Repotting guide

When & how to repot Grasshopper Lycaste (Lycaste locusta)

Also called Grasshopper Lycaste.

More about grasshopper lycaste

About Grasshopper Lycaste

Lycaste locusta · also called Grasshopper Lycaste · tropical

Lycaste locusta is a small, fragrant Central American orchid whose vivid green flowers gave rise to the common name 'Grasshopper.' It grows sympodially with pleated deciduous leaves and demands a clear winter dry rest to flower reliably. Ideal for intermediate orchid collections with good humidity and airflow.

Mature size: 25–40 cm tall in leaf; single-flowered scapes 10–20 cm

Watch for — Root rot from overwatering: The most common killer. During and especially after the dry rest, excess moisture causes the fleshy roots to rot quickly. Use a free-draining mix, pots with drainage holes, and check root health at every repotting.

How to tell grasshopper lycaste needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For grasshopper lycaste, watch for these signs:

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new grasshopper lycaste leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot grasshopper lycaste

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Grasshopper Lycaste's growth habit — sympodial orchid with compact, egg-shaped pseudobulbs and 3–4 large pleated, deciduous leaves per growth — sets the pace. Lycaste locusta is a small, fragrant Central American orchid whose vivid green flowers gave rise to the common name 'Grasshopper.' It grows sympodially with pleated deciduous leaves and demands a clear winter dry rest to flower reliably. Ideal for intermediate orchid collections with good humidity and airflow.

What size pot to step grasshopper lycaste up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Grasshopper Lycaste grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot grasshopper lycaste

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for grasshopper lycaste. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting grasshopper lycaste

Time it for spring. Repot grasshopper lycaste in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip grasshopper lycaste out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh fast-draining fine orchid bark mix in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water grasshopper lycaste once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for grasshopper lycaste

Grasshopper Lycaste wants fast-draining fine orchid bark mix. Combine fine fir bark, perlite, and a small amount of sphagnum in roughly a 60:25:15 ratio. Net or clay pots aid drainage and aeration. Avoid heavy, moisture-retentive composts — standing moisture at the roots causes rapid rot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting grasshopper lycaste — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot grasshopper lycaste?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for grasshopper lycaste. Repot grasshopper lycaste roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh fast-draining fine orchid bark mix. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does grasshopper lycaste need?

When is the best time of year to repot grasshopper lycaste?

Can you put grasshopper lycaste straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing grasshopper lycaste should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise grasshopper lycaste after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting grasshopper lycaste. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.