Orchid of the Week

10th December 2025 - Isabelia pulchella

For our second Isabelia of the week we have Isabelia pulchella. This is an orchid that grows with a miniature scale - small pseudobulbs, short terete leaves and pretty little flowers - but it is not a miniature orchid as shown by photo 1.

This lovely orchid is very vigerous and forms a mass of roots and pseudobulbsfrom which a profusion of pink flowers emerge in mid winter (one from each of the leading bulbs)

Like its close relative Isabelia virginalis, Isabellia pulchella is native to the cloud forest in the Mata Atlantica and enjoys growing cool and moist in our Cloud Forest Greenhouse (min 12C) and the roots that dangle in the air appreciate regular spraying. As we have said before, we have explored this habitat and it has a much dryer winter than summer which we replicate for plants in the greenhouse but never allow the pseudobulbs on Isabelia pulchella to shrivel.

8th December 2025 - Isabelia virginalis

As you know we love miniature orchids and one of the most charming is this gorgeous species native to Brazil.

There is little information about the species on the internet but an article in the 1919 edition of Curtis's Botanical Magazine is enlightening. It describes the discovery of the species in 1837 in the Organ Mountains, Brazil - although it was at that time described as a Maxillaria. We can understand the mistake since the growth habit is similar to miniature Brazilian Maxillarias but 8 pollinia and the flower details very much put it in the Cattleya family.

In 1877 Barbosa Rodriguez (possibly Brazil's greatest botanist) created the genus Isbelia just for this species and correctly put it the Cattleya family. Isabelia virginalis has now been joined by two other orchids in Isabellia and we have both of them in our collection.

Anyway, having dealt with the history Isabelia virginalis is a really special species. As well as being tiny with beautiful flowers it grows an unusual net like structure protecting its pseudobulbs. Although we can't find any documented research , the flowers are well presented for humming bird pollination with a large opening to below the column to give access to the nectar and the clearest pink target stripe to help birds find the nectar efficiently.

We didn't come across this species during our travels in the organ mountains but the 1919 report describes it as an epiphyte on trees knowing this habitat well we can assume that the species enjoys cool temperatures and a dryer winter (when it flowers) The terate leaves suggest it grows in good light and so we grow the species high in our cloud forest greenhouse (min 12C) along with its fellow miniature members of the Cattleya family from the Organ Mountains; Isabelia pulchella, Isabelia violacea, Cattleya witigiana and Cattleya coccinea.

These five orchid species remind us of our wonderful times in Brazil as well as making us wonder if we have gone over the top in growing 600 species in our collection.

We have pollinated the flowers shown in todays photographs and hopefully will have seedlings in the future.

29th November 2025 - Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. giganteum

We have two subspecies of the Australian orchid Dendrobium tetragonum and this is the larger growing and larger flowered subspecies - giganteum.

Giganteum is maybe a misnomer as plants are still quite small with pseudobulbs around 40cm long and beautiful large brightly coloured flowers produced in November and December.

The subspecies is reported native to North Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula where it is found at sea level to 700m suggesting that it would appreciate temperatures a little warmer than it we provide in our 'Cloud Forest' greenhouse (min 12C) but growing high in the roof where life is a little warmer and dryer seems to suit it very well.

New growths grow very rapidly during the early summer and we water well during this period. In the winter we keep plants much dryer especially during flowering which extends the long lasting nature of the flowers.

27th November 2025 - Coelogyne cobbiana

Late November in our 'Cloud Forest Greenhouse' belongs to Coelogyne cobbiana with its long sharply pendulous stems of fragrant creamy white flowers.

We have always known Coelogyne cobbiana as Dendrochilum cobbianum but Dendrochilum has recently been included in Coelogyne and the close affinity to the larger flowered traditional Coelogynes can be seen in this pretty flowers with their sulphur yellow lips.

Coelogyne cobbiana is endemic to the Philippines where it is found growing in wet forest above 1200m. We grow the species cool (minimum 12C) although in the past we have grown plants warmer where they do equally well as well as long as they are kept well watered. An unusual feature of this species is that it grows during the winter when a lot of cooler orchid habitats have a dry season but its Philippines habitat is wet throughout the year and we replicate this in cultivation.

The flowers are long lasting and fragrant with hints of vanilla so smell nicer than many of the ex Dendrochilum Coelogynes.

Plants flower small but develop into lovely specimens with their crowded pseudobulbs. The flowers emerge from the centre of new growths and our clone of cobbiana benefits from lovely dark green leaves that set off the flowers beautifully.

22nd November 2025 - Porroglossum sororcula

Porroglossum is a genus of miniature orchids from the Americas closely related to Masdevallia.

Our most unusual porroglossum is Porroglossum sororcula with tiny (4mm across) balloon like little flowers on thin stems.

The flowers remind us of upside down trisetella flowers (see trisetella cordeliae below) as the flowers of this Porroglossum are non-resupinate (the column is downwards not upwards)

As you can see, Porroglossum sororcula has attractive little leaves with dramatic patterning on the newest leaves. The species is endemic to Ecuador and though we cant find accurate habitat data we find that plants prefer to grow warm (min 17C) suggesting a native habitat of warm wet forests.

21st November 2025 - Stelis megachlamys

Stelis megachlamys is one of our larger Stelis species and is a medium sized plant with long pendulous flower spikes carrying deep red flowers.

The natural habitat of the species is damp forests and cloud forests from Mexico to Panama between 700m and 2400m altitude. This broad natural range supports our observation that this is an adaptable and accommodating plant to grow. It is an easy plant to identify when not in flower as the stiff leaves have a greyish hue common in plants that are a little more drought tolerant than others.

We grow this species mounted, in baskets and in pots in both our 'Cloud Forest Glasshouse' minimum 12C, our Himalayan greenhouse minimum 7C and indoors minimum 15C. We water plants well all year (every two days in pots and every day on mounts)

Plants flower when small but grows into a fantastic specimen like this plant here with over 300 dramatic dark red flowers. Flowering is very seasonal and autumn is not autumn without our greenhouses being full of these lovely flowers.

20th November 2025 - Gastrochilus japonicus

This miniature epiphyte is native to evergreen lowland forests in Japan, Korea and South East China where it is reported growing near streams.

Plants are vandaceous with leaves up to 7cm loing produces along a short stem. The flowers are 1.5cm across and produced close together on a short spike. The flowers have the typical Gastrochilus bucket like lip but are unusually coloured with pale yellow petals and red around the column.

We have tried growing the species both warm and cool and it definitely prefers to grow warm in our IKEA cabinets (min 17C).

It grows next to the closely related Gastrochilus sororius from Borneo (below) and both are flowering today. Can we call this 'Gastrochilus week'?

17th November 2025 - Stelis pusilla

We have 32 different species of Stelis in our collection of 600 species and so over 5% of our orchids are Stelis. One of our smallest Stelis is Stellis pusilla. This species is widespread across the cloud forests of South America and is found in the Mountains of Venzuela and Colombis in the North down as far as Bolivia and South East Brazil. We have seen the species in Brazil growing in cloud forest in coastal rainforest and it was one of the Brazilian Stelis that first inspried us to grow and appreciate this wonderful genus.

Stelis pusilla is a tiny plant with neat leaves about 2cm long including their stalk. The flowers are comparitively large (for a stelis) and are 2mm across on a sparse little spikes hels well clear of the leaves. The flowers of the species are variable in colour which is not a surprise given its large natural range. Our clone has an attractive dark centre.

We keep plants well watered throughout the year and shaded. Like most of our tiny species we grow plants mounted where they show off their lovely growth habit.

10th November 2025 - Cymbidium dayanum var. angustifolium

We have grown this species as Cymbidium angustifolium for many years. It was included as a synonym of the widespread and variable Cymbidium dayanum but has recently been separated again as a botanical variety of Cymbidium dayanum to reflect its distinct characteristics - dark red flowers, smaller growth size and smaller flower size

Cymbidium angustifolium is endemic to Borneo where it grows in warm lowland forest on Mount Kinabalu (Sabah). The habitat here is wet throughout the year and the species is reported growing low down on trees in evergreen forest.

We grow the species warm and wet throughout the year and find it flowers at any time during the year reflecting its natural habitat's lack of clear seasons.

Not surprisingly the species is also tolerant of shade and the plant shown here flourishes on a north facing windowsill.

In our opinion this species is the cymbidium best suited to growing as a house plant with its small stature and dranatic flowers. We also find the flowers are much longer lasting than the more usual and larger Cymbidium dayanum variety.

We find the species easy to grow from seed and have plants established out of flask that we will be selling over the next year or so.

7th November 2025 - Masdevallia ventricosa

Masdevallia ventricosa is one of our most floriferouis masdevallia species with this little mounted plant producing 14 cute little yellow flowers, with deep yellow tails, on delicate little stems.

Masdevallia ventricosa is endemic to Ecuador and is found in cool forest between 1450 and 2000m.

We grow the species both mounted on cork and in pots although its ascending habit is easier to manage on a cork mount as here in our photographs. The species also has really attractive bright green leaves.

We grow these vigorous plants low down in our Cloud Forest greenhouse so that they stay cool and shady during the summer months as the leaves are a little vulnerable to heat stress in the height of the summer.

6th November 2025 - Epidendrum nocturnum

This member of the Cattleya family is very different to the two previos species with thin stems of alternate leaves and a giant terminal flower. Of course the flowers are different as they have evolved for a different polinator. The bright red flowers of Cattleya cernua are evolved for hummingbirds while Epidendrum nocturnum is evolved for its large hawk moth pollinators with white lipped, night fragrant nectar rich flowers.

We have seen Epidendrum nocturnum flowering in its hot seasonally dry lowland habitat in Guatemala. We found it flowering in open woodland near the road as an epiphyte low on the trunk of a tree, in some shade, with no moss present.

In cultivation we replicate natural conditions by growing plants warm and bright in our IKEA cabinets although plants quickly become quite large. The plant shown is first flowering from our own seed and the species flowers quickly from seed, taking about four years. Although the natural habitat is very seasonal we water throughout the year but maintain good drainage. We find that the species is little trouble either potted or mounted but resents cool or over wet conditions when growths can rot.

5th November 2025 - Cattleya cernua

Continuing the theme of miniature Cattleya species we have another Brazilian wonder - Cattleya cernua.

We first knew this species as Sophronitis cernua before Sophronitis was included in Cattleya, and S. cernua was the type species for the genus. Unusually for a 'Sophronitis' this species is warm growing and is found in woodland close to the sea along the Atlantic coast of South Eastern Brazil. We have explored this habitat and it is a dryish spikey forest with smaller trees and good light. Plants like Cattleya cernua survive in this habitat by growing low down on the trunks of trees where they get a little more shade and can hold onto more moisture.

In cultivation we grow Cattleya cernua indoors in our IKEA cabinets (min 17C) and mounted so that plants have perfect drainage and can crawl around their mount with growth sticking tight to the bark. We spray every day or every other day but with bright grow lights the plants dry out well in between waterings.

2nd November 2025 - Cattleya pumila

Regulars will; know that we are massive fans of small Brazilian Cattleyas, and one of the loveliest is Cattleya pumila.

Cattleya pumila is a compact species with 10cm stiff leaves topping stout pseudobulbs. The flowers are produced in Autumn from the centre of developing growths.

The large pink flowers are held well clear of the leaves and are long lasting as long as they are kept dry. We have three clones, two of the more usual pink colour and and almost white 'Coerulea' form.

Cattleya pumila is reported as an epiphyte in humid forest along rivers in the state if Minas Gerais which is inland from the areas of Brazil we have explored in Rio de Janeiro and where it receives less rainfall than the coastal mountains. Plants are found from 600 -1300m altitude.

We find that in cultivation plants enjoy regular watering but excellent drainage, and ideally suited to growing mounted. We grow plants near the top of our cloud forest greenhouse where plants are a little dryer and warmer than other plants.

We find that plants resent too much moss around their roots and we remount and split plants if moss takes over the mounts. After flowering when growths mature we give plants a dryer winter rest but make sure that plants don't shrivel.

31st October 2025 - Cymbidium tracyanum

We have returned from Borneo to a greenhouse full of happy flowering orchids - Thank you Steph, Izzy, Elora and Steve.

I was very excited to see the first flowering of one of our seedlings of Cymbidium tracyanum. This is an orchid I have grown right from the early days of my orchid interest. The large flowers are very fragrant and have the most wonderful spots and hairs.

Cymbidium tracyanum is found across a wide range from North east India through South East Asia. We have explored its habitat in Arunachal Pradesh where it grows in cool evergreen monsoon forest from 1200-1900m which is a little lower than other cymbidiums such as Cymbidium hookerianum and as a result Cymbidium tracyanum is a more heat tolerant and easy in cultivation.

We grow our plants in our 'Himalayas Greenhouse' with a minimum of 7C, with wet summers and dryer winters reflecting the plant's natural habitat.

21st September 2025 - Barbosella gardneri

Autumn is Barbosella season at Isle of Portland Orchids and today we have One of our two really tiny species. Both Barbosella gardneri and Barbosella dusenii (photo below) have tiny leaves 4mm long but Barbosella garderi has much larger elegant flowers on the thinest of stems.

Barbosella gardneri is native to the Mata Atlantica Forest in Southern East Brazil and is found in cloud forest on coastal mountains from 800m to 1600m elevation. We have come across Barbosella species in the mountains around Macae de Cima in Rio State finding them in ancient primary forest at 1200m where they use their creeping habit to encircle branches in the lower canopy.

In cultivation we grow all our barbosellas mounted on cork bark where their tiny leaves can spread across the surface and root as they go. The wonderful floriferous display results from their habit of flowering from old and new leaves.

We grow plants in a shaded spot in our cloud forest greenhouse min 12C which matched the environment we explored in Brazil. We spray plants with water daily (twice a day in hot weather) and feed up to 500 microseimens in the summer months.

18th September 2025 - Bulbophyllum frostii

We have had this orchid in our collection since the 1990s and it is still lovely each year when its little clog like flowers open.

Bulbophyllum frostii is native to Vietnam and Southern China where it is recorded at around 1500m. We have explored similar habitat in nearby Laos where plants experience warm wet summer and dryer cooler winters. We grow the species high in our cloud forest greenhouse where conditions above our Masdevallias as bright and warm.

Plants are compact with neat bulbs and fleshy leaves and seem to enjoy growing mounted or in baskets where they can twine around. In pots they have a tendency to walk out of the pot and try to grow with their neighbour.

17th September 2025 - Masdevallia wuelfinghoffiana

We have another gorgeous Masdevallia for you today. The name may be a bit of a mouthful but this small growing Masdevallia is gorgeous.

Masdevallia wuelfinghoffiana had really colourful flowers and these are 3cm wide and 3cm tall if you ignore the thin tails that tend to fold backwards.

The leaves are 6cm long and so the 8cm flower stems hold the flowers clear of the leaves.

Masdevallia wuelfinghoffiana is endemic to Ecuador and first collected in 1997 at an altitude of 1800m (see original species description here) so at home in our cloud forest greenhouse (min 12C) although it would also grow a little warmer.

15th September 2025 - Masdevallia andreettana

Today we have a miniature Masdevallia. Masdevallia andreettana is endemic to South East Ecuadorwhere it grows in cool wet forest.

The plant had attractive dark green rounded leaves about 3cm long and large waxy white flowers with were a particularly swept back dorsal sepal.

The tiny petals have a striking dark red stripe and the lit has ends in an unusual wharty red spot. The flowers are held well clear of the leaves on a stout stem making for a very attractive plant.

As you can see we grow the species mounted and to provide the conditions it enjoys grow plants very low down in the greenhouse and spray with water every day.

The flowers are very long lasting too - a lovely species.

14th September 2025 - Andreettaea claviculata

Our second miniature is this delightful species endemic to Ecuador. Andreettaea claviculata is a tiny plant with leaves 1cm long but the flowers are comparitively very large and dramatic.

The species grows in wet forest at 2200-2400m and in cultivation enjoys a damp shady spot low down in our Cloud Forest greenhouse (min 12C). As you can see our stock plant is mounted but we would expect plants to also thrive in small pots or baskets.

The flowers are long lasting and tougher than they look. We are excited to see how it develops as it is very floriferous and a specimen plant will be a sight to behold.

This species was first described in the 1980's as Pleurothallis claviculata and spent time as Specklinia claviculata before molecular analysis moved it to its current home in Andreettaea

9th September 2025 - Brachypeza uniflora

It is miniature orchid week here at Isle of Portland Orchids and we have some real treats for you from amongst our flowering orchids.

The first is Brachypeza uniflora that we used to grow under the name Pteroceras uniflora. This tiny species is related to Phalaenopsis and lives in similarly enjoys warm lowland forests. It is reported as endemic to Vietnam though may well be present in Laos too. The lowland forests we have explored in Laos are very seasonal with quite a long dry season in the winter followed by a hot dry season before the summer rains arive. The thick roots and terete leaves of the species show how it copes with these conditions.

In cultivation we water plants throuout the year (it doesnt seem to need a dry rest to flower) and keep plants in our Ikea cases at a minimum of 18C. The species is well suited to mounting as it is tiny although the flowers are really large compared to the plant at about 1cm across. The flowers are long lasting and have a sweet peppery scent.

3rd September 2025 - Coelogyne fragrans

We have some stunning Coelogynes amongst our September flowering orchids and my personal favourite is Coelogyne fragrans.

Coelogyne fragrans is a elegant species, native to Papua New Guinea with large flowers produced over a long time. It is reported in montane forests from 100 to 2000m which suggests it can thrive in a wide range of temperatures but with us it definitely prefers it cool and we find that plants do best in our Himalayan greenhouse (min 7C). The species flowers from early Summer right through to Autumn.

Flower spikes emerge from the centre of new growths and each carry two to four flowers that open together giving a really dramatic display.

We have tried growing plants warmer but plants grow smaller thinner bulbs and have less flowers per stem.

We find that plants enjoy really heavy watering as the growths develop over the summer.

1st September 2025 - Platystele stenostachya

September has arrived and our greenhouses are full of flowering orchids despite this still being the height of the tropical growing season.

One star plant is our specimen sized Platystele stenostachya. I say specimen but as you can see the plant that has been on its mount for many years still fits comfortably in the palm of my hand.

The tiny flowers have a dramatic orange lip and are produced in profusion on short flower spikes. The spikes continue to produce flowers over a very long period and so this plant will be in full flower right through the winter.

Platystele stenostachya is found all the way from Mexico in the north to Peru in the South and has been reported from sea level up to 1700m. With such a range is not surprisingly that Platystele stenostachya is a variable species in terms of flower colour and shape. We also have a yellow lipped form. The species is almost always in flower and a really interesting addition to any collection.

We grow this species in mounted and in pots in our 'Cloud Forest Glasshouse' minimum 12C and water well all year (every day and sometimes twice a day)

28th August 2025 - Phalaenopsis corningiana

Phalaenopsis corningiana is native to Borneo and in common with most of the Bornean species produces waxy fragrant flowers sequentially on short flower stems. The flower colour is variable and we are delighted that this first flowering seedling has particularly dark petals to complement the lovelybright pink lip.

We have not seen this species in the wild but it is reported to grow from 450-610m altitude in warm forests both on cliffs and the trunks of large trees.

You can see from the photographs that the species is small for a phalaenopsis although the leaves will get larger as it matures.

We grow Phalaenopsis corningiana with the rest of our Phalaenopsis species collection in IKEA display cabinets in our living room with a minimum of 17C (although plants would happily grow warmer) and supplementary lighting. The plant here is in a 6cm pot of course bark and we water every two days with rainwater and weak feed. The species grows very close to the equator and so grows throughout the year.

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