Sonerila Maculata (Dark Red)
Sonerila Maculata was described by Roxburgh and is native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, growing terrestrially in shaded, humid evergreen forest between 300–1200m, often on moss-covered ground near streams and seepage zones. This "Dark Red" form shows deep green to purplish leaves heavily marked with silver or white spots tracing the veins, in a soft, velvety texture typical of the species.
Note: as a freshly imported bare-root plant, this specimen typically arrives with just a few leaves — the photo shows a more mature, fuller specimen for reference.
Care tip: Coming from consistently damp, shaded forest floor, this species wants steady moisture and high humidity — a terrarium recreates its native seepage-zone habitat far better than an open room.
Give it low to medium filtered light, a loamy, humus-rich substrate, and consistent moisture without waterlogging. This is a compact species, staying around 30cm tall with a basal rosette habit, making it well suited to terrarium foreground or midground placement.
Sonerila is a large genus of roughly 175 species across tropical Asia, and Maculata is one of its more widely documented and recognizable members — a good reference point for the spotted, velvety foliage the genus is known for.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Light |
Low to medium filtered light |
| Humidity |
70%+; terrarium recommended |
| Watering |
Keep consistently moist; avoid waterlogging |
| Temperature |
68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Soil |
Loamy, humus-rich, moisture-retentive mix |
| Fertilizer |
Very diluted fertilizer sparingly during active growth |
| Origin |
Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam |
