Culture advice needed for my first ever Lycaste

[camille1585]

Early August I had the chance to visit the orchid nursery La Canopée located on the coast of Brittany in France. As they do a lot of Lycaste breeding, I thought it would be a good time to get my first ever plant of this genus. Many thanks to my SIL, who paid for the plant as a very late birthday gift (she's a great enabler!).

With help of a very kind employee I got one of their crosses, named Lycaste Oratrix (L. campbellii x L. xanthocheila). She explained basic cultural requirements to me, but I'd appreciate more thorough advice!

What she told me:
*Bright light with very little direct sun (so somewhere between Den and Catt light?). If they have enough light leaves tend to grow upright, while plants in insufficient light tend to have horizontal/splayed leaves.
* Loves water in the growing season, keep it moist but never sitting in water. In the fall cut back on watering when the lowest leaves show signs of yellowing, then water just enough to prevent bulbs from wrinkling.
*Repot every 2 to 3 years in the spring when new growths start.


Questions I still have:
How should I care for it in the winter?
When do I start watering again?
What's the ideal timing for repotting?

I think there's a spike developing, so looks like I'll see some blooms in the fall!

Edited to add - I looked up cultural info for the parents, but can't find anything for the xanthocheila parent. However, I do see mention of a L. macrophylla ssp. xanthocheila. Are these the same, and if so, what is the correct name for the plant?

[Clawhammer]

I treat my lycastes like I treat my catasetum.

There are two types of lycaste, deciduous and semi-deciduous, and there are slight differences in the care between the two types

[Roberta]

I don't completely dry out my deciduous Lycastes in winter, but maybe they'd bloom better if I did. The semi-deciduous ones I grow a lot wetter (mostly baskets with sphag) and do quite nicely for me. You are probably correct that the parent is L. macrophylla ssp xanthocheila. I hate it when growers get careless with names!

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I don't completely dry out my deciduous Lycastes in winter, but maybe they'd bloom better if I did. The semi-deciduous ones I grow a lot wetter (mostly baskets with sphag) and do quite nicely for me. You are probably correct that the parent is L. macrophylla ssp xanthocheila. I hate it when growers get careless with names!

I only water in winter when the bulbs shrivel and plants really bloom their butts off

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[camille1585]

Thank you both for the advice!
I didn't know that there were 2 distinct groups of Lycastes, and from what I read one parent is deciduous (campbellii) and the semi-deciduous. How should I treat the plant then? What are the major differences in culture that Clawhammer refers to?

Clawhammer, do you have names for the plants in the photos? They look fantastic!!! If I'm successful with my first Lycaste I'm love to get more, and that first one is particularily stunning. EDIT : Just remembered that you had posted a thread back in the spring with photos of your Lycastes, and I think I found the names there : Fantastic Lycaste!. They're all gorgeous!!

[camille1585]

I'm back with more questions....

My Lycaste survived the winter. Once all the leaves dropped I stopped watering and occasionally dribbled some water in the pot to keep the bulbs from shriveling. I see that new growths are just starting now. At what point do I start watering and fertilizing normally? And is this a good time to repot (before the growths make roots) or is there another time of year which is more favorable?

[Toadwally]

A successful plan.

[Clawhammer]

Now is the time to repot. Unless absolutely necessary, just up-pot and do not mess with the roots.

I start watering again when I see flowers or new growth. I start slow and ramp up the watering throughout the spring. Once the new growths are rooting I water almost every day.

Enjoy!