One of the more striking members of the genus, this species captivates with boldly patterned flowers whose fused sepals form a broad, open tube adorned with contrasting spots or streaks and tapering tails, carried on erect single-flowered inflorescences that bloom successively through the year.
- Light: Grow under 5070% shade cloth; avoid any direct sun exposure, which quickly scorches the foliage.
- Temperature: Cool grower. Daytime 5768F (1420C), nights 4554F (712C). A pronounced day-night differential is essential for sustained health and flowering.
- Humidity: Requires 7590% relative humidity; humidity trays, a humidifier, or terrarium culture combined with good air circulation work well.
- Watering: Keep evenly and consistently moist; mounted plants need more frequent watering than potted ones, with a modest reduction during the coolest months.
Additional Notes
Native to Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 2,5002,700 meters in cool, cloud-forest habitats. Best grown in small pots with fine bark or sphagnum moss, or mounted on cork bark or tree fern to suit its fine root system.
