Light
Low indirect • approx. 1,000–5,000 lux
Buy 4 plants, get 1 free
Orchidaceae
Anoectochilus sikkimensis
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
Secure shipping, carefully packed orders with safe delivery across the EU, UK and Switzerland.
28-day plant guarantee, if a plant arrives damaged or fails soon after delivery, we help you make it right.
Free returns, simple, cost-free returns according to our policy.
For full details, please see:
Please head to our FAQ Page or Contact us.
Anoectochilus sikkimensis
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive + airy • Steady-moist • Organic-forward • Fine
Temperature
Ideal: 16–25 °C • Avoid below: 16 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Creeping terrestrial orchid.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Slow
Max size indoors
Max. height: 10 cm • Max. spread: 10 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native from Nepal to China (Yunnan)
Outdoor growing
Indoor only
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Anoectochilus sikkimensis
Dark burgundy to red-brown velvet leaves give Anoectochilus sikkimensis its warm, gold-veined look. The foliage sits close to the substrate, forming a compact patterned plant for humid, shaded indoor growing.
It develops from a low rhizome with fine roots and soft leaves that mark easily under harsh light. A shallow pot and fine, airy substrate match the small terrestrial root system better than a deep, heavy mix.
Details on Anoectochilus sikkimensis
- Leaf colour: Dark red, burgundy or red-brown tones give the plant a warm velvet base.
- Veining: Gold reticulate lines cross the leaf surface in a fine network.
- Growth habit: Low creeping stems stay near the substrate and spread gradually.
- Scale: Compact growth keeps the plant small and detailed.
- Root zone: Fine terrestrial roots need gentle moisture with air around them.
- Indoor setup: A humid cabinet, vitrine or open terrarium gives the foliage a steadier microclimate.
Growth and indoor behaviour
In cultivation, this plant follows the same small rhizomatous growth pattern as Anoectochilus brevilabris. The stem should remain near the surface, where new leaves can form along the growing point.
The leaves are soft and dark, so harsh light can cause visible marks quickly. Fine roots need a light, open substrate that holds gentle moisture without becoming cold, dense or saturated.
Care for Anoectochilus sikkimensis
- Light: Keep it in low to soft medium indirect light. Direct sun can mark the velvet leaf surface.
- Watering: Water when the top layer begins to dry, keeping the root zone lightly moist without leaving the pot saturated.
- Humidity: Aim for 60–80%+ humidity. Stable humidity keeps leaf edges and new growth in better condition.
- Temperature: Keep it warm, around 16–25 °C, and avoid cold wet substrate.
- Substrate: Use a fine, open mix with small bark, coco fibre, perlite, pumice or a little sphagnum. Dense soil holds too much water around the fine roots.
- Airflow: Humid enclosures need gentle air exchange to reduce spotting on the leaves.
- Potting: Use a shallow pot and keep the creeping stem close to the surface rather than buried.
Problems to watch for
- Soft base: Often caused by a buried rhizome or cold, wet substrate around the stem.
- Brown leaf patches: Check for direct sun, hot glass or water sitting on the leaf surface in still air.
- Dry margins: Low humidity or repeated full drying can damage the leaf edges.
- Small spots: Improve airflow in humid setups and remove old leaves from the substrate surface.
- Weak, stretched growth: Very low light can lengthen the stems and reduce the compact habit.
Safety for Anoectochilus sikkimensis
This jewel orchid is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. The shallow pot should be kept away from pets that dig, tip small plants or chew soft leaves.
Botanical background and etymology
Anoectochilus sikkimensis King & Pantl. was first published in Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Part 2, Natural History 65: 124 in 1896. The epithet sikkimensis is a geographic name referring to Sikkim, while Anoectochilus refers to the open lip of the flower.
Anoectochilus sikkimensis is treated botanically as a synonym of Anoectochilus brevilabris Lindl., the short-lipped species first published in Lindley’s Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants in 1840.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
FAQs about Anoectochilus sikkimensis – naming changes, care style, and collector use
Recently viewed:
Sign up for Foliage Factory newsletter for early access to new arrivals and practical care tips that work in real homes.