Trichoglottis pusilla

[Neorchidist]

Here is one that I suppose could be placed under the Vanda alliance thread, but I will put it here under "Other Genera" since it is somewhat obscure. This plant normally blooms in December, but here it is June and it has a flower on it. Weird! This is Trichoglottis pusilla, a tiny little orchid from the island of Java. The 2 inch plant is growing mounted on a stick, and the flower is about the size of my thumbnail. It smells strongly of purple grape juice with just a hint of anise...a very pleasant fragrance. I took this photo on June 6, 2007.

[JUDIUK]

That is FANTASTIC! I just love the stripes, nothing to do with purple being my favourite colour of course! And to smell of grapes, PERFECT, Judi

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hey, that is cute. The little orchids really are quite something!

Cheers,
BD

[Molly Taco]

What a cutie little guy. The fragrance sounds wonderful
Cin

[Diane]

It looks great in the picture! I avoid the little guys, cause I have enough trouble not breaking the big ones!

[Petalsofsugar]

Oh what a sweet little plant. I am such a miniature nut, I think they are so adorable and they always give their all to the flowers.

Julie

[Mahon]

Great blooming! I have a couple plants of this species, but have not been able to bloom either one. Should I be placing them in lower temps. in low light, or higher temps. in low light?

-Pat

[Neorchidist]

Great blooming! I have a couple plants of this species, but have not been able to bloom either one. Should I be placing them in lower temps. in low light, or higher temps. in low light?

-Pat

I haven't a clue, lol. I've bloomed this plant several times in the past, but generally it blooms for me in November, December, or January. I'm not sure what is up with the June blooming. It is mounted on a stick with sphagnum moss around its roots. It gets bright light (about 4 inches from a bank of 42 watt 2700K and 6500K compact fluorescent lamps), warm temps, spray-soaked every time it dries out (which can be three or four times a day in my fan-cooled-but-still-warm artificially lit garden), and a lighting schedule which, although always an hour or two longer than the actual daylengths, does follow the natural daylength cycle throughout the year. I fertilize once or twice a week with a 1/4 to 1/2 strength solution of balanced nitrate-based fertilizer. I also use only distilled and/or reverse osmosis water. So I guess I would say I give it bright light, warm temps, a lot of water, regular fertilizer, and lighting that follows the natural daylength cycles in Michigan. Hope this helps!