Lepanthes gargantua

A large-growing species native to Ecuador, remarkable within the genus for its size. It develops broad, finely velutinous elliptic leaves and produces dense racemes of multiple simultaneous flowers from the leaf base, each with broad translucent ovate sepals forming a compact globose-concave structure and an elaborate central floral complex with bilobed petals and a prominent contrasting labellum at the opening.

• Light: Bright indirect light with 60–70% shade cloth; avoid direct sun, which can damage the velutinous foliage.
• Temperature: 50–65°F (10–18°C); a Cool grower that thrives in stable, cool conditions with consistent air movement.
• Humidity: 80–95%; maintain high humidity at all times — ideal for cool terrarium setups.
• Watering: Water frequently to keep the medium evenly moist; never allow the fine roots to dry out completely between waterings.

Additional Notes

Best grown in a small net pot with fine sphagnum moss or mounted on cork. Its large velutinous leaves and prolific dense racemes make it one of the most impressive cool-growing Lepanthes in cultivation. Plants are shipped bare root and well-established.