Renanthera monachica

Renanthera monachica is a dwarf member of the genus but still a robust and dramatic orchid.

The genus Renanthera is closely related to Vanda but plants are easily distinguished by their bright flowers and different lip shape evolved for their bird pollinators.

Many Renathera species are giant plants growing to several metres tall with an upright habit that allows them to scramble up through trees and reach the bright light that they enjoy. Renathera monachica is on a much smaller scale but as you can see our plant is already 60cm tall with a flower spike adding another 60cm, so not a miniature orchid.

In a healthy plant the flower spike branches and gives a wonderful display of exuberantly spotted orange flowers. The flowers are long lasting.

As I said, Renanthera monachica is warm growing and endemic to lowland forest on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. 

We have explored similar forests in Sarawak where the temperature is always in the 20s or 30s and although their is rainfall all year, the forest dries out soon after rains.

We have grown the species successfully in baskets but really love the way the plant grows and displays itself on a large cork mount.

The plant hangs in our growing cases in our living room (min 17C) with grow lights to supplement the light from a north facing window. You will notice from the photos that we have modified the IKEA dosplay cases by removing the glass shelves and adding weld mesh that allows us to hang mounted plants.

We water our plants most days with a spray of rain water and feed to 400-500 micro-seimens conductivity.