We are always keen to take specimen orchids to the RHS London Orchid Show and the cancelled show this week would have been perfect timing for this ‘miniature specimen’

The plant shown has now completely filled its 8cm basket and produces a multitude of little starry flowers about 2mm across from the bright green 2cm leaves. Does anyone fancy counting the flowers? I estimate that there are 107 flower spikes this year and that each has on average eight flowers open and another seven in bud. An amazing thing. When  it finished flowering it will be time to split it up and I hope that we will have over fifty plants in flower to offer in a years time.

This tiny miniature is native to cloud forests in Colombia at around 2000m and enjoys a shady spot with heavy watering throughout the year. The flowers are amazingly long lasting and we expect this plant to still be in full flower in two months time.

We grow plants successfully in pots and baskets and expect they would do well mounted to. Plants bulk up quickly so all in all a lovely little species to grow.

Two years ago the plant shown looked like this (photo below) showing just how quickly the species can grow when really happy.

Last year it was this big

We have seen several Platystele species in their natural habitats and most have been tiny miniatures but all have had charming starry flowers. The smallest species of orchid we have found on any of our trips was this Platystele compacta in Costa Rica. The whole plant is less than 2cm across.

Platystele compacta in Costa Rica