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!
Angraecum sacciferum is a miniature sized orchid species that can be found growing in the wild, over a widespread area. This orchid species is a wild plant from many locations, including: Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tome, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Angraecum sacciferum grows as an epiphyte – when it’s found growing upon trees, and as an lithophyte – when plants are seen growing on or over rocky or stony surfaces, in wet areas, near rivers or streams.
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.
Oeonia volucris is a small sized orchid species that originates from the Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, and Mauritius, where this orchid grows in coastal areas. This is an epiphytic orchid – plants can be found growing upon the twiggy branches of trees, in areas of humid evergreen forest.
In the wild, this orchid species blooms from March to July. Oeonia volucris plants produce exquisite white, three lobed blooms, which are held on long, slender stems.
Aerangis kirkii is a miniature to small sized, epiphytic orchid species, that originates from South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique. Plants can be found growing upon both trees and shrubs in forested areas, close to rivers or near the coast line; this orchid species can be found inhabiting trees growing anywhere from sea level up to 200m above.
A warm growing orchid species, Aerangis kirkii requires filtered, diffused low light, or intermediate filtered, diffused light, combined with warm temperatures and a very humid environment to flourish.
Phalaenopsis pallens is a small sized orchid species that hails from the Philippines. This is an epiphytic orchid species that grows upon trees in forested areas of Palawan, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Mindanao. Plants thrive in warm to hot temperatures and high humidity.
The name of this orchid: ‘Phalaenopsis pallens’ means the ‘pale Phalaenopsis’, which refers to this orchid’s yellow coloured flowers.
Paphiopedilum henryanum is a rare lithophytic and terrestrial orchid species that originates from China and Vietnam. In the wild, these orchids grow on cliffs and in inaccessible areas. Paphiopedilum henryanum plants can be found growing on limestone rocks and in open, free draining soils.
Paphiopedilum henryanum was discovered in the 1980s. As is so often the case, I am sorry to say that Paphiopedilum henryanum is now a critically endangered orchid species.
Paphiopedilum fairrieanum is a terrestrial, lithophytic, and epiphytic orchid species that is often found growing upon rocks. Plants can also be found growing in gravel and leaf litter, alongside, and in amongst grasses, in India.
Paphiopedilum fairrieanum is a beautiful but now rare and critically endangered orchid species. These special plants have become increasingly threatened in their native environment, due to over collection in the wild, by collectors who sell Paphiopedilum plants to the horticultural trade.
Paphiopedilum esquirolei is an lithophytic, epiphytic, and terrestrial orchid species that originates from Vietnam, China, and Thailand.
Paphiopedilum esquirolei can be grown in a pot filled with an open, free draining, speciality orchid compost comprised of a mix of bark pieces, charcoal, and coconut husk.
Paphiopedilum esquirolei is often confused with Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum – of these two orchid species, Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum produces smaller flowers.
Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum is a lithophytic and terrestrial orchid species that originates from a large number of locations, including: Assam, Myanmar, Vietnam, India, Thailand, China, and Laos, where this orchid grows upon cliff edges, on rocks, in rocky soil, or in leaf litter.
Given the range of altitudes that this orchid species will flourish in, the varied growing conditions that Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum will succeed in, and the number of countries I have listed as this orchid’s homelands, you could be forgiven for thinking that Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum is an orchid which is commonly found.
Angraecum compactum is an epiphytic, miniature orchid species, which is endemic to Madagascar. This orchid species can be found growing across widespread areas of the country, in a variety of habitats, including humid forests, moist lowland forests, and rocky areas of ground. In the wild, Angraecum compactum can often be found in evergreen forests, using Philippia as a host plant.
These orchids produce large, white flowers, with long curved nectaries.
Phalaenopsis pantherina is a miniature to small sized, epiphytic, or lithophytic orchid species, which originates from the humid, mountainous forests of Borneo and Indonesia, where this orchid can be found growing upon the branches of trees and on moss covered rocks.
Phalaenopsis pantherina produces rather wonderful, zig-zaged flowering stems, which hold this orchid species’ eye catching flowers. This orchid’s wax like flowers display exotic looking spotted markings, which resemble the markings on a panther’s coat – hence this orchid species’ common name of the Panther-like-Phalaenopsis, the specific epithet of this orchid’s botanical name also references this similarity.
Angraecum pectinatum is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species that originates from Madagascar, where this orchid can be found growing upon the branches and trunks of trees, growing in areas of humid forest.
This orchid species favours growing under filtered, diffused light, in a warm to hot environment, where the humidity levels are high, and there’s constant air circulation and continual air movement around the plant and its roots.
Aerangis fuscata is a miniature sized epiphytic orchid species, which is endemic to Madagascar, where this orchid grows on the twiggy, moss and lichen coated branches of large shrubs and small trees, in rainforest and forested areas. Aerangis fuscata can be found growing in both lowland and upland areas.
Aerangis fuscata is a very attractive orchid species, this orchid produces glossy green leaves, which have a rather handsome reddish brown outline.
Aerangis calantha is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species that can be found growing in a variety of locations including: the Congo, Africa, Angola, and Uganda. Before humans encroached into and altered the landscape of this orchid’s natural habitat and environment, Aerangis calantha could be found growing upon the native trees of its homelands’ landscape. Sadly many of these indigenous trees have since been cut down and removed, to create more land for farming.
Phalaenopsis lindenii is an epiphytic orchid species, which is endemic to the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. This beautiful orchid is sadly now endangered, threatened by those who have taken wild plants to sell to the local and international orchid trade. Like many other orchids, Phalaenopsis lindenii is threatened by human activities. The increasing population in Luzon has led to greater housing construction in the areas where these plants grow.
Phalaenopsis pulcherrima is a terrestrial, lithophytic, and at times epiphytic orchid species, which can be found growing in a wide range of locations including: Vietnam, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
In its native environment, Phalaenopsos pulcherrima grows as a terrestrial orchid, in free draining, sandy soils. This orchid can be found growing in areas that enjoy both the shelter of trees, shrubs, and taller plants, yet receive bright sunlight and good air circulation.
Phalaenopsis pulchra is a rather charming epiphytic orchid species from the Philippines. The second part of this orchid’s botanical name – the specific epithet – is taken from the latin ‘pulcher’ which means beautiful. Plants produce vibrant, rather glamorous, shocking pink flowers which have a polished, glossy sheen. This is a very popular and beautiful orchid. Phalaenopsis pulchra produces vivid pink flowers that really have the wow factor, but this plant is very handsome even when it’s not in bloom, its smooth leaves are held with a certain elegance and poise.
Phalaenopsis inscriptiosinensis is an epiphytic orchid species from Sumatra, where this small to medium sized orchid can be found growing upon trees in forested areas. Phalaenopsis inscriptiosinensis plants produce quite striking flowers. The reddish brown markings displayed over the soft yellow coloured petals have a resemblance to Chinese lettering – this orchid species’ common name is the Chinese Character Phalaenopsis – which is very apt.
Phalaenopsis fasciata is a species of epiphytic orchid, which originates from the Philippines, where this small sized orchid species can be found growing on trees, alongside rivers.
Phalaenopsis fasciata is a small sized orchid, but it’s larger than many of the miniature orchids in my planting lists and may be too large for your terrarium. This orchid species requires warm to hot temperatures, bright filtered light, and high humidity, with a drier rest period during the winter months in order to flourish.
