A Lovable Little Lepanthes Orchid
For years, I’ve needed glasses to see small things. Despite that, I bought this lovable little Lepanthes orchid at February’s Pacific Orchid Expo. I knew that its blossoms would be tiny, colorful specks. A month after bringing it home, it popped open a flower, then another, and another. It’s kept going ever since. The charming blooms are not easy to see in detail, nor to photograph. But even without magnification, their burst of color makes them resemble petite pieces of candy.
Lepanthes regularis is a pleurothallid native to Costa Rica and Panama. Its blooms are a mix of brilliant burgundy, yellow, and pale yellow-green. Each mini blossom is only about 3/16 inch (5 mm) tall. Up close, their flower lips look like they have horns. I’ve been keeping my plant in a goldfish bowl with a glass plate cover. It’s potted in moss, and sitting on a layer of marbles with water below the flower pot. That keeps the humidity very high, like Lepanthes’ cloud forest homes. It’s in shade, and receives regular, dilute doses of fertilizer. Lepanthes can’t dry out. They need to be kept moist, but not soggy.
Curiously, even though these orchids are small, they constitute one of the largest plant genera in the world. There are over one thousand Lepanthes species, and frequently new ones are scientifically discovered. The genus ranges from Mexico to Brazil. Many varieties feature bright colors and unusual shapes. Fortunately, cameras and magnifying lenses make it easier to enjoy their lovely flowers.
Explore posts in the same categories: Growing, Intermediate Growers, Mini Orchids, Photos
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