Orchid 'Barbosella dusenii'

This orchid grows in a highly distinctive way in the Brazilian rainforest to which it is native. It produces tiny leaves on long, creeping rhizomes. Flower stems form on the rhizome at the base of the leaves and can be up to 4 centimetres long. They bear yellowish green flowers which are up to 5 centimetres in diameter. The lip of the plant is also yellowish green with some red.

This orchid does best at room temperature. With a sufficiently high level of humidity it can flourish in temperatures as high as 30 degrees Celsius. High humidity not only enables the plant to tolerate warmer temperatures. It also promotes better and more rapid growth. If cultivated in a terrarium, Barbosella dusenii must not be positioned too close to other fast-growing plants where it could soon be overwhelmed because it is so small. Like most tropical orchids, Barbosella dusenii is best grown as an epiphyte and kept moist but not wet. Regular feeding with orchid fertiliser at a quarter strength will encourage strong growth.