Microcoelia exilis

This tiny leafless angraecoid orchid bloomed last summer with a number of flowers. It is a sequential bloomer and its blooming carried on for nearly two months. I have found it to be a vigorous grower in my warm vivarium with bright light at 2000fc. It gets watered daily year-round. Humidity is high, always 85% or higher and air movement is moderate, temperatures are 62-86°F/16.5-30°C. I would even call it "easy" to grow

This miniature species has a broad native range including DR Congo, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa.

My plant came from Botanica Ltd. It was propagated from stock originally imported from Isobyl la Croix.

The flowers are quite small and that macro is the best I can do with my non-SLR camera. The ruler is in cm.

 

Thanks, Mike! It was not an easy subject to photograph. You should go for this one; I bet it doesn't need a greenhouse (or even a proverbial one oke:, hehe). It's pretty hardy, as far as leafless species go.

 

I don't often hear praise for this species; I very much enjoyed your response. Next time I talk to my plant I'll pass on your compliments.

A year ago, I didn't think the roots would adhere much, but in the past 6 months its root mass has doubled (!!) and reached around to the back of the mount, as if there were a magnetic field forcing them to do so.

Of all the leafless angraecoids I grow, this is perhaps the most exuberant. It's main competition for speed and vigour is Solenangis aphylla (which I am soooo excited that I am finally going to bloom for the first time after 3 years of growing it!!).

 

Hi Gilles, they are really long! I just took at look at J. Stewart's entry for this species. She said M. exilis can have inflorescences up to 25cm in length, quite long.

 

Thank you. If I understand correctly, you grow your orchids outdoors? The leafless angraecoids really relish consistently high humidity; perhaps there would be a way to locally increase average humidity in a section of your growing area? Also, leafless like moderately bright light, equivalent to levels appropriate for Cattleya.

LOL.