Guzmania is a popular indoor flower in our time . It belongs to the bromeliad family. In its natural form, it is common in Central America and Brazil. It grows in tropical forests. Depending on the variety, guzmania may have a slightly different appearance. But plant species differ from each other not dramatically. They grow in the form of a rosette, the leaves are oblong, pointed up.
Depending on the
species, the 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 aerial roots, thanks to which they receive from the air most of the moisture necessary for photosynthesis. By the way, epiphytes include everyone’s favorite orchids, and many representatives of the Bromelievs, which include guzmania. How to care for such crops? We will consider this today.
Varieties and their differences
Guzmania can have flowers of various colors and sizes, mostly they are bright and large, with pointed oblong petals. The most common form is guzmania red. It is distinguished by a bright red hint of leaves. Her flowers are the same color. How to care for guzmania red, we will tell below. Growing this flower does not require too much effort.
The next variety is guzmania minor rondo. "How to care for her?" - This question must have been asked by any person who grows indoor flowers. Minor rondo is the most common representative of this genus among lovers of indoor plants. These beauties can have white or red colors. The leaves that surround the flower are also colored bright - usually orange or red. There are also varieties with striped leaves, but they are not so common.
Another variety is guzmania mix. How to care for her, many also think. Let's look at the basic rules for caring for plants of the genus Guzmania.
Indoor guzmania flower - how to care?
First of all, it is worth mentioning that this is an annual (in some cases, two-year-old) plant. And for many it comes as a surprise that the guzmania flower, how to care for it, we will now tell you, dries after flowering. This is quite natural. In place of a plant that dries up, young plants remain , from one to three. When they grow up, they must be transplanted, so you will again have a home decoration - beautiful guzmania.
Transfer
What to do if guzmania has grown, how to care for a plant that is crowded in its pot? The plant requires a very careful transplant, taking into account some nuances. And we’ll start talking about growing it with a description of this procedure, since you will need to perform it every year or every two years, depending on the type.
It is undesirable to transplant adult guzmania itself and it makes no sense, but with the young shoots that remain after the mother plant has dried, this procedure must be carried out. You can also separate the root sprouts during the life of the old plant. Then you need to do this before it blooms. Thus, you can not only propagate the plant, but also extend the life of the mother bush. So, we proceed to the transplantation of young guzmania. To do this, immediately prepare the pot.
What capacity is suitable for guzmania?
The flowerpot should not be too narrow and high, rather, on the contrary, it is necessary to choose wide low vessels. This is due to the fact that most bromeliads have a superficial root system, which branches more to the sides and does not go deeper. Guzmania flower is no exception. How to care for the plant, we will tell you later, but for now more about the transplant.
Drainage and soil
A drainage layer should be poured to the bottom. The lower the pot, the thinner, accordingly, this layer should be. But it should occupy a lot of space - one third of the height of the vessel. Expanded clay or polystyrene will be most appropriate as drainage. You also need to make a layer of coal. It prevents the occurrence of putrefactive processes in moist soil. So your guzmania will only be healthier. How to care for the plant that came to us from the hot tropics? The culture loves abundant watering, so the use of coal as drainage is necessary for its full growth. For this plant, special soil is also needed.
This can be either soil intended for bromeliads, or one that is made for orchids, since they have identical requirements for the soil. You can also prepare land suitable for guzmania yourself, but it is quite difficult. As additives, this kind of soil contains components that are difficult to find separately, for example, sphagnum. If you add it to the soil, as well as peat, pieces of bark and loose leafy soil, we get land in which guzmania will feel comfortable.
Transplant process
Having prepared the suitable soil, pour it into the pot a few centimeters, making a slight elevation in the gray. Gently put guzmania on it, spread the roots, trying in no way to damage them. This is quite complicated, because the root system of this plant is rather weak and fragile, so you need to try to do everything as carefully as possible. After filling the soil to the level of the plant’s neck, a couple of times tap the pot on the windowsill (or other surface on which it is located). This will allow the earth to be slightly tamped so you can add more. But in no case do not trample the soil in the pot with your hands, since guzmania loves the loose earth, which contains air. In order for the flower to take root well, put it in a warm place with good (but not too strong) lighting, in which there are no drafts.
Watering Rules
Guzmania flower, how to care for which, we continue to tell, likes regular and good watering. You could even say that he prefers high humidity in both soil and air. This is especially true for such a species as guzmania minor, which you will know how to care for by reading this article. It should be watered with warm water, but naturally not hot, its temperature should be slightly higher than room temperature. In addition, it should not be too tight. In order to get rid of excessive rigidity, you need to boil water and leave it to brew. In addition, it is necessary to regularly spray the leaves of the plant and generally the air around it to increase humidity. This is necessary because guzmania has essentially an underdeveloped root system, and it absorbs half of the moisture necessary for photosynthesis from the air with the help of leaves or aerial roots. In addition, when watering, one must take into account the fact that water is not poured into the ground around the flower, but into the outer layer of the outlet (not the inner one, as this can lead to decay of the root system).
Diseases and Pests
It is generally believed that guzmania is a plant that is very resistant to various diseases.
However, it may also be affected by parasites of various nature (whether it be insects or some fungus). It turns out this way mainly due to improper care. So, what kind of pests can this beautiful plant fall prey to? First of all, it can be said about scale insects, spider mites and root worms. It is these parasites that most often attack guzmania. The fact that pests are planted on the plant is evidenced by spots on the leaves and stems, mainly brown or black (it all depends on the particular variety of the parasite). You can fight them only with the help of chemicals - insecticides. But diseases that are not associated with parasites are most often caused by an imbalance of moisture in the room where the flower is located. As already mentioned, he loves the increased level of moisture around him. And therefore, if the air or soil is dry, the leaves of guzmania can begin to turn brown and gradually fall off. One way to deal with this is to regularly spray the plant and produce more frequent watering.
Fertilizer
Also, this indoor flower can be fed if you want to accelerate its growth or bring flowering closer. To do this, in principle, is not necessary. But if you see that the plant does not bloom (flowers usually appear in November), then know that it lacks minerals. To correct this kind of situation, you can use complex fertilizers that are designed for bromeliads or orchids. They need to be diluted with warm soft water and irrigated with plants as usual. This can be done no more than once every two to three weeks.