Specklinia costaricensis

Specklinia costaricensis has flowers similar to Specklinia gracillima but plants are smaller and much slower growing. Plants form a ball over time rather than the more spreading nature of Specklinia gracillima.

This charming miniature is native to the cloud forests of Costa Rica (as the name suggests) and Panama at altitudes up to 1800m. We find it thrives both on our bathroom windowsill or in a shaded spot in our cloud forest greenhoiuse (min 12C). The small windowsill plant has three spikes of the characteristic pure yellow flowers while plants can make fantastic specimens over time as shown by the greenhouse plant. 

as you can see in photo 2. our windowsill miniatures are held in a carry tray which we find stops the plants falling over as well as providing perfect growing conditions with lots of little plants enjoying each others company (note Masdevallia paivaeana flowering next to Specklinia costaricensis) The window faces west and is shaded by a tree so is plants have light but not full sun. We water plants every couple of days with a pump sprayer.

In the greenhouse we grow the species mounted, in baskets and potted where it produces its sprays of small bright yellow flowers sporadically throughout the year.

Patience is needed as the plant is slow to make a specimen but the wait is wel worth it. We have plants of this lovely species available on our ETSY shop too.

We used to grow this species under the name Pleurothallis costaricensis.