🇨🇴 Habitat and Ecology
​Psychopsis krameriana (the Kramer's Butterfly Orchid) is a distinctive, medium-sized, epiphytic orchid native to Central and South America, with a wide distribution including Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is found growing on trees in tropical moist and wet forests at elevations typically between 300 and 1,000 metres. This species is adapted to a hot to warm growing regime with high humidity and bright, filtered light.
​🌸 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This orchid is a sympodial perennial and a member of the Butterfly Orchid group, previously classified under Oncidium.
​Pseudobulbs & Foliage: It produces ovoid, compressed pseudobulbs that are subtended by non-foliaceous bracts and topped by a single, rigid, paddle-shaped leaf. The leaves are highly ornamental, often being mottled with maroon, purple, or gray markings against a green background.
​Flowers: The spectacular flowers are borne on a long, slender, erect spike (up to 60 cm tall) that emerges from the base of the pseudobulb. This species is famous for its successive flowering, producing one large bloom at a time, often continuously for several years.
​Aesthetics: The blooms are large (5-7 cm wide), resembling a butterfly or insect, with narrow, undulating sepals and petals that are typically reddish-brown or yellow, often spotted. The lip (labellum) is large, bright yellow or orange, often with reddish markings.
​Ethnobotany: The remarkable flower shape, evolved to mimic an insect, suggests its primary value is ornamental and horticultural. There are no significant traditional medicinal uses recorded for this genus, though it is highly prized by collectors for hybridization.
​Differentiation: P. krameriana is distinguished from its close relative, P. papilio, by the texture and markings of the sepals:
​Versus P. papilio: P. papilio typically has a longer, more prominent antenna-like spike extension and sepals that are often entirely chestnut-brown. P. krameriana has a rougher, less uniform colouration and the sepals are generally less reflexed.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Psychopsis krameriana is a hot to warm growing orchid that requires constant humidity and stable temperatures.
​Light: Needs bright, indirect light. Provide bright light similar to Cattleya, but shield from direct midday sun to prevent leaf burn.
​Substrate: Use an open, coarse, and fast-draining epiphytic mix of orchid bark, charcoal, and perlite. Repotting should be avoided unless necessary, as they dislike root disturbance.
​Watering: Water liberally and regularly during the growing season, allowing the medium to approach dryness between waterings. Reduce watering slightly in winter.
​Temperature:
​Optimal Daytime Temperature: 21-30 C (70-86 F).
​Optimal Nighttime Temperature: A small drop is beneficial, ideally 18-20 C (64-68 F).
​Humidity: High humidity (60-80%+) and excellent air circulation are essential.
Crucially: Never cut the flower spike, as it is the source of future blooms.
​✨ Unique Features
​This orchid is one of the most desirable species for its spectacular, bizarre, butterfly-like flowers. Its most notable feature is its successive, non-stop flowering habit, where a single spike can produce individual blooms over a period of many months or even years. The marbled, rigid foliage is also highly ornamental.
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: all plants are mounted and as seen by the example in the picture
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Psychopsis krameriana B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB