A genus named in memory of the daughter of King Priam of Troy, Lycaste includes species attractive for the horticultural trade, with high preferences for increased air humidity and moderate to high temperatures, rarely low, a common characteristic of many species of Mexican or Central American origin. Within the genus, 31 species, 3 natural hybrids, 2 subspecies, one nominated species, and one variety are known, grouped into 4 sections, one of which is further divided into 2 subsections. Among these 4 sections, the one targeted by anatomical and physiological modifications represented by leaf loss during the resting period is the Deciduosae section, whose name exactly indicates this aspect (with deciduous leaves).
You can purchase Lycaste here (link).
The Deciduosae section includes the Xanthanthae subsection, with species that have yellow flowers (xanthos = yellow, anthos = flower), and the Paradeciduosae section, with flowers having a white background and pinkish-red spotting.
The species of the Deciduosae section, among which the most common in collections are aromatica, bradeorum, cruenta, deppei, share the characteristic of leaf loss in the winter season, due to the specific original climate of the Central American area, where a rainy season and a dry season are distinguished. Leaf loss is a necessary adaptation to successfully pass through the dry period, as the presence of leaves would increase the evaporation rate and implicitly the dehydration of the plants. Leaf fall begins at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, remaining in a resistant phase, with bare bulbs, until the beginning of spring, when the start of new growth will coincide with the initiation of flower stems, beginning at this moment an accelerated growth season to allow the newly formed plants to accumulate enough nutrient reserves to successfully cross the next dry season.
In the wet season, which largely corresponds to summer, watering will be abundant and accompanied by diluted fertilizations, allowing the substrate to dry before water administration. However, in the resting season, it is recommended to completely stop both watering and fertilizations. When administering water, special attention should be paid to not allow water to enter between the newly formed and still unopened leaves, as this will invariably lead to the onset of fungal and bacterial diseases, which can quickly decimate even the most vigorous specimens of Lycaste.
Do you want to see more articles and accumulate more knowledge? This article is offered for free, but you can support secretgarden.ro with a review here:
Google: Review on Google
Facebook: Review on Facebook