Butterfly orchid (Psychopsis papilio)
Care, watering, light and tips for Butterfly orchid on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Indirect light
- Temperature: 15–30 °C
About Butterfly orchid
The Psychopsis papilio, also known as the Butterfly Orchid, is a captivating epiphytic orchid native to Central and South America. Its flowers, emerging from long, slender stems, strikingly resemble butterflies in flight, with mottled brown and yellow petals and sepals. This plant is ideal for orchid collectors and will look spectacular in hanging baskets or mounted on a piece of wood, enhancing its epiphytic nature.
Native range
Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Care tips
Requires bright, indirect light; avoid direct sun exposure which can scorch its leaves. Water when the potting medium is almost dry, ensuring good drainage and never letting the roots sit in water. Use a coarse, well-aerated substrate, such as pine bark or a specific epiphytic orchid mix. A common mistake is overwatering, which can lead to root rot; it's better to underwater than overwater.
How to save a dying Butterfly orchid
- Warning signs
- Wrinkled, soft pseudobulbs, limp or yellowing leaves, rotted or dry roots.
- First aid
- Remove orchid from media, inspect roots, prune rotten/dry parts. Repot in fresh, airy media. Water only when media is almost dry.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot or underwatering drying them out. Old, compacted substrate.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! With good drainage, proper humidity, and indirect light, it can recover.