Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Three-Colored Lycaste (Tricolor Lycaste) care

Lycaste tricolor

Also called Three-Colored Lycaste, Tricolor Lycaste.

RHS H1bUSDA 10b–12Pet-safeIndoor Clump 25–40 cm tall

Watering rhythm

5-7days

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

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Fine bark and perlite mix

Humidity

55–75%

Temp

13–28°C (night min 13°C, day max 28°C)

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Clump 25–40 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Three-Colored Lycaste burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Grow in diffuse bright light, avoiding intense midday sun that will scorch the soft pleated leaves. An east-facing window or lightly shaded greenhouse provides the ideal balance. Insufficient light reduces flower count significantly. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering three-colored lycaste: every 5–7 days in growth; reduce to every 10–14 days in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep the potting mix slightly moist during active growth — do not allow it to dry completely. Reduce watering from autumn through winter as growth slows. Always water at the base; standing water in leaf axils or new growth crowns promotes rot.

Soil and pot

Three-Colored Lycaste grows best in fine bark and perlite mix. A blend of 75% fine fir bark and 25% perlite or pea gravel is standard. The mix should be open and free-draining yet hold just enough moisture between waterings. Good drainage is critical at this species' intermediate temperature range. 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

Three-Colored Lycaste sits happiest at around 55–75% humidity and 13–28°C (night min 13°C, day max 28°C) (55–82°F (night min 55°F, day max 82°F)). Moderate to high humidity reflecting its lower-elevation rainforest habitat. Supplement indoor humidity with pebble trays or a humidifier. Always maintain good air movement to prevent fungal leaf spot, which this species is susceptible to in stagnant humid air. If you keep the room above 13–28°C (night min 13°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 three-colored lycaste sparingly. Apply a balanced orchid fertiliser (20-20-20) at quarter-strength every two weeks during active growth from spring through summer. Reduce to once a month in autumn and winter. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that promote lush foliage at the expense of flowering. 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 three-colored lycaste in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Fungal leaf spotting — Brown or black spots expand quickly in warm, humid, still air. Improve ventilation immediately, remove affected tissue, and apply a systemic fungicide. Avoid overhead watering.
  • Bud blast — Developing flower buds drop prematurely when exposed to sudden temperature swings, draughts, or ethylene gas (from ripening fruit nearby). Keep plants in stable conditions away from heaters and fruit bowls during budding.
  • Scale insects — Brown or white waxy lumps appear on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides. Remove manually with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and treat with horticultural oil. Inspect regularly as scale spreads slowly but persistently.

Propagation

Divide at repotting in spring, ensuring each division retains 3+ pseudobulbs. Pot back-bulbs individually in moist sphagnum moss and place in a humid, warm position; new growth can take 6–12 months. Seed propagation requires laboratory flask conditions. 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

Three-Colored Lycaste is pet-safe. Lycaste is not individually listed by ASPCA, but orchids in the Orchidaceae family have no reported toxic principle and no documented cases of harm 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.

Three-Colored Lycaste care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Lycaste tricolor?

Lycaste tricolor is most commonly called Three-Colored Lycaste, but it is also known as Three-Colored Lycaste, Tricolor Lycaste. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Three-Colored Lycaste apply identically to anything sold as Tricolor Lycaste.

How much light does three-colored lycaste need?

Three-Colored Lycaste grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Grow in diffuse bright light, avoiding intense midday sun that will scorch the soft pleated leaves. An east-facing window or lightly shaded greenhouse provides the ideal balance. Insufficient light reduces flower count significantly.

How often should I water three-colored lycaste?

Water three-colored lycaste every 5–7 days in growth; reduce to every 10–14 days in winter. Keep the potting mix slightly moist during active growth — do not allow it to dry completely. Reduce watering from autumn through winter as growth slows. Always water at the base; standing water in leaf axils or new growth crowns promotes rot. 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 three-colored lycaste toxic to cats and dogs?

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

What USDA hardiness zone does three-colored lycaste grow in?

Three-Colored 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.

Three-Colored Lycaste deep-dive guides

Every aspect of three-colored lycaste care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Three-Colored Lycaste qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Three-Colored Lycaste is also commonly called Three-Colored Lycaste or Tricolor Lycaste.