We are delighted that one of our all time favourite miniature orchids is opening three flowers today – just in time for the RHS London Orchid Show.

Trichoglottis pusilla is native to Java where it gorws in rain forest from 1000 to 2000m altitude. It is a true miniature with a leaf span of 5cm but large dramatic flowers which hang down from the plant.

We grow this species mounted in Warm Asia where it lives high up but shaded on a mesh frame that allows good air movement but easy spraying with rain water and feed every day. Since mounting it is developing the extensive root system typical of plants evolved for habitats with seasonal dry periods where most of the mass of the plants is roots rather than leaves and so loss of water through transpiration is kept to a minimum.

Pusilla means tiny and so this is the tiny Trichoglottis but it is getting bigger with time. Last year this plant had two flowers (see photo from last March below) and the leaves are getting a little larger too.

What ever your orchid it is very useful to assess your growing by looking for improvements in flower count and leaf size.