Beauty guzmaniya: how to care

Gusmania is a popular flower in our time. It belongs to the family Bromeliads. In its natural form it is common in Central America and Brazil. He grows in the rainforests. Depending on the variety, guzmania can have several different appearance. But plant species differ from each other not crucially. They grow in the form of rosettes, the leaves are oblong, pointed upward. Depending on the type of leaves can reach from thirty to sixty centimeters in length. In nature these plants are epiphytes (that is, they are attached not to the ground, but to other plants), so they have air roots, due to which they receive most of the moisture necessary for photosynthesis from the air. By the way, epiphytes include all beloved orchids, and many representatives of the Bromeliads, to which guzmania belongs. How to care for such cultures? This we will consider today.

Varieties and their differences

Guzmania can have different in color and size flowers, mostly bright and large, with pointed elongated petals. The most common species is red guzmania. It is distinguished by a bright red leaf retention. Her flowers are of the same color. How to care for red guzmania, we will tell below. Growing this flower does not require too much effort.

The next variety is the gusmania of the minor rondo. "How to care for her?" - this question was probably asked by any person who grows indoor flowers. Minor rondo is the most common representative of this genus among lovers of indoor plants. These handsome men can have white or red flowers. The leaves that surround the flower are also painted in bright colors - usually orange or red. There are also varieties with leaves in stripes, but they are not so common.

Another variety - guzmaniya mix. How to care for her, too, think many. Let's consider the basic rules of care for plants of the genus Guzmania.

Indoor flower of guzmania - how to care?

First of all, it is worth mentioning that this is an annual (in some cases a two-year) plant. And for many, it is a surprise that the flower of guzmania, how to take care of which, we now tell you, it withers after flowering. This is quite natural. On the site of the plant, which withers, there are young plants, from one to three. When they grow up, they need to be transplanted, so you will again have a home decoration - fine humanness.

Transfer

What to do if the growing gusmania, how to care for a plant that is cramped in its pot? The plant requires a very careful transplant, taking into account some nuances. And the conversation about its cultivation will begin with the description of this procedure, since you will need it every year or every two years, depending on the species. It is undesirable to transplant the adult guzmany, and there is no sense, but with young shoots left after the drying of the mother plant, it is necessary to conduct this procedure. It is also possible to separate radical shoots during the life of the old plant. Then you need to do this before it blossoms. Thus, you can not only propagate the plant, but also extend the life of the mother bush. So, let's start the transplantation of young guzmania. To do this, you must immediately prepare a pot.

Which container is suitable for guzmania?

The pot should not be too narrow and high, rather, on the contrary, one should choose wide low bowls. This is explained by the fact that most bromeliads have a superficial root system, which branches out more than the sides, and does not go deep. The flower of guzmania is no exception. How to care for the plant, we will talk later, but for now more on the transplant.

Drainage and soil

A drainage layer should be placed on the bottom. The lower the pot, the thinner, respectively, should be this layer. But it should occupy a lot of space - one third of the height of the vessel. As a drainage, it will be most appropriate to use expanded clay or polystyrene foam. You also need to make a layer of coal. It prevents the appearance of putrefactive processes in moist soil. So it will only be healthier your humanness. How to care for a plant that came to us from the hot tropics? The culture loves copious watering, so the use of coal as a drain is necessary for its full growth. A special primer is also required for this plant. This can be both a primer intended for bromeliads, and one that is made for orchids, since they have identical requirements to the soil. It is also possible to prepare a land suitable for guzmania, independently, but it is quite difficult. As additives in this kind of soil are components that are difficult to find separately, for example, sphagnum. If you add it to the ground, as well as peat, bits of bark and loose leafy earth, we will get a land in which guzmania will feel comfortable.

Transplant process

After preparing a suitable soil, pour it into the pot a few centimeters, making a slight elevation of the gray hair. Gently place Guzmania on it, straighten the roots, trying in no case to damage them. This is quite difficult, because the root system of this plant is rather weak and fragile, so you should try to do everything as accurately as possible. Drowning the soil to the level of the neck of the plant, hit the pot on the window sill a couple of times (or another surface on which it is located). This will allow the earth to be tamped down slightly, so that you can add more. But in no case do not trample the soil in the pot with your hands, as guzmania loves loose ground, which contains air. To a new place the flower is well established, put it in a warm place with good (but not too strong) lighting, in which there are no drafts.

Watering rules

Flower guzmaniya, how to care for that, we continue to tell, loves regular and good watering. You can even say that he prefers elevated humidity of both soil and air. Especially it concerns such kind, as гузмания a minor, how to look after which, you will know, having read this article. Water it with warm water, but, naturally, not hot, its temperature should be slightly above room temperature. In addition, it should not be too rigid. In order to get rid of excessive hardness, you need to boil water and leave it to stand. In addition, it is necessary to regularly spray the leaves of the plant and in general the air around it to increase moisture. This is necessary because guzmania is essentially an underdeveloped root system, and half of the moisture necessary for photosynthesis, it absorbs from the air with the help of leaves or air roots. In addition, when watering, you need to take into account the fact that water is poured not into the ground around the flower, but into the outer layer of the socket (not into the interior, as this can lead to decay of the root system).

Diseases and pests

In general, it is considered that guzmania is a plant very resistant to a variety of diseases. However, it can also be affected by parasites of different nature (be it insects or some kind of fungus). It turns out mostly because of improper care. So, what kind of pests can this very beautiful plant become? First of all, it can be said about scabbards, spider mite and root canker. It is these parasites that most often attack guzmania. There are stains on the leaves and stems, mainly brown or black (that all depends on the particular variety of the parasite) that plants are infected with pests. Fight them with only chemical means - insecticides. But diseases that are not related to parasites are most often caused by imbalance of moisture in the room where the flower is located. As already mentioned, he likes an increased level of moisture around him. And therefore, if the air or soil is dry, the leaves of guzmania can begin to become brown and gradually fall off. The way to deal with this is to spray the plant regularly and to produce more frequent watering.

Fertilizer

Also, this indoor flower can be fed if you want to accelerate its growth or bring flowering closer. Doing this in principle is not necessary. But if you see that the plant does not bloom (flowers usually appear in November), then you know that it lacks minerals. To correct this kind of situation you can use complex fertilizers, which are designed for bromeliads or orchids. They need to be diluted with warm soft water and make it watering the plants as usual. You can do this no more than once every two to three weeks.