Lycaste bulbs not growing big

[Oranagra]

Hi, I bought a Lycaste with 3 large bulbs and two new growths, the leafs grew to some 30cm (10"), pretty quick but then stopped growing. at the end of the season, the leafs yellowed and dropped, and the bulbs that remained are tiny compared to the back-bulbs.
this season i see the same, the leafs stopped growing after about a month.

i have it in a shallow pot with back chips, and i dip the pot in water once a week, and spray the top when it is dry, which is almost every day. i fertilize weekly at about 200 ppm.

i can't figure out what i'm doing wrong... it doesn't look to me like i'm not watering or fertilizing enough, and i can't look at the roots.

see the small bulbs on the front of the last photo, these are from last year.

i'd love some tips and suggestions.
thanks.

[katrina]

Was this a division? If so, it's quite common for lycaste to be set back if the roots were damaged a lot. I've had them languish for up to 2 seasons after a lot of root disturbance.

If it was not a recent division, it could be lack of water. Lycaste like a lot of water when actively growing...I keep mine constantly moist this time of the year. So, maybe not enough water. The other possibility is not enough light. I grow all of mine with my cattleyas.

[Oranagra]

thanks.

I got it with 3 large and fat bulbs, and no smaller ones, so it was possibly divided in the past, but it did looks well established.
I did repot it when I got it, and maybe didn't water enough last season, so maybe the small bulbs from last season is due to these.

But I am wetting it almost daily this season, and it also gets planty of light, so I can't figure out why it stopped growing so soon and so small, and why the old bulbs are so shriveled.

p.s. it's a Lycaste cruenta x aromatica

[katrina]

Your cross has an official name...it's Lycaste Goldschimidtiana and I used to have one...a great plant. Mine ended up testing positive for virus so I've since gotten rid of it but I have been keeping my eyes open for a replacement. The aromatica parent lends this one a LOT of wonderful fragrance. Most of the yellows smell awesome but that aromatica parent...WOW!...it's amazing.

If your light is sufficient and you are sure you're giving it enough water during it's active growth...then I would chalk it up to root disturbance. I have had recent divisions where there was a lot of root disturbance languish for a couple of years where I thought they might be dying but they usually bounce back, in time. W/good culture, most end up bouncing back but it does require some patience.

It's a challenging group...sometimes some of them seem very easy to grow but then there are those that are a lot fussier than the rest. Goldschmiditiana was one of my easier growers but I never had a lot of root disturbance...my original piece was a division from a friend but the division was done at a perfect time and it was a simple "cut down the middle" sort of division so the new roots were not messed with. If that makes sense.

Again, if you're sure your cultural conditions are optimal (cattleya level light, warmth, and plenty of water during active growth)...the plant should bounce back in time. I've had recent divisions sit leafless for a long time so that fact that you have new growth...that's a good sign, even if it's smaller than previous growths.

BTW - I grow all of mine in a nearly 50/50 mix of sphag and shredded redwood fiber (aka - gorilla hair) ...it retains a lot of moisture but is still very "airy" and open.