Pleurothallis portillae

A small epiphyte endemic to the cloud forests of Ecuador, producing solitary flowers directly on the surface of the elongated, fleshy leaf. The large concave dorsal sepal is veined in warm brown-gold over a cream ground, while the deeply concave, bilobed lip is a striking glossy purple-black — a bold contrast against the pale yellow-green petals and divergent lateral sepals.

• Light: Bright indirect light with 50–70% shade cloth; avoid direct sun exposure.
• Temperature: 50–68°F (10–20°C); a Cool to Intermediate grower. Tolerates brief dips to 45°F (7°C) if kept dry.
• Humidity: 75–90%; maintain consistently high humidity with good air movement.
• Watering: Water thoroughly and allow the mount or medium to approach dryness between waterings; avoid prolonged root saturation.

Additional Notes

Best grown mounted on cork or tree fern; a small net pot with fine bark also works well. A slight nighttime temperature drop encourages blooming. Plants are shipped bare root and well-established.