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. 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.
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; they’re decorative and handsome plants that are nice to have around.
Sweet Pepper plants (also known as peppers, bell peppers, Capsicums, or by their botanical name of Capsicum annuum) are tender vegetables that thrive in warm, bright areas. When all risk of frost has passed, these vegetables can be grown outside in the garden, but until then the seedlings need to be grown in a warm, protected environment. In early summertime, try growing Sweet Peppers in containers on a sunny patio or planted in a South facing border.
Courgettes, also known as Zucchini (and by the botanical name of Cucurbita pepo), are tender vegetables that are very productive and rewarding to grow. Courgettes vary from one variety to another; you’ll find seeds of yellow courgettes (like my plant in the photograph above), pale forms of courgette that are such a soft green they’re almost white, as well as light green and very dark green courgettes, and striped courgettes.
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.
Epiphyllum anguliger is quite an extraordinary looking cactus. This plant is also known as the Fishbone Cactus, the Rick Rack Cactus, and the Zig Zag Cactus, as Epiphyllum anguliger plants produce these marvellous leaves that display a mesmerisingly wavy, zig zag form.
It’s not only this plant’s leaves that are unusual. Epiphyllum anguliger plants are epiphytic. Rather than growing in the soil, or in the sand – which is where we think of most cacti growing, these epiphytic cacti grow at the top of trees, in the deciduous tropical forests of Mexico.
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.
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.
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.
Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’ is a Fittonia that produces larger sized leaves compared to 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’ specimen’s leaves. 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.
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 .
Salsola soda is a vegetable that’s also known by many common names, including: agretti, roscano, saltwort, Russian thistle, Friar’s beard, Monk’s beard, Barba di Frate, or barilla plant. Plants have a grassy appearance, with stems of needle like leaves, that grow up to around 60cm (2ft) tall, depending on your plant’s growing conditions. This is a mild but delicious tasting vegetable that adds a freshness, which softly and subtly enhances stir fries, risottos, and many other dishes.
Iresine herbstii makes a striking houseplant. Its distinctive red stems are complemented by nicely contrasting green leaves, with their attractive cream veining.
These plants thrive in warm, humid bathrooms. Mist your plant with water at regular intervals, to maintain a humid atmosphere. Iresine herbstii is a tender plant that requires protection from cold weather, draughts, dry air, and harsh, direct sunlight.
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’.
