Labisia pumila – tropical understory plant with textured foliage and compact habit

General description

Labisia pumila is a tropical understory species native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia, where it grows in filtered light and soils rich in organic matter. The plant forms a compact rosette of oval to slightly elongated leaves with a fine texture. and a surface often glossy. I do not know details about any commercial varieties of this species, and the description below is based solely on confirmed botanical information for Labisia pumila.

The leaves are usually dark green, with a lighter central vein, and may show slight reddish tones on the underside. Due to its low habit and moderate indirect light needs, it is an excellent choice for for showcases, terrariums or collections of small tropical plants.

Characteristics

• Understory tropical species, small in size and compact in habit.
• Oval or slightly elongated leaves, dark green, with a fine texture.
• Grows in rosettes, suitable for small spaces and terrariums.
• Prefers moderate humidity and bright light. filtered.

Care

• Light: medium indirect light; avoid direct exposure to the sun.
• Watering: keep the substrate slightly moist, without excess water; avoid complete drying.
• Substrate: well drained, slightly acidic, based on fibrous peat with added perlite.
• Temperature: ideally between 20–28 °C; sensitive to cold.
• Humidity: prefers moderate to high humidity; ideal for terrariums.
• Fertilization: occasionally apply a diluted fertilizer during the growing season.