Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at homeLikasta (Latin Lycaste) is one of the most beautiful representatives of the Orchid family, which includes more than four dozen species of epiphytic and lithophytic plants. The orchid is prized for its beautiful, wax-like buds. In the southern regions, it is grown in the garden, and in the middle latitudes – at home. In both cases, lycasta serves as a spectacular decoration that attracts attention with an elegant appearance.

Description

Likasta is an orchid consisting of one, two or three flattened, oval pseudobulbs tightly spaced to each other. Each pseudobulb has 3 narrow pointed light green leaf plates with pronounced veins. The lifespan of each leaf is 1 year, after which it turns yellow and dies off.

Peduncles about half a meter long. One flower is formed on each of them. The diameter of the buds, the shape of the petals, their colors are varied and depend on the variety. Flowering begins in July and lasts until the end of summer. At home, a second wave of flowering is often observed in the winter season.

You can view a beautiful and uncommon outwardly lycastu orchid in the photo shown on this page.

Types

Below is a description of the most popular lycast varieties.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Fragrant.

An epiphyte that needs a rest period during the winter months. It has pear-shaped or ovoid pseudobulbs and large leaves, consisting of numerous folds. With the onset of spring, several peduncles with yellow-green flowers, up to 6 cm in diameter, are formed on pseudobulbs. Flowering lasts for 4 – 5 weeks.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Skinner.

An orchid with inflorescences 15 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is light pink, almost white. The central part of the buds is decorated with crimson spots. This look looks gentle and airy.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Sunray.

A flower with elongated leaf plates. Differs in short, elastic peduncles, on which large buds with pale pink petals are formed. The central part of the bud is intense pink with raspberry touches.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Large-leaved.

It is an epiphyte that settles in natural conditions on rocks and on the ground. The height of the bush is 70 cm. The leaves are impressive in size, folded, rich green, fall off during dormancy. Pseudobulbs are large, form peduncles 20 cm long. The flowers are light brown, with a green edging along the edge.

Cultivation

In order to become the owner of a lycast, a florist purchases a plant in a store. After that, the orchid is planted in a pot filled with soil. In order for the flower to successfully take root in a new place, the work of transplanting an orchid should be done correctly and carefully.

The container, where the lycast will grow, is filled with a loose substrate that allows air to pass through well, consisting of sphagnum, crushed to medium-sized fern roots, tree bark, dry foliage, and charcoal. You can prepare the soil yourself, or buy a ready-made orchid substrate at a flower shop.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

If the grower already has an adult grown specimen of this culture, you can get a new plant using the method of dividing the bush. This work is combined with a transplant. Orchids are removed from the pot, the substrate is removed from the roots, after moistening it. Using a sharp disinfected knife, the rhizomes are cut into pieces so that at least 2 pseudobulbs remain on each of them. The cut sites are dried with crushed coal, the separated parts are planted in a fresh substrate.

Care

Lighting. The lycast orchid does well in diffused lighting. The best place in the apartment for her is the window sills facing west and east. The southern windows are undesirable for breeding, since direct rays will burn delicate petals. On the north side, the plant will stretch out and will not bloom.

Air temperature. The air temperature in the room where this crop is grown should be 23 – 26 degrees. With the onset of a dormant period, the temperature is gradually lowered, bringing it to 12 degrees. Until spring, the lycast should be kept in a cool, dry place.

Watering. Instead of traditional watering, it is recommended to moisten the substrate by completely immersing the pot in water. After bathing, the water should drain completely from the drainage holes.

Top dressing. During the growing season, the plant is fed with special formulations for orchids. To do this, fertilizer is diluted in a container with water, dividing the indicated dosage in the instructions into 4 parts and taking one of them. At the beginning of the dormant period, feeding is stopped.

Types of lycast, orchid cultivation at home

Thus, caring for a lycous orchid at home is very simple, it is enough to take into account the needs of the plant to get a blooming, fragrant bush with delicate airy buds and expressive leaves.

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Anna Evans

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