Sophrolaeliocattleya Minibeau

This mini-Cattleya is a hybrid of Sophrocattleya Beautfort and Sophrolaelia Minipet.  The plant is less than fifteen cm tall and the flowers very large in proportion to the plant, around eight cm across.  It is one of the few hybrids I grow.

Masdevallia eurynogaster

Masdevallia eurynogaster is another species in the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias.  The flowers in this group are tubular, have glandular hairs on the inside of the flower tube, and have a "belly" at the base of the flower tube.  This species is from Ecuador and blooms on lax spikes that tend to hang over the side of the pot.  The plant is about 9 cm tall and the flowers about 4.5 cm from the tips of the tails.  This is the first time I've grown and bloomed this attractive species.

Zygostates multiflora

This miniature species belong to a group of orchids known as the Ornithocephalinae, all of them related to the "Bird's Head" orchids in the genus Ornithocephalus.  This species, as is the case with many other in the group, is from Brazil.  Its name is appropriate since it is indeed "many-flowered."  The plant itself is 3 cm tall with tiny psuedobulbs and leaves.  The flower spikes are 15 cm long and bear numerous, white, 5 mm flowers that are very intricate and have a shiny green tip to the column.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii bicolor

Purchased recently from Mountain Orchids, this seedling is blooming for the first time with three of its huge flowers and two buds.  Dendrobium cuthertsonii is a micro miniature species from New Guinea.  The plants are only a few centimeters tall and are almost hidden by the huge 3 cm flowers.  This plant with its bicolor flowers is the result of careful selection and breeding of the species.

Trisetella hoeijeri

This tiny orchid is related to Masdevallia and used to be classified with them.  It is native to Ecuador, grows at high elevations and requires cool temperatures.  It is named after its Swedish discover who found it first in 1990.  Because of its tiny size it is best grown mounted on a twig or small branch and needs good humidity and frequent watering.

The plant itself is only 2-3 cm tall but the flowers are 3 cm by 5.5 cm measured from the tips of the tails.  They have a sparkling texture and look like little white birds in flight.  The flowers are carried on thin wiry spikes that are about 3.5 cm long.  It blooms off and on year around but produces a flush of flowers in the late spring or early summer.

It is very different both in flower shape and color from most of the other species in the genus.  Most of them have reddish or purplish flowers with a rather cupped shape and are quite small in comparison to this species.  For these reasons the species is also one of the more desirable in the genus and was much sought after when first discovered.

Phalaenopsis Be Tris 'Zuma Nova'

This is really a switch from my previous posts.  This is not a miniature, is not cool-growing, is not grown in my orchidarium, but I thought I'd post it anyway.  It is one of only a couple Phalaenopsis plants I still have, including a couple of species, and is grown on a bathroom windowsill with a southern exposure and good strong but diffused light through the privacy glass.

It is blooming here for the first time and looks like it will have quite a few small but attractive flowers.  I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'll keep it or trade it, but will probably enjoy the flowers for a while first.  The flowers are only 4 cm by 5 cm but the plant is a typical Phalaenopsis and though probably not full grown is about 35-40 cm across.

The plant is a cross of Phalaenopsis Be Glad and Phalaenopsis equestris, and this particular clone has an award from the American Orchid Society, a Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS).  The cross was made by Krull-Smith in 1989, so it is quite old, but has quite a few awards, this one given in 2001.  As far as I can tell the flowers are not fragrant.

Masdevallia fuchsii

Here's another species in the Saltatrices group, i.e., tubular flowers with a "belly" and hairy glands on the inside of the tube.  This species is from Ecuador and is a miniature, only 10 cm tall, with flowers that measure 4 cm each way.  With its bright colored flowers, spreading tails and sweet scent, it is a favorite of mine.