Bromeliads: species, care and reproduction

More and more often on the windowsills of city apartments you can see not only the usual, but also quite exotic flowers. They include even more recently known only to a narrow circle of flower growers bromeliads – an extremely decorative plant. In the wild, bromeliads are found mainly in South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.), but because of their unpretentiousness, they “migrate” to domestic conditions.

Plant description

Strictly speaking, of the four dozen species belonging to the genus Bromelia, amateur florists grow only Bromelia pinguin (in Russian usually called bromelia-penguin). However, ordinary people, despite the incomplete correctness in terms of biology, call Bromelia and many other species that belong to other genera of the Bromelia family. However, all of them are similar to each other in their main characteristics and cultivation rules.

Bromelia grown in indoor conditions is a perennial herbaceous plant with a strong root system and a short stem. It has unusually shaped and beautiful stiff leaves. They are usually covered with small but dense spikes, have a mottled color on a basic light green background and form a beautiful funnel. The flowering stem is long, on its tip, depending on the species of bromeliad, an inflorescence of one form or another is formed. Its color can be different, but most often it has shades of bright red or yellow.

Popular species.

Most often the following species of bromelia are cultivated at home, often combined in flower stores under the name “bromelia mix”:

1. Bromelia pinguin, commonly called wild pineapple. This species, unlike others, does grow edible and even tasty fruits (just have to get rid of the inedible pips and skin!). However, indoor cultivation of the penguin is not very easy, because it is a shrub almost two meters high. The long leaves are covered with yellowish-green spikes, and the small flowers are gathered in a cone-shaped inflorescence.
2. Guzmania is a less voluminous plant than Penguin, although it is not “dwarf” either. The dense leaves are strap-shaped, and are gathered in such a dense rosette that if water gets into it, it stays there for a long time. Gusmania flowers are considered less beautiful compared to the flowers of other bromeliads, but the leaf plates immediately adjacent to the flowers are very decorative: they are colored in different colors, from yellow to purple. The most famous are Gusmania lingualis and Gusmania nicaragua.
3. Vriesea is characterized by large, brightly colored inflorescences that are shaped like a broom or spike and are usually yellow-red in color. Beneath the inflorescence is a rosette of succulent, dense leaves. This rosette is more than half a meter in diameter on Vriesia Sanders, somewhat smaller on Vriesia glossy. The leaf plates themselves in some species have a purple hue, in others – a mottled hue.
4. Aechmea (Aechmea) has leaves with denticles forming a funnel, from which grows a long, thick flower stalk. The best-known are the mat-red Echmea (which has bluish flowers and bright red bracts) and the sparkling Echmea (which has coral-red flowers and bright pink bracts).
5. Tillandsia is outwardly very different from other bromeliads, mainly because its leaves are long but narrow. The most common are Tillandsia ‘Medusa’s Head’ with purple flowers about 3 cm long and Tillandsia blue with blue flowers and pink bracts.
6. Neoregelia (Neoregelia) is characterized by its broad and smooth leaves with spikes on the edges. The coloring of the leaves in the center of the rosette is pale, and the inflorescence is tassel-shaped. The best known are Neoregelia Carolina and Neoregelia tiger, which have a rosette about half a meter in diameter and strongly spiked leaves. In the tiger, the leaves have brown stripes.

Planting and care

All species of bromeliads are very unpretentious. In our conditions, their cultivation outside the apartment is complicated by wintering, but in the room the plant does not cause any special problems.

For any bromeliads need loose soil, under which a drainage layer is required, taking up to 30% of the pot. As a rule, 2 parts of fertile soil are mixed with 1 part of peat, 1 part of humus, add a little sand. Since planting is, in fact, the transplanting of a plant bought in a pot, it is very simple. Having poured a layer of soil on top of the drainage, make a hole of the required size, water it well. Remove the flower from the purchased (usually small) pot, shake off excess soil, plant it in the hole, tamp down the soil and water again.

When caring for a bromelia, there are some parameters to keep an eye on and the following operations should be performed:

1. Lighting. Light should be bright but diffused. Bright sunlight at noon can cause trouble to the plant in the form of leaf burns. Usually try to place the flower on the eastern side. In winter, illumination for several hours is necessary, but the light is directed not to the flower, but to the ceiling, for example.
2. Temperature. Optimal values – from 20 to 25 ^oCin summer and 15 … 18 ^oCin winter. Temperatures below 12 degrees can cause problems. Frequent ventilation of the room is necessary, and draughts should not be allowed.
3. Soil moisture. Water the bromeliad often, and in hot weather – almost every day. Experienced florists do it directly through the funnel of leaves, but you can water directly to the ground. The slightest drying of the surface layer indicates the need for watering, but you should not swamp the soil. In winter, water once every 5-7 days.
4. Air humidity must be at least 70%. In a dry climate near the pot with a flower can put an aquarium or just a container of water, and periodically should be sprayed on the leaves with a sprayer, using, as for watering, tempered water. In case of dusting the leaves, wipe them with a damp cloth.
5. Feeding. It is easiest to use ready-made mineral fertilizers for indoor flowers. In spring and summer, they are made according to the instructions 1 time in 2-3 weeks, in winter once every one and a half months is enough.
6. Pruning. It consists only in the removal of flowers after their withering and drying. Flowering usually occurs in summer and lasts, depending on the species, from 2-3 weeks to 3-4 months. Flower arrow is carefully cut off only after it has dried up.
7. Repotting. This operation is performed rarely, because bromeliads do not tolerate it very well. If the pot is already clearly small, which can be noticed by the appearance of roots on the surface or in the drainage holes, it is necessary to find a container with a diameter of 2-3 cm more and carefully carry out transplanting.

Propagation

The standard method of propagation of bromelia is by cuttings. This is done in the very end of winter or early spring. After flowering, buds appear at the base of the plant. From them grow young shoots, which should be allowed to get stronger for 2-3 months. They are neatly cut with a clean knife and for disinfection cover the cut places with crushed coal. After the cuttings have dried, plant the cuttings in a moistened sandy-peat mixture, leaving the leaves on the surface. Within 2 months, with frequent watering, they will root well.

Seed propagation is much less convenient, requires much more time, so amateur florists almost never use it.

Possible problems

Despite the comparative ease of growing bromeliads, obvious blunders of the florist can manifest themselves on the state of the flower. For example, when placed in bright sunlight, gray spots-burns form on the leaves. It is necessary to change the place for the pot. Yellowing of the leaves and even their wilting most often signals waterlogging of the soil or low temperature. Lack of moisture both in the soil and in the air is manifested by drying out of the leaf tips.

Diseases in bromeliads are very rare. It can be, for example, powdery mildew, which appears and is treated (with fungicides) in the same way as in the case of other plants. Among the pests, powdery worms or scale may sometimes appear. These can usually be removed by hand, followed by wiping the leaves with a soapy solution. In case of a mass infestation, insecticides may be used.

Bromelia is a very interesting plant. Its decorativeness owes much not even to the flowers (they, as a rule, are not too elegant), but to the leaves and bracts. Since the care of this American guest is relatively easy, its popularity among florists is rapidly growing.