Plant Category: Mini-Miniature Orchids

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. 

Lepanthes matamorosii is a mini miniature orchid species from Costa Rica.  This incredible little plant produces brick-red-orange coloured flowers which are astonishingly large in comparison to the size of the plant; they’re very cute!

In the wild, Lepanthes matamorosii can be found growing in regions at around 2750m, in The Cordillera de Talamanca mountain ranges of south-eastern Costa Rica.  This is a wonderfully diverse habitat that’s home to a range of plants and wildlife, including oak (Quercus costaricensis and Quercus copeyensis) trees that are endemic to this part of the world.

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. 

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.

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. 

Microsaccus griffithii is a mini miniature sized orchid species from Borneo, Cambodia, Java, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam.  This gorgeous orchid is an epiphyte; it grows upon another plant and does very well when mounted onto a piece of cork bark, a branch or a twig.

This miniature orchid thrives in intermediate temperatures.  Place your Microsaccus griffithii plant in a position where your plant will enjoy soft, indirect light. 

Angraecum drouhardii is a mini miniature sized orchid species from Madagascar.  This is an epiphytic orchid species that grows on the trunks of moss covered trees, in mountainous regions of Northern Madagascar, at 1200m above sea level.

I love this dear little orchid, it’s a very sweet plant.  Angraecum drouhardii plants produce snow white coloured flowers which are positively ginormous in size, when viewed in comparison to the size of this diminutive little orchid. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Angraecum peyrotii  is a critically endangered orchid species that’s endemic to the Antananarivo Province, in central Madagascar.   Plants grow in a restricted area, in forests, from 1000m to 1500m above sea level.  This orchid species needs our help and protection to survive.  The plant’s habitat is threatened by logging; Angraecum peyrotii is at risk from people who are clearing forests in this area of Madagascar. 

Angraecum breve is a mini miniature Angraecum species that is endemic to Madagascar.  This tiny, epiphytic orchid hails from the Tsaratanana massif – a mountainous region, in Northern Madagascar.  Angraecum breve is a wild plant, from a wonderful area of the planet, which has been under threat from orchid collectors.  Sadly, the plants in this area have suffered due to human activities, destruction, and climate change.

Barbosella dusenii is a super cute, mini miniature orchid species.  These plants really are tiny.  Barbosella dusenii plants have a naturally low growing, creeping stature.  If you gave this plant just a cursory glance, you might think that this orchid has something of a resemblance to moss, as the two have a similarly prostrate nature in their growth and form . 

Aerangis x primulina is a natural hybrid between Aerangis citrata and Aerangis hyaloides.  This is a very handsome miniature orchid.  Plants produce beautiful, arching flowering stems, which I estimate, hold opposite rows of anywhere between five and thirty, (possibly more) stunning, small, snowy white coloured flowers.  Older specimens produce a greater number of flowers.  Aerangis x primulina plants’ flowers are smaller than Aerangis citrata blooms, yet a little larger than Aerangis hyaloides flowers. 

Macroclinium chasei is a mini-miniature sized orchid species from Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia.  Another epiphyte – a plant that grows upon another plant, Macroclinium chasei plants produce small, fan shaped leaves and tiny white flowers.  Macroclinium chasei originates from a wet and very humid environment.  This diminutive Macroclinium species grows upon the twiggy branches and trunks of trees, growing in hot, evergreen, tropical forests.

Leptotes unicolor is a miniature epiphytic orchid species that originates from Brazil and Argentina.  This is an easy going little orchid, that is happiest growing mounted on a branch, a stick, or a piece of cork bark; this miniature orchid favours growing in a location where the plant can bask in bright, but indirect light.  Leptotes unicolor flourishes in a range of temperatures, from cool to warm.

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.

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. 

Angraecum cucullatum is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species that originates from the island of Reunion and Mauritius, where plants grow upon trees, in forested areas of the country.

Cultivated Angraecum cucullatum plants need to be grown under filtered, diffused light.  This orchid species flourishes in warm temperatures, so it’s best to replicate the temperatures and conditions that this particular orchid species would experience in its natural environment.