Restrepia falkenbergii Rchb.f.

Falkenberg's Restrepia

Moderate careEpiphyteNon-toxic15–25 cm

Restrepia falkenbergii is a medium-sized epiphytic orchid native to the cloud forests of Antioquia, Colombia, where it grows on mossy tree branches at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m in the cool, mist-drenched Andean cordillera. Each plant consists of stout erect ramicauls — the single-leafed stems characteristic of Pleurothallid orchids — bearing an oval, leathery leaf from whose base slim 4–6 cm inflorescences emerge, each carrying a single intricate flower with a yellow dorsal sepal striped with brown and a narrow-waisted, fiddle-shaped lip; flowers emerge from the back of the leaf, a distinctive feature of the Restrepia genus. Blooms arrive primarily in spring and autumn, and in good conditions the plant flowers repeatedly. It does best in cool, consistently humid conditions (10–20 °C, 70–100% humidity) with filtered shade — making it a natural fit for a closed terrarium or orchidarium.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Falkenberg's Restrepia image

Photo by Orchi·CC BY-SA 3.0

Care

Light

Shade tolerant(preferred)Indirect light

Humidity

Very high (80%+)(preferred)High (60–80%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
10°C – 20°C

Soil

Sphagnum mix(preferred)Orchid mix

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Appearance

Growth habit

UprightClumping

Leaf shape

Oval

Leaf texture

Leathery

Distribution

Propagation

Like all orchids, Restrepia falkenbergii produces dust-like seeds that lack endosperm and cannot germinate without either sterile asymbiotic flasking on agar nutrient medium or the presence of a compatible mycorrhizal fungus. This is strictly a specialist technique.

References

  1. 1

    POWO (Kew) — Restrepia falkenbergii Rchb.f. (accepted name, first published Gard. Chron., n.s., 13: 232 (1880); family Orchidaceae; native range Colombia; epiphyte; wet tropical biome)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:655535-1
  2. 2

    IOSPE (orchidspecies.com) — Restrepia falkenbergii Rchb.f. 1880 (common name: Falkenberg's Restrepia; distribution: Colombia, Antioquia, central cordillera at 1,000–2,000 m; medium-sized epiphyte; stout erect ramicauls; single apical ovate leaf; inflorescence 4–6 cm; flower ~2 cm; yellow dorsal sepal with brown stripes; narrow-waisted pandurate lip; bloom season spring and fall; cool-growing)

    https://www.orchidspecies.com/resfalkenbergii.htm
  3. 3

    Orchid Care Tips — Restrepias (genus care: daytime max 18–20 °C, night 10–13 °C; humidity 70–100%; light 500–1,500 fc shaded; medium-fine fir bark mixed with NZ sphagnum; consistently moist; bi-weekly half-strength fertiliser; keikis form at leaf base; orchidarium/terrarium ideal)

    https://www.orchid-care-tips.com/restrepias.html
  4. 4

    Oak Hill Gardens — Restrepias (genus care: cool Andean cloud forest plants; daytime 18–20 °C max, night 10–13 °C; 70–100% humidity; shade preferred; fir bark + sphagnum; moist year-round; repot every two years in early spring)

    https://www.oakhillgardens.com/blog/restrepias
  5. 5

    ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Phalaenopsis Orchid (Orchidaceae family confirmed non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses; Restrepia not individually listed; orchids broadly non-toxic within the family)

    https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/phalaenopsis-orchid