Exotic flower of gusmania

The flower of guzmania has more than 120 different species, it belongs to the family of bromeliads. In the natural environment, these flowers grow on other plants. They have very weak and undeveloped roots, which are used only to attach to the plant. All the nutrients the flower of guzmania receives through the funnel, which is formed by a leaf rosette. This should be taken into account if you decide to grow this plant at home.

The most common flower is guzmania reed. This is a low, but very beautiful plant. Water it is necessary in the funnel, which form the leaves. The flower of guzmania is practically odorless, but it looks very beautiful, because it has an unusual shape. Some lovers point out that in this plant only bracts are beautiful, and the flowers are less good, but this is a matter of taste and we will not argue.

Guzmania - care, reproduction

As already mentioned, guzmania has an underdeveloped root system and, under abundant watering of the soil, its decay may occur. It is better to conduct watering in a leaf outlet, for this use water, which is settled and has room temperature. After such watering a part of the water will pour out onto the soil and this will be quite enough. If it is very hot and dry weather, then it is worthwhile to conduct additional watering of the plant. In the funnel it is necessary that there should always be water, the drying of the funnel is permissible only in winter and then not for a long period.

Guzmania loves warmth, and therefore the temperature should not be below + 16-18 ° C. The plant does not tolerate drafts, in winter it likes strong lighting, and in the summer it needs to be shaded.

When using soil for growing guzmania, it is best to buy ready-made substrates for bromeliads. If you can not buy a ready-made soil, you can make it yourself. For this it is necessary to mix 2 parts of the sphagnum moss, 2 parts of the crushed pine bark, 1 part of sand and leaf ground.

It is best to feel guzmania in low and wide pots, since the plant has a fairly short period of life, then it does not make sense to transplant it.

Experienced gardeners recommend a periodic spraying of the flower. To do this, use either well-settled water or rainwater. In winter, do not place the plant near the heating devices, as it will quickly dry up.

This type of plant in nature receives a small amount of nutrients. Therefore, when growing home it is better to guzmanyu a little underfeed than to give it an abundance of nutrients. Top dressing is carried out during the time when the plant is intensively growing. To do this, use a weak solution of nutrients, which can either spray the flower, or pour into a rosette of leaves. Enough 2-3 feeding in a season, so that the plant itself feels good and in order not to create an overabundance of nutrients.

If you will properly take care of guzmania, in the second year it will start to bloom. The flowering period lasts about 2 months. After the end of flowering, the main plant ceases to develop and begins to form numerous offspring.

An alternative to guzmania can be a cymbidium flower, which refers to the species of orchids. To fully develop this plant, moist air must be maintained. It requires a lot of fertilizer. Before the beginning of flowering for the appearance of flowers, it is necessary that at night there is a decrease in temperature.

Cymbidium is affected by a spider mite and scabbards, this occurs if the air is over-dried. When growing plants outdoors, viral diseases are possible, but when grown indoors they practically do not occur.

The most common species are the remarkable cymbidium, Devon's cymbidium, ivory cymbidium. In its pure form, Cymbidium is practically not grown, mostly hybrids are distributed.