The lycastes are a relatively small, but influential, natural genus of medium-size plants. They have had a great impact on the related anguloas with which they will readily interbreed to produce some of the most showy artificial hybrids.
The majority of the flowers are typically triangular, the shape formed by the widely spread sepals that frame the cupped petals and lip. When crossed with the tulipshaped anguloas, the superb, large, openflowered angulocastes are produced, which have done much to promote this alliance. Although the majority of the species within the lycastes and anguloas are of pale colouring, the rosy-red varieties of Lycaste skinneri have emphasized rich colours in hybrids such as L. Wyld Fire.
A type of pruning that is especially suited to such European varieties as Black Monukka, Blackrose, Cardinal, Emperor, Muscat, Pearl of Csaba, Red Malaga, Ribier, Tokay and White Malaga, as well, as most wine grapes, is called spur pruning. Each vine is grown against a single stake, and each year the growth of the current season is cut back to two or three buds. In parts of the Southwest where there is a deficiency of zinc in the soil, daub each cut with a zinc-sulfate solution, 1 pound to a gallon of water, within two hours after pruning.
If the stems of the grapevines seem weak, feed plants in early spring with 1/4 to 1/2 pound of ammonium sulfate scattered widely beneath each vine.
Annual repotting is often preferred for lycastes and anguloas because the plants quickly outgrow their containers. By removing the oldest pseudobulbs each time, plants can be kept to a moderate size. Where specimen plants are wanted, you can leave them to become really large. For these reasons, the hybrids are best contained in a greenhouse where they can be given sufficient headroom. If you are growing your orchids indoors where space is limited, try one or two of the smaller species among the lycastes such as Lycaste aromatica, which is deliciously scented and carries a profusion of golden yellow flowers in the spring, or L. skinneri, with its variable white to soft pink varieties. These plants will not grow much bigger than 30cm (12in) high when in leaf. Most of the 25 or so Lycaste species can be found in cultivation, alongside the numerous hybrids.
Grow in fine bark in plastic mesh pots of the type used for aquatic plants. Keep in shade year-round. Water carefully throughout the year, never allowing the roots to dry out, but also avoiding overwet conditions, which can lead to rotting. Height is 15-30cm (6-12in).
