Angraecum leonis is a stunning orchid species that can be found growing in the wild in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. As is typical of Angraecum species, Angraecum leonis flowers are white in colour and display a very glamorous air and appearance. Angraecum leonis is a miniature to small sized orchid that can vary in size. If you’re considering purchasing this orchid, ensure that a larger growing area can be provided if needed.
If you are partial to green flowers, you’ll love this orchid! Angraecum calceolus is a small-sized orchid species from Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Reunion Islands, and the Seychelles. This plant is larger than many of the orchid species I’ve listed in my various terrarium planting lists. Angraecum calceolus is unlikely to be a compatible choice for glass bottle gardens; a more substantially sized terrarium, vivarium, or orchidarium would be required to comfortably accommodate this orchid and provide a suitable home that will present itself as lasting and sustainable accommodation, as the plant develops and matures.
Phalaenopsis equestris f. alba is the white flowered form of Phalaneopsis equestris. Many of the orchids I write about are miniature or even mini-miniature sized; however, Phalaenopsis equestris is a small sized orchid species, which forms plants that grow too large in size for this orchid species to be considered for planting inside many terrariums and orchidariums.
Phalaenopsis pulcherrima alba is the white flowered form of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima. This is a small sized orchid species. Plants usually grow as a terrestrial or lithophytic plants; although Phalaenopsis pulcherrima alba can also be grown as an epiphyte.
Aerangis arachnopus is an orchid species from tropical Africa. In the wild, Aerangis arachnopus orchids grow as part of the ecosystem in evergreen forests in the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Zaire. Aerangis arachnopus plants are usually found in a range from 400m to 1000m above sea level.
Like many orchids, Aerangis arachnopus plants grow as epiphytes. Aerangis arachnopus orchids don’t grow in the soil, as terrestrial plants do; instead, epiphytic plants use their roots to attach themselves to the branches and trunks of trees.
Phalaenopsis sumatrana is a small to medium sized orchid species. Please note that I usually write about miniature orchids that are much more easily accommodated inside terrariums and orchidariums. If you want to grow Phalaenopsis sumatrana inside a terrarium or vivarium, you will need a very large enclosure to provide sufficient room for this orchid species.
The common name for this orchid species is the Sumatran Phalaenopsis.
Aerangis articulata is a miniature orchid species from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. These handsome orchids produce very decorative, pendent snow-white flowers.
This orchid species grows as an epiphyte. Epiphytic plants grow upon another plant; these orchids are not parasitic – they don’t take any nutrients or sustenance from the host plant they grow upon. Growing as an epiphyte is a useful strategy for this orchid species; Aerangis articulata plants benefit from the improved growing conditions and better air circulation that their host plants provide them with.
Aerangis collum-cygni is a miniature to small sized orchid species that grows in humid forests, moist woodlands, and rainforests. These plants also make themselves at home in areas that were once forests, in regions where the forest’s native trees were roughly removed to make way for the plantations that replaced them. Aerangis collum-cygni can be found growing as epiphytes in: Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and other areas across tropical Africa.
Angraecum cultriforme is an epiphytic orchid species from Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. These small sized orchids grow in evergreen forests and thickets, they’re often found growing near rivers. Angraecum cultriforme plants grow as an epiphytes; these orchids tend to grow near the base of a tree, close to ground level, but plants also grow upon twigs and small branches.
Aerangis seegeri is a miniature orchid species from Eastern Madagascar and Nosy Boraha, a small island located near the East Coast of Madagascar (Nosy Boraha used to be known as île Sainte-Marie). These orchids grow in the coastal forests of these plant rich areas, at a range of altitudes from as low as sea level, to as high as 1500m above sea level.
Angraecum arachnites is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which is endemic to Madagascar, where plants can be found growing in humid, evergreen forests.
This orchid species produces really striking flowers, they’re quite large in size and are white in colour. The blooms look rather like floral spiders, they have long and slightly twisting, curved extensions, which look rather like spider’s legs.
This is a natural form of Phalaenopsis that’s found in the wild, in Thailand. Phalaenopsis thailandica f. aurea is the yellow flowered form of Phalaenopsis thailandica. This miniature sized orchid species is often known simply as Phalaenopsis thailandica Yellow Lip, a reference to the plant’s yellow and white blooms. The contrast in this orchid’s flower’s colouring is the only difference between the two forms of this orchid species.
Lemurella culicifera is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species that can be found growing in the Comoros Islands and in the West and South Western regions of Madagascar. Plants from this orchid species grow in thickets and in dry forests, in areas that range from just above sea level, all the way up to 1500m above sea level.
This is a floriferous orchid species; plants produce rather cute, small green coloured flowers, which are often borne in numbers.
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.
Aerangis mooreana is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which originates from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. This orchid can be found growing on the branches of trees, growing on fairly low-lying ground, in humid forests. Aerangis mooreana produces pendent flowering stems holding a number of attractive white flowers, which hang below the plant.
This miniature orchid is an epiphyte – a plant that grows upon another plant.
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.
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.
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.
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.
