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Plant care

Large-Leaf Lycaste (Big-Leaf Lycaste) care

Lycaste macrophylla

Also called Large-Leaf Lycaste, Big-Leaf Lycaste.

RHS H1bUSDA 10b–12Pet-safeIndoor Clump 50–80 cm tall

Watering rhythm

5-7days

Every 5–7 days in active growth; every 10–14 days in winter

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Loose, fast-draining bark mix

Humidity

70–85%

Temp

14–28°C (night min 14°C, day max 28°C)

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Clump 50–80 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild large-leaf lycaste grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Provide moderate to bright filtered light of 12,000–23,000 lux. Direct afternoon sun will cause irreversible leaf burn on its extra-large leaves. An east or shaded south exposure suits it well. Adequate light is critical to producing multiple flower spikes. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for every 5–7 days in active growth; every 10–14 days in winter for large-leaf lycaste, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Maintain a wet-dry cycle — water well and allow the mix to approach, but not reach, full dryness before watering again. Reduce frequency in winter especially under lower light. Keep water out of the crowns of new growths to avoid rot in this species' exceptionally broad leaf bases.

Soil and pot

Large-Leaf Lycaste grows best in loose, fast-draining bark mix. Use fine-to-medium fir bark with 20–30% perlite or pumice. Small pots are preferable to large ones — oversized containers keep the mix wet too long and invite root rot. Sphagnum moss works well for mounted or basket culture. Repot every 2 years. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Large-Leaf Lycaste sits happiest at around 70–85% humidity and 14–28°C (night min 14°C, day max 28°C) (57–82°F (night min 57°F, day max 82°F)). This species demands higher humidity than many Lycastes, reflecting its wet-forest origin with annual rainfall of 1,500–4,000 mm. Use a humidifier or well-ventilated greenhouse. Pair high humidity with good airflow to prevent Botrytis. If you keep the room above 14–28°C (night min 14°C, day max 28°C) year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed large-leaf lycaste sparingly. Feed every 7–10 days at quarter-strength with a balanced orchid fertiliser during active growth. Switch to a lower-nitrogen bloom booster in early autumn. Cease or minimise feeding in winter when growth slows. Flush with clean water monthly. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on large-leaf lycaste in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Crown rot in new growths — The broad leaf bases trap water easily. Always water at the base of the pot and ensure strong airflow. At first sign of soft brown tissue, remove affected material and apply a fungicide powder or spray.
  • Spider mites in dry conditions — Common under low humidity, especially indoors in winter. Look for fine webbing and bronze leaf stippling. Increase humidity, wipe leaves with a damp cloth, and treat with neem oil or an appropriate miticide.
  • Sparse flowering — Requires a modest cool-dry rest in winter (reduce watering and allow temperatures to drop to 14–16°C at night) to initiate multiple flower spikes per pseudobulb. Insufficient rest results in leaf-only growth.

Propagation

Divide established clumps at repotting time, keeping at least 3–4 pseudobulbs per division. Back-bulbs can be potted separately in sphagnum moss; they may sprout slowly over 6–18 months. Seed germination requires sterile flask culture. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Large-Leaf Lycaste is pet-safe. Lycaste is not individually listed by ASPCA, but the Orchidaceae family has no documented toxic principle and no reported cases of toxicity to cats, dogs, or horses. Considered safe in line with the general non-toxic orchid classification. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Large-Leaf Lycaste care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Lycaste macrophylla?

Lycaste macrophylla is most commonly called Large-Leaf Lycaste, but it is also known as Large-Leaf Lycaste, Big-Leaf Lycaste. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Large-Leaf Lycaste apply identically to anything sold as Big-Leaf Lycaste.

How much light does large-leaf lycaste need?

Large-Leaf Lycaste grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Provide moderate to bright filtered light of 12,000–23,000 lux. Direct afternoon sun will cause irreversible leaf burn on its extra-large leaves. An east or shaded south exposure suits it well. Adequate light is critical to producing multiple flower spikes.

How often should I water large-leaf lycaste?

Water large-leaf lycaste every 5–7 days in active growth; every 10–14 days in winter. Maintain a wet-dry cycle — water well and allow the mix to approach, but not reach, full dryness before watering again. Reduce frequency in winter especially under lower light. Keep water out of the crowns of new growths to avoid rot in this species' exceptionally broad leaf bases. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is large-leaf lycaste toxic to cats and dogs?

Large-Leaf Lycaste is pet-safe. Lycaste is not individually listed by ASPCA, but the Orchidaceae family has no documented toxic principle and no reported cases of toxicity to cats, dogs, or horses. Considered safe in line with the general non-toxic orchid classification.

What USDA hardiness zone does large-leaf lycaste grow in?

Large-Leaf Lycaste is rated for USDA zone 10b–12 and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Large-Leaf Lycaste deep-dive guides

Every aspect of large-leaf lycaste care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Large-Leaf Lycaste qualifies for 9 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Large-Leaf Lycaste is also commonly called Large-Leaf Lycaste or Big-Leaf Lycaste.