Restrepia lansbergii Rchb.f. & H.Wagener

Lansberg's Restrepia

Moderate careEpiphyteNon-toxic10–15 cm

Restrepia lansbergii is a miniature epiphytic orchid from the cloud forests of Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, where it grows on mossy tree branches at elevations between 700 and 3,000 m in cool, mist-drenched montane air. Each plant is built around a slender erect stem called a ramicaul — a single-leafed structure characteristic of the Pleurothallid orchid group — topped by a stiff, elliptic leaf that is distinctively purple-tinged on the underside. From the base of this leaf, it sends out delicate 3–6 cm inflorescences bearing small but intricate white flowers spotted with purple; in good conditions these can appear in any season, making it one of the more reliably free-blooming miniature orchids available. In cultivation it does best in cool-intermediate temperatures (10–24 °C) with very high humidity and consistently moist roots — making it a natural fit for a closed terrarium or orchidarium, where stable moisture and filtered shade replicate its cloud-forest home.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Lansberg'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 – 24°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 lansbergii 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 lansbergii Rchb.f. & H.Wagener (accepted name, first published Bonplandia (Hannover) 2: 23 (1854); family Orchidaceae; native range NW. Venezuela to N. Central Peru; epiphytic; wet tropical biome)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:655544-1
  2. 2

    IOSPE (orchidspecies.com) — Restrepia lansbergii Rchb.f. & Wagener 1854 (common name: Lansberg's Restrepia; distribution: Venezuela (Caracas), Ecuador (Pastaza, Tungurahua), Peru (Huanuco) at 700–3,000 m; miniature epiphyte with erect ramicauls; elliptical-ovate coriaceous leaves, purple beneath; inflorescence 3–6 cm, flower ~1 cm; white flowers with purple spots; blooms all seasons; cool to cold growing)

    https://orchidspecies.com/reslansbergii.htm
  3. 3

    Glass Box Tropicals — Restrepia lansbergii (excellent terrarium addition; medium size ~10–15 cm; medium-to-high moisture; does not like to dry out for long; mounted epiphytically on wood or rock; bright pink and white flowers; Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru)

    https://glassboxtropicals.com/restrepia-lansbergii/
  4. 4

    OrchidWeb — Restrepia lansbergii (cool-intermediate; low-medium light; year-round blooming; CITES Appendix II species)

    https://www.orchidweb.com/orchids/pleurothallidinae/species/restrepia-lansbergii
  5. 5

    Orchid Care Tips — Restrepias (genus care: max ~20 °C; 10–15 °F night temperature drop; humidity 70–100%; intermediate light ~2,000 fc; fine fir bark or NZ sphagnum; water when approaching dryness; keikis form at leaf base for easy propagation; orchidarium/terrarium ideal)

    https://www.orchid-care-tips.com/restrepias.html
  6. 6

    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