Medinilla Magnifica
The most audacious and glamourous plant in the rainforest perhaps?
Dark green, hot pink, and really odd!
Native to the Philippines, the Medinilla Magnifica is an epiphyte, which means it doesn't grow in the ground but up in the trees. As its roots grip onto tree trunks and its thick leaves stretch towards the light, its flowers hang down like chandeliers. It does not get more magical than that.
To honour their epiphytic growth habit, keep this plant in a chunky soil mix and let the top soil dry out before watering. They need consistent moisture, especially when in bloom, but waterlogged soil will cause rot. Keep it warm and humid and you should get blooms regularly throughout the growing season. Best grown in bright, indirect light, or a few hours of gentle direct sun from early morning or late evening. Fertilise with a houseplant feed or an orchid mist regularly throughout the growing season.
