Scaphosepalum rapax

Warty, weird and wonderful.  The Scaphosepalums are sequential bloomers.  I had seen pictures of the flowers of this species before, but never realized what size the plant is.  It's a real gem, compact and floriferous.

Lepanthes aeora

Lepanthes aeora, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

This is the first really mature Lepanthes in my collection. I got it from Orchids Limited here in the Twin Cities. It has been in bloom continuously for months now, and is always growing. It is a very vigorous plant. From Ecuador.
Also available from Ecuagenera at: http://www.ecuagenera.com

Porroglossum meridionale (lip up)

Porroglossum meridionale (lip up), originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

Porr. meridionale is one of my favorite orchids to grow. Beautiful pebbly leaves with red netting, sequential blooms several times per year, and great presentation. For me, it's been a very easy grower, doubling in size every few months.
The lip is "spring-loaded." When an insect lands on the lip, the lip snaps up, smashing the bug into the column. This dislodges the pollen onto the bug's back, and if the bug has already been on another flower, this bloom gets pollinated. The bug is released unharmed after this undignified treatment. It must be a good system - they keep coming back for more... Maybe its like a bug roller-coaster ride...

Lepanthes telipogoniflora

Lepanthes telipogoniflora, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

I just can't get enough of this one. Tiny little plant with massive flowers (well, fingernail-sized anyway). Grows easily and blooms all the time.

Lepanthes aeora (Side view)

Lepanthes aeora (Side view), originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

This is an everblooming and very vigorous plant. It's not terribly showy (except in close-up), but it's a joy.
I grow it on tree fern in the terrarium.
http://www.ecuagenera.com

Platystele orectoglossa - Ecuador

Platystele orectoglossa - Ecuador, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

Another nice miniature. I grow it in the terrarium on the cool side of intermediate. I love the blooms and how long it stays in flower. The spikes get a little rangy after a while - I cut them off when they start looking ratty.
This one came from Orchids Limited here in MN (http://www.orchidweb.com)
Originally from Ecuagenera (http://www.ecuagenera.com).

Lepanthes calodictyon

Lepanthes calodictyon, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

This is the most commonly grown of the Lepanthes species.  It is one of the easiest to grow well, and it blooms just about continuously.  It is, of course, grown primarily for its foliage.  I grow mine in a small chunk of tree fern that I've drilled a hole in.  I wrapped the roots in sphagnum and put them into the hole in the tree fern, so it's really like a small tree fern pot.
I grow on the cool side of intermediate in a terrarium.  I water daily.
http://www.ecuagenera.com

Lepanthes telipogoniflora

Lepanthes telipogoniflora, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

This is a newly discovered species from Colombia. It grows easily in intermediate conditions - purportedly it can grow warm, but my conditions are on the cool side and it does great there, too.
I love the huge flowers (relative to the tiny plant). If this were a full-sized cattleya, the blooms would be 18-24" across! Of course, then it wouldn't fit in my terrarium.
The plant blooms off and on all year, with blooms coming sequentially one at a time on each inflorescence. I got mine from Orqideas del Valle (http://www.orquivalle.com). They also sell little glass "bubbles" that are great for growing a single Lepanthes in normal household conditions. This species is ideal for bubble growing.
A friend referred to this as the "Satellite Dish Orchid."
Also available from:
http://www.ecuagenera.com

Lepanthes niesseniae

Lepanthes niesseniae, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

Lepanthes niesseniae is a relatively newly discovered species from Colombia. It is named for Andrea Niessen of Orquideas del Valle in Cali, Colombia (www.orquivalle.com).
The plant is vigorous and floriferous. It blooms sequentially, one bloom at a time. Like many of the Lepanthes, the leaves have a sparkling texture; the plant is beautiful even when it is not in bloom. I grow it on the cool side of intermediate in a terrarium.
Also available from:
http://www.ecuagenera.com