Cischweinfia dasyandra

Cischweinfia dasyandra is a miniature with presence. Slim, glossy leaves rise from small flattened pseudobulbs, and short arching sprays carry delicate flowers in soft cream and blush, the broad lip flushed rose and veined like watercolour on paper. A member of the Oncidiinae from the warm, humid foothill forests of the Andes, it takes up almost no space, blooms readily on a mount or in a small pot, and is an easy, rewarding step into the world of miniature orchids.

Care Guide

• Light: Bright, filtered light. Comparable to a Phalaenopsis or light Oncidium, with no direct midday sun on the leaves.
• Temperature: Intermediate to warm. Days of 20-27°C (68-80°F) with nights around 15-18°C (59-65°F).
• Humidity: 60-80%, with steady gentle air movement to keep the fine roots healthy.
• Water: Water regularly with low-mineral water, letting the roots approach dryness but never staying dry for long. Mounted plants need daily attention in warm weather.
• Medium & potting: Fine bark with perlite in a small pot, or mounted on cork or tree fern with a thin moss pad if humidity stays high. Repot every couple of years as the mix breaks down.
• Fertilizer: Balanced orchid fertilizer at quarter strength with most waterings, flushing with clear water monthly to prevent salt buildup.

Grown in our Ecuadorian nurseries, where this little species grows in the same warm mountain air it comes from, each plant is hand selected and inspected before it ships. Give it warmth, humidity, and regular water, and Cischweinfia dasyandra will reward a windowsill or terrarium with sprays of finely marked flowers year after year.