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.
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.
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!
Chilli peppers (also known as chillies, chile peppers, and by their botanical names of Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum pubescens, and Capsicum chinense) are a group of tender vegetables that flourish in warm and sunny conditions. Gardeners can grow green, white, red, yellow, orange, purple, black, and indigo, coloured chillies. Chilli peppers are decorative and handsome plants that can enhance your garden as well as producing peppers to compliment your meals.
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.
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.
Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’ is a Fittonia that produces larger sized leaves than most Fittonia cultivars. This particular cultivar features leaves that are around four times the size of a Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Bambino’ leaf. The two plants are very similar in their appearance in all other respects; the obvious difference being the size of each Fittonia cultivar’s leaves.
Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Bambino’ is a cute little Fittonia. This particular cultivar is smaller in size than many other Fittonias, producing leaves that are around a quarter of the size of one of a Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’ leaf. The two plants are very similar in their appearance in all other respects; the obvious difference being the size of each Fittonia cultivar’s leaves.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ is an Old Fashioned Sweet Pea cultivar, which produces maroon and magenta bicoloured flowers.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ is similar in appearance to Lathyrus odoratus ‘Cupani’, the most noticeable differences being that Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ is a more recent cultivar, which produces up to four bicoloured blooms, which are slightly larger in size than those produced by Lathyrus odoratus ‘Cupani’.
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.
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.
Restrepia cloesii is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which is endemic to Peru, where this orchid grows in the rainforest, within a restricted range of the country.
Restrepia cloesii is a rare orchid, this is a newly discovered orchid species, found within a limited area of rainforest in Peru. It’s important to maintain and protect the wild growing plants of this Restrepia, and many other orchid species, to allow these orchids to safeguard their wild growing plant colonies.
Masdevallia amabilis is a miniature lithophytic or terrestrial orchid species, which originates from Peru. There are a variety of different coloured flower forms of this orchid species available: pink, red, orange, and purple flowered forms can be found.
Masdevallia amabilis tends to grow in a brighter environment than many other Masdevallia species. Much like other Masdevallias, this orchid species requires a very humid environment with cool to intermediate temperatures to succeed and grow successfully.
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. This is a tender plant that’s 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 but well-drained soil or peat-free compost. This is a tender plant that’s killed by frost and low temperatures; these plants need to grow in a warm (15C – 27C (59F to 80F)) room.
