This dramatic orchid was one of the first pleurothallis species to arrive in our collection in the early 1990s (as Pleurothallis secunda.) The species makes a medium sized plant that each winter produces a multitude of short pendulous flower stems that carry up to ten quite large (1.5cm) red and white flowers.

As you can see, our largest plant is now over 1m across and has hundreds of flower spikes – a really special orchid.

The species is found from Venezuela to Peru on the trunks of trees in wet forest. The habitat provides the key to successful culture where plants are straight forward as long as they are kept moist and shaded. Too much sunlight results in the leaves turning pale and developing black blotches so mounted plants, especially, are grown low down at school.

We have a number of divisions and the first of these are available at the shop.