowers are held up above the plant’s beautifully textured leaves. The flowers are very much like miniature Masdevallia flowers in their shape; this Porroglossum’s flowers are produced in a range of colours.
Restrepia cymbula is a miniature sized orchid species from Ecuador. The common name for this orchid species is the Boat Restrepia, a reference to this orchid’s narrow, curved, boat shaped bloom. Given the right care, Restrepia cymbula plants flower easily, they produce orange-red coloured flowers, which feature delightfully speckled markings.
Restrepia cymbula plants thrive in warmer growing conditions than the majority of other Restrepia species.
Restrepia mendozae is a miniature sized orchid species that can be found growing in the wild at round 1500m above sea level, in the The Cordillera del Cóndo mountain range, in the Eastern Andes, between Peru and Ecuador. This beautiful area needs our protection, as it’s a truly important habitat for a diverse and varied range of flora and fauna.
Given their optimum growing conditions, Restrepia mendozae plants flower readily.
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.
Ornithocephalus manabina is a miniature sized, epiphytic orchid species, which originates from Ecuador. This is such an attractive orchid species; plants produce delicate sprays of elegant, white flowers.
I love Ornithocephalus manabina’s fan shaped leaves, they are very useful and add architectural, year round interest to the terrarium. This orchid species will add enhance your enclosure, even when your plant is not in flower.
Masdevallia tentaculata is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which is endemic to Ecuador. Plants of this particular orchid species are really quite striking when they are in bloom, as this plant develops very tall flowering stems, the size of these flowering stems is especially impressive when you consider the small size of the plant that produces these soft yellow coloured blooms.
