Recommended First Lycaste?
 

I'm interested in trying my hand with a Lycaste, and I've not had one before. I'm especially fond of the deep pink ones, and I prefer species over hybrids whenever possible. Which would you recommend for someone with 12+ years of experience with various orchids and tropicals, but who is new to Lycastes?

:bump:

This is a question I would be interested in knowing the answer to as well. I always see beautiful lycastes displayed at the North New Jersey Orchid Society Show so they would probably be able to survivie in Michigan with the proper culture.

People in the area grow them; I see them at shows every year.

I wish I had some recommendations but I do not like the pink flowered ones (don't like pink much at all), so focus on the yellow-flowered species and hybrids. Lycaste consobrina and L. cruenta both bloom regularly for me. I think I got both from Andy's Orchids although one may be from Woodstream Orchids (they are at home/I'm at work). I grow them in the Pacific Northwest and they summer outside. I haven't been as diligent at photographing my Lycastes as I've been with Pleiones (my favorite orchid genus) so I can't share any in-flower photos. I must say that I have little success with any of the Angulocastes or Anguloas under the same conditions. And I've had less success with any Lycaste with L. skinneri in it, and that's where you'd be getting the pink genes from, for the most part. You'd think they do better for me as L skinneri is from a cooler habitat than many other Lycastes but it hasn't worked out that way for me.

lycaste guatemalensis (not sure if i spelt that right)
its beautiful and easier than skinneri and pinkish

Thank you! I will keep an eye out for that!

I would recommend Lycaste deppei. It seemed to grow the best for me. But the culture for them is generally the same, most like it cool, a few warmer at night. Just know the needs of each. Here is a link to a great site that gives some cultural info.
IOSPE Lycate deppei