Looking for a new mini...

[Paul Mc]

I have already bought two, but would like to get one more.

I am looking for something that would be a relatively easy grower, clumping habit, and able to be kept and maintained in a 2 inch ceramic pot. If it needs to be watered and/or misted daily, that's fine by me.

Bloom wise, I'm not that picky but would like something with a relatively large flower in comparison to the plant itself if possible and something that blooms frequently or sequentially throughout the year. Fragrance is always a big plus but not necessary.

I just got a Scaphosepalum Verrucosum and a Porroglossum Dalstroemii. From my reading, I understand that these aren't necessarily easy growers though, so something that might be a little easier would be nice to weather me through learning about the other little fella's. The Porroglossum is actually just the right size follage wise - haven't seen a bloom against the follage to judge that yet though.

[ronaldhanko]

A Trisetella, perhaps a small Masdevallia like strobelii or hirtzii. Another option might be a small Dendrobium like laevifolium (very temperature tolerant).

[ronaldhanko]

On second thought, laevifolium's a bit big for a 2" pot. Maybe the hybrid, D. Illusion, sold by Mountain Orchids.

[Paul Mc]

Too funny, I was just looking at the D. Illusion and had bookmarked it as a possibility!

Thanks for the information Ron!

[Duane McDowell]

I'm with Ron on these. The Trisetellas are outstanding. Trisetella scobina has larger blooms than most of them.
Muscarella (Pleurothallis) megalops is another good one.
Masdevallia fuchsii is another good bet.
Best wishes!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Idk, I think Trisetellas are not the easiest minis of the bunch. I've found them to be more sensitive to drops in humidity.

I think Barbosellas make for easier growing. Then later you can work up to the larger species of Trisetellas. Take your pick of species, they're all large flowered for a mini (1" to 1 1/2"), and beautiful or interesting.

Even Dryadellas are easier to grow than Trisetellas, imo. My favorite is Dryadella cristata.

I tend to think that the Scaph verrucosum you own is pretty easy to grow.

The Porroglossum dalstroemii you have is the harder one of the two, but even then, it's not all that difficult to grow, imo.

[camille1585]

Dendrobium laevifolium.
Not sure how easy it is to grow, but it is considered the easiest of the oxyglosum group since it can take warmer conditions. They form nice clumps and in bloom a mature plant is covered in flowers (which are a bit less than 1 inch in size). Think it'll do in a 2-3 inch pot.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh!

Just thought of a cool mini Plths!

Plths ornata (aka Plths scheidei). Even if they're not brightly colored, they've got those cool little white tassels on the tips of their sepals. Flowers are about 1/4" wide.

[Paul Mc]

Wow, thank you for all the suggestions and thoughts guys! I have bookmarked this page for future reference.

I will say that I bought the Tristella Gemmata before I read the other comments about them. It's good to know that the other two are easier than I thought they would be, so perhaps those will be the plants that keep me motivated by flowering while I learn the harder Tristella, lol... Oh well, hindsight is usually 20/20 afterall.