Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in their growth cycle is the best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large longiscapa that's in a plastic pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm concerned the new growths will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's already "stretched"). Also, I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or clay pots and what medium you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

Hi Jerry,

At Wyld Court Orchids, the UK home of Lycastes, we
used to pot almost every Lycaste in plastic.
It was only the large specimen plants that ended
up in terracotta, which was mainly for plant
stability.

If you are going to bend or cut your plant to
accommodate it in a new pot the best time to carry
this out is when the new growth shoot is emerging.
The idea is to get the new roots into new compost.

Pine bark with sphagnum moss mixed in as a
sprinking works very well for UK greenhouse
conditions. That is what Henry Oakley uses too who
holds the national collection in UK.

If you are changing your media
dramatically...certainly wait until the new growth
has started.

If you are simply increasing the pot size without
root disturbance you may be able to get aways with
it now.

There is some information and photos of Lycastes
on our site

http://www.tissuequickplantlabs.com/wcohomemfr.htm

Btw. if that full link does not display here enter
by the main page.

Best regards
Alan L Winthrop


www.tissuequickplantlabs.com


"Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote
in message news:sw2Wa.25143$Ho3.4534@sccrnsc03...
Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in
their growth cycle is the best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large
longiscapa that's in a plastic pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm
concerned the new growths will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's
already "stretched"). Also, I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or
clay pots and what medium you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

Thanks Alan,

I think I'll just pot it up (not remove the old media) as the current media
(fine bark / charcoal / perlite) is in good shape and less than a year old.
It is currently making new growths so it's a good time in any case. And
I'll likely leave it in plastic. Most of my Lycastes seem to grow well but
although blooming size, not bloom. Any suggestions?

Take care,
Jerry

"TQPL" wrote in message
...
Hi Jerry,

At Wyld Court Orchids, the UK home of Lycastes, we
used to pot almost every Lycaste in plastic.
It was only the large specimen plants that ended
up in terracotta, which was mainly for plant
stability.

If you are going to bend or cut your plant to
accommodate it in a new pot the best time to carry
this out is when the new growth shoot is emerging.
The idea is to get the new roots into new compost.

Pine bark with sphagnum moss mixed in as a
sprinking works very well for UK greenhouse
conditions. That is what Henry Oakley uses too who
holds the national collection in UK.

If you are changing your media
dramatically...certainly wait until the new growth
has started.

If you are simply increasing the pot size without
root disturbance you may be able to get aways with
it now.

There is some information and photos of Lycastes
on our site

http://www.tissuequickplantlabs.com/wcohomemfr.htm

Btw. if that full link does not display here enter
by the main page.

Best regards
Alan L Winthrop


www.tissuequickplantlabs.com


"Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote
in message news:sw2Wa.25143$Ho3.4534@sccrnsc03...
Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in
their growth cycle is the best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large
longiscapa that's in a plastic pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm
concerned the new growths will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's
already "stretched"). Also, I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or
clay pots and what medium you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

Hi, Jerry,

I pot my lycastes in either a teak basket or a plastic water culture
basket (one for water lilies, etc.). Lycastes like being moist, but on
the other hand they require good drainage. For example, I purchased a
Lycaste skinneri from the Santa Barbara Orchid Show. It came in a pot
without drainage holes and subsequently developed rot in a matter or
weeks and died. On the other hand, the ones I have grown in the water
culture baskets with spaghnum moss have seemed to benefit from the extra
air flow and the back bulbs have produced plantlets in no time at all.
Hope this helps.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Hoffmeister wrote:

Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in their growth cycle is the best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large longiscapa that's in a plastic pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm concerned the new growths will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's already "stretched"). Also, I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or clay pots and what medium you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

Hi there Pam, so nice to hear from you. That is exactly what happened to my
guys.....rotted out!
I have a couple of the pond baskets & wondering if you go by the size of the
plant like normal.
Also I wonder if using Coco Husk Chips would be good?
Cheers Wendy
"profpam" wrote in message ...
Hi, Jerry,

I pot my lycastes in either a teak basket or a plastic water culture
basket (one for water lilies, etc.). Lycastes like being moist, but on
the other hand they require good drainage. For example, I purchased a
Lycaste skinneri from the Santa Barbara Orchid Show. It came in a pot
without drainage holes and subsequently developed rot in a matter or
weeks and died. On the other hand, the ones I have grown in the water
culture baskets with spaghnum moss have seemed to benefit from the extra
air flow and the back bulbs have produced plantlets in no time at all.
Hope this helps.

. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Jerry Hoffmeister wrote:

Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in their growth cycle is the
best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large longiscapa that's in a plastic
pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm concerned the new growths
will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's already "stretched"). Also,
I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or clay pots and what medium
you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

Hi, Wendy,

Great hearing from you. In regards to pond baskets, I have packed a
couple of the same genus intothe basket when the basket was too large
and also laid the plants a top of the moss rather than burying the roots
entirely. In as far as Coco Husk Chips, I tend to favor them.
.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html
-------------

Wendy wrote:

Hi there Pam, so nice to hear from you. That is exactly what happened to my
guys.....rotted out!
I have a couple of the pond baskets & wondering if you go by the size of the
plant like normal.
Also I wonder if using Coco Husk Chips would be good?
Cheers Wendy
"profpam" wrote in message ...
Hi, Jerry,

I pot my lycastes in either a teak basket or a plastic water culture
basket (one for water lilies, etc.). Lycastes like being moist, but on
the other hand they require good drainage. For example, I purchased a
Lycaste skinneri from the Santa Barbara Orchid Show. It came in a pot
without drainage holes and subsequently developed rot in a matter or
weeks and died. On the other hand, the ones I have grown in the water
culture baskets with spaghnum moss have seemed to benefit from the extra
air flow and the back bulbs have produced plantlets in no time at all.
Hope this helps.

. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Jerry Hoffmeister wrote:

Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in their growth cycle is the
best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large longiscapa that's in a plastic
pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm concerned the new growths
will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's already "stretched"). Also,
I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or clay pots and what medium
you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry

I got a Lycaste aromatica that came in a slat basket potted in moss.
The guy I got it from said I wouldn't have to repot if for 2 years.


Jerry Hoffmeister wrote:
Hi all,

When's the best time or should I say when in their growth cycle is the best
time to repot a Lycaste? I have a large longiscapa that's in a plastic pot
and growing in opposite directions and I'm concerned the new growths will
get crunched by the side of the pot (it's already "stretched"). Also, I'm
curious what you pot lycaste's in - plastic or clay pots and what medium you
use.

Thanks!
Jerry