Overwintering guide
How to overwinter three-colored lycaste
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — three-colored lycaste uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills three-colored lycaste in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and three-colored lycaste rots from the base.
More three-colored lycaste care
Overwintering three-colored lycaste — FAQ
Does three-colored lycaste need to come indoors for winter?
Three-Colored Lycaste is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Three-Colored Lycaste is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move three-colored lycaste for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water three-colored lycaste in winter?
Cut watering right back — three-colored lycaste uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills three-colored lycaste over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and three-colored lycaste rots from the base.