Guzmania(Guzmania minor) belongs to the pineapple plant family (Bromeliaceae). It creates a funnel-shaped rosette of leaves, inside which a star-shaped inflorescence of intense colors develops. Guzmania has specific requirements, andsuccess in growing Guzmaniadepends on proper care. Correctwatering guzmaniaLike other pineapple plants,guzmania dies after flowering , but can be done beforehandreproduction of guzmania , obtaining new specimens and thus extending the life of the plant.
Guzmania - Guzmania minor
Guzmania - cultivation
Guzmania is grown in high air humidityLow air humidity initially leads to drying of the tips of the leaves and then loss of leaves. The plant should be fogged with soft water once a day, especially in summer.When moistening the warthog leaves, try not to soak the flowers.In winter, place the pot with the warthog on a stand filled with stones and water to such a height that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water surface. We regularly replenish the water in the base.
Guzmania is a thermophilic plantThe temperature should not drop below 18 ° C throughout the year. The optimal temperature in summer is 18-24 ° C (up to a maximum of 27 ° C), and in winter 15-18 ° C - with reduced ground and air humidity.Guzmania likes sunny places, but must be protected from direct sunlightwhich can damage delicate leaves and flowers.Flowers fade very quickly in dimly lit rooms.
The substrate for gargoyle cultivation must be lightso that the roots have as much air as possible. A mixture of cactus or orchid substrate with an admixture of sphagnum moss and sand is best. Drainage is necessary in the pot (from expanded clay, broken ceramics, etc.). Guzmania can also be grown on boughs or pieces of bark, in a small amount of substrate, hung on walls or under the ceiling.
Fertilizing Guzmania is practically unnecessaryIt is enough once a year (in spring) spray the substrate with diluted biohumus fertilizer for flowering plants.
Guzmania - Guzmania
Fig. pixabay.com
After flowering is complete, the flower shoot starts to dry upand suckers start to appear around the base of the shoot. Cut the drying shoot as close to the base as possible. Continue to cultivate the rest of the plant until it starts to die.
Guzmania - watering
Guzmania requires high air humidity, but moderate substrate humidity. Too moist soil leads to rotting of the roots.Water Guzmania by sprinkling the leaves and the substrate with soft and chlorine-free water 2-3 times a week , when the top layer of the substrate is dry. In winter, watering is limited to once a week. Additionally, place the pot with the plant in an orchid casing (with a narrowing inside where the pot stops). Water is poured onto the bottom of the casing, to such a height that it does not touch the bottom of the pot and cannot soak up. In this way, the evaporating water moisturizes the substrate in the pot with the warthog. The water at the bottom of the casing should be replenished and replaced with a new one once a week. If we water the warthogs too rarely or too modestly, the leaves from the bottom of the rosettes dry up and turn brown.
On sunny days, fill the inside of the leaf rosette with water to a height of 2.5 cm. We replace the water with fresh water every 3 days.When the air temperature in the room drops below 21 ° C, the water from the leaf rosette must be removed, otherwise the plant will start to rot from the inside. Water should not be poured into the rosette at the time of flowering.When guzmania starts to bloom, reduce watering
Guzmania - reproduction
Guzmania is propagated from cuttings.Towards the end of flowering, outgrowths begin to appear in the lower part of the rosette. At this time, the mother plant begins to die off. When the suckers reach half the height of the mother plant and roots begin to appear on them,separate them and plant them in separate potsThe planted seedlings are watered abundantly and wrapped in foil to maintain high air humidity. Plants take root very quickly at room temperature. The plants obtained from the cuttings will bloom after 2-3 years.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
