Vriesia splenrietis is a stemless indoor flower of original appearance and incredible beauty, an unpretentious plant of the Bromeliad family in its care. It is the best variety among the existing types of breezes, whose homeland is Argentina and Central America.
General information on vriesia
All varieties of vriesia are very beautiful and are shrubs with wide long leaves growing in the shape of a rosette. Sometimes the volume of such a natural capacity can reach 5 liters.
The representative of the tropics draws special attention during the flowering period, when he throws a long spike-shaped peduncle with small tubular flowers collected in inflorescences. The flowering process is an impressive sight; the timing falls on February-April or May-July and does not last long, but stipules retain their decorativeness for a long period, sometimes up to several months. The fruit is a box with the crested seeds in it. In indoor floriculture, there are 20 types of vriesia, in natural conditions - about 250.
Decorative qualities of vriesia
The flowering time is often close to the New Year holidays, therefore, abroad vriesia splenriet is associated with the advent of the New Year and is used in various flower arrangements.
A very original representative of the Bromelievs, with the ability to attach to other plants with the help of roots, looks in epiphytic trees, living room interiors, halls of office buildings, group flower arrangements and
vertical landscaping. In the natural environment it grows on trees and can be attached to rocks. At home, in addition to the usual potting method, indoor culture can be grown on bark, snags, in hanging baskets. An interesting observation: the leaves of vreezia towards the light incident on them always take a perpendicular position.
Description
Vriesia flower splenrius (otherwise, brilliant) - adapted for growing at home and is a herbaceous perennial with spotty green leaves. The rosette of a flower, also called due to the peculiarities of its coloring “fire sword” and “tiger bromeliad”, is quite wide.
The spike-shaped inflorescence is located on a bright red peduncle and reaches a height of about 80 cm. The flowers are yellow, surrounded by bracts of bright red leaves.
Growing conditions
Vriesia splenriethe care is quite unpretentious and feels good at a temperature of +20 ° C. It does not tolerate heat, as well as direct sunlight, which can cause flower burns. In winter, the temperature indicator should not fall below +15 ° C. Vriesia splenriet loves light, but without direct sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to place it in the western and eastern parts of the room, taking care of the shading in the summer.
Vriesia splenitis: home care
Vriesia is a fairly hygrophilous plant; regular watering is required. In the summer, moisture should be supplied daily. It is very important that the leaf outlet is always filled with water, except for the period of the appearance of the peduncle. Otherwise, the inflorescence of such an amazing plant as vriesia splenrius may rot. Home care consists in the regular replacement of outlet water (every 3 days); it is recommended to soak the old with a napkin or a soft cloth.
With the advent of winter, the number of irrigation needs to be reduced, keep water in the outlet for 2-3 hours a day, and when the temperature drops, it does not fill at all. Irrigation water should be soft, settled, warm; it is recommended to immediately pour out the remains of the pallet. Vriesia splenrietum also needs daily spraying. During the hot period, water must be sprayed 2 times a day. In this case, it is undesirable to fall on the flowers, as they can become covered with brown spots.
A potted plant can be kept on a pallet with expanded clay, moss and wet pebbles; the bottom of the container should not touch water. It is recommended to regularly wipe the leaves of vriesia with a wet sponge.
Feeding Activities
Feeding, for which complex fertilizers are used for orchids or the Bromeliad, should be carried out only before flowering. Due to non-participation in the nutritional process of the root system with a diluted composition, you need to spray the plant completely or fill it in the middle of the outlet.
Very often, vriesia splenrietum, the care of which requires certain knowledge, is delayed in flowering, therefore, this process can be stimulated with the help of ethylene - a gas formed during the ripening of some fruits. Near the plant, put a few bananas or apples, cover them with polyethylene and wait for the result. With the correct content of a houseplant, the application of such measures may not be necessary: ​​the flowering of vriesia will come in due time.
Propagation by layering
Vriesia splenitis (photo presented in the article) reproduces in two ways: seed and vegetative. In the vegetative method, planting materials are young shoots formed from the parent plant at the end of flowering. Within 1-2 months, they are overgrown with weak roots and several leaves. During this period, care for an adult plant with children consists in lightly spraying from a spray bottle; water is not poured into the outlet. Separating children for independent growth is better at the moment when they reach 1/3 of the size of the maternal instance. Recommended planting mix: sand, pine bark and leafy soil (1: 1: 3). Transplanted plants should organize the greenhouse effect by covering the planting container with film or glass. In a month - the time during which young shoots have time to take root, they can be transplanted to a permanent place of growth. Vegetation-propagated vriesia will please flowering 4 years after planting.
Seed propagation method
The use of the seed method of reproduction is possible only when using artificial pollination. For this, the winged seeds of the plant must be fully allowed to mature on the peduncle. Recommended soil composition for sowing: sphagnum moss and sand in equal parts.
Seeds pre-treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and dried should be sown in the prepared soil, moistened with a spray bottle and covered with polyethylene or glass. Keep at a temperature of + 22-25 ° C, periodically opening for ventilation. It will be possible to rejoice at the first shoots in 3 weeks. Further, having waited for the appearance of three full-fledged leaves, one should pick the young plants into a mixture consisting of peat, leaf and sod land in a ratio of 4: 1: 2.
In individual containers, plants can be planted after six months. By flowering, vreezia splenrietum, the reproduction of which was carried out by seed, will delight after 5 or more years from the moment of planting.
Transfer
Vriesia splenrietum, care of which brings a lot of pleasure and spiritual pleasure to true gardeners, does not like frequent transplants and takes root very poorly after them. An adult plant can be disturbed once every 3-4 years; young specimen - 1 or 2 times, until the formation of the first inflorescences. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring and in the summer - during the period of active growth of room culture. In the process of transplantation, you need to carefully handle the roots, trying not to damage them. Do not bury the center of the outlet into the soil, otherwise the neck may rot and the plant will die. It is recommended to cover the bottom with a layer of fine garden gravel or expanded clay, pour the soil mixture on top and fill it with voids after placing the plant; It is advisable to transfer vriesia into a new pot by transshipment. Very careful should be treated with weak and brittle roots, which are characterized by spleriethesia vriesia.
Transplanting after purchase is completely optional, in addition, if the plant is flowering. Young specimens obtained from the mother bush can be transplanted in the first few years, with a frequency of 1 time in 2 years.
Diseases of Vriesia
Vriesia is quite resistant to pests and diseases, but improper care and non-compliance with growing rules reduce the immunity of the plant and can lead to negative processes such as:
- The appearance of spotting is a sign of severe overmoistening, which can cause decay and death of the plant.
- Leaf deformation and stunting. Occurs with severe hypothermia, excess moisture and dry air.
- Loss of decorativeness and a strong pallor of inflorescences. Observed with a lack of lighting.
- Light brown spots on the leaves. Indicate of sunburn.
- Drying of the tips of the leaves, their darkening and curling. May be triggered by too dry indoor air and insufficient watering.
- Rotting inflorescences and peduncle. The reason for this negative process may be too cool air and an excess of water in the leaf outlet.
- Acquisition of brown leaves with the tips, their drying. Such signs may appear with hardness of irrigation water.
Pests
Yellowing, drying and twisting of leaf plates can be a sign of the presence of a bromeliad shield. Parasitizing on the underside of the leaves, such a pest causes the flower to lag behind in growth and lose its external attractiveness. You can save vriesia from the pest by wiping the leaves with a soap or alcohol solution; with a massive invasion, treatment with Actellik and Karbofos will help.
Mealyworms are not indifferent to vriesia . Sucking the juice of a plant, they delay the latter in growth and development. Indoor flower loses its decorativeness and is even able to die. The presence of such pests can be determined by a cotton-like white coating, sugary secretions and the appearance of soot fungus. It is recommended to clean the flower with a soft, damp brush, then gently wash it under running water. This procedure using a soap solution is recommended to be repeated once a week. In case of massive pest damage, insecticides “Karbofos”, “Decis”, “Actellik”, “Fosbetsis” should be used.
Sometimes on the plant you can observe the appearance of the thinnest web, indicating the presence of a red spider mite. Leaf plates become transparent and stained. In this case, a soap solution will also help, which should wipe the affected areas. The pest can be completely eliminated by using insecticides. Processing with chemical agents should be done very carefully, preventing them from getting on the ground.
Varieties of vriesia
In spite of the fact that spleriet is the most popular and demanded in indoor floriculture, the species of plants of the Bromeliad family fascinate with their beauty, they stop looking at themselves and attract attention.
Incredibly charming Vriesia Sanders. The epiphytic plant is distinguished by a low-flowered panicle inflorescence, decorated with bilinear yellow and pale green bracts. The upper side of the leaves is densely covered with brown dots and ash scales; the underside is spotty. Flowering time: October-December.
Unevenly colored green leaves, a thin drooping peduncle and an almost square inflorescence inflorescence are characterized by kreezia keeled. Under natural conditions, grows in eastern Brazil as an epiphyte and terrestrial culture. Flowering period: June-July.
Royal Vriesia. A flower stalk of this kind is capable of reaching 2 meters in height. The flowers of the plant are very fragrant, characterized by white color, gradually turning into yellow. The leaves are large, greenish-gray, about 1.5 meters in length.