🇨🇴 Habitat and Ecology
​Dracula inequalis is a diminutive epiphytic orchid endemic to Colombia, specifically found in the department of Antioquia.
​It is a true high-elevation cloud forest species, inhabiting cool, extremely wet environments at altitudes between 2,000 and 2,200 metres. In its natural habitat, it grows on moss-covered trees, perpetually bathed in mist and high humidity, shielded from direct sunlight by the dense forest canopy.
​🌸 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This species is a small, densely caespitose (clump-forming) perennial. It is much smaller in stature than giants like Dracula vampira.
​Foliage: The plant consists of erect, slender ramicauls (stems) supporting narrow, thinly leathery (coriaceous) leaves that are typically 10-15 cm long.
​Flowers: The inflorescences are short, descending or horizontal, carrying a single, small flower that often faces downwards.
​Aesthetics: The flowers have a base colour of white or creamy-pale yellow. They are heavily spotted or blotched with dark brown or purple-brown, sometimes densely enough at the center to appear almost solid dark. The sepals end in slender, dark tails.
​Defining Feature (The Name): The specific epithet inequalis (Latin for "unequal") is its most distinguishing characteristic. It refers to the unequal size and shape of the sepals. The dorsal sepal is significantly broader and larger than the two lateral sepals, giving the "face" of the flower a distinctively asymmetrical or "lop-sided" appearance.
​🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
​Taxonomy: It belongs to the subtribe Pleurothallidinae. The species name highlights the morphological asymmetry that separates it from similar spotted, small-flowered Dracula species.
​Pollination: Like others in the genus, it relies on fungal mimicry. Its small, mushroom-like lip attracts fungus gnats seeking oviposition sites in the dark, damp forest understory.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Dracula inequalis is a cool-growing specialist plant suited for cool greenhouses or climate-controlled terrariums. It will not tolerate heat.
​Light: Requires deep shade. It should receive very low light levels, similar to those required by deep-forest ferns. Yellowing leaves indicate too much light.
​Substrate: Due to its descending flower spikes, it must be grown in a net pot or mesh basket. Lining the basket with sphagnum moss is ideal to maintain the necessary constant moisture around the roots.
​Watering: The root zone must be kept constantly wet. Never allow the moss to crispy-dry.
​Water Quality: Use only rainwater, distilled, or reverse osmosis (RO) water. It is extremely sensitive to dissolved salts and minerals found in tap water, which will cause rapid leaf-tip burn and plant decline.
​Temperature:
​Optimal Daytime: 15-20 C (59-68 F).
​Optimal Nighttime: 10-13 C (50-55 F).
​Critical Limit: Sustained temperatures above 23 C (73 F) are detrimental.
​Humidity: Very High (85-100%) is required year-round, accompanied by gentle air movement to prevent fungal and bacterial rots.
​✨ Unique Features
​While many Dracula orchids have a degree of asymmetry, Dracula inequalis is defined by it. The visibly disproportionate dorsal sepal compared to the lateral sepals gives the flower a unique, somewhat quirky geometry, setting it apart from other small, spotted members of the genus.
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: 4+ leaved divisions from our stock plants.
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Dracula inequalis B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB