Echmea ribbon(Aechmea fasciata) is native to the rainforests of South America, a beautiful plant closely related to pineapple. Only a few years old specimens bloom, but when this happens, the unusual flowering of the echmei, growing from the center of the leaf rosette, can be admired even for several months. See whatcare for the ribbon echmeigrown in a pot looks like, is it possiblereproduction of the ribbon echmeiat home and what are the problems in growing iechmei diseasescan threaten this plant.
Ribbon echmea
Plants of the genus Aechmeabelong to the large family of Bromeliaceae - pineapple, otherwise - bromeliads. Like most members of this family,banded echmea is an epiphyte , which means that it grows on tree limbs in the wild. In English, it is commonly known as Vase, meaning a vase. It refers to the habit of echmei, which forms a funnel-shaped rosette of green, ribbon-like leaves covered with a white coating. A pink inflorescence shoot grows from the center of the rosette. On its top there is a star-shaped echmei inflorescence that remains on the plant for about 3-4 months. "
Echmea ribbon - care
The care of the ribbon echmeigrowing in a pot should not be difficult for anyone. The most important thing is to respect her lifestyle in the natural environment. Therefore, the bestcultivation site for echmeiis a place with diffused light.However, this plant is also doing well in direct sunlight.
A little more effortwhen maintaining echmeirequires keeping the substrate moist. In nature, echmea, growing in the hollows of the bark, uses rainwater that flows down the leaves into a funnel-shaped opening formed by the leaves of the rosette. Therefore, in home conditionswatering the ribbon echmeis done by directing the stream of water to the inside of the rosette.
The substrate in which the plant grows should be constantly slightly moist.Water the echmea twice a week , preferably with rainwater. If we are unable to store rainwater for irrigation, we use stagnant water. To do this, pour water into bottles or other containers and leave it for a few days in a dark and warm place. It is very important to keep about 2.5 cm of water in the funnel of the leaf rosette, which we change every 3 weeks.
The optimal temperature for echmeiis 18-24 ° C.Younger plants have higher heat requirements than older plants. At temperatures below 20 ° C, juveniles of the echmei may rot. However, let's try that the ambient temperature does not exceed 27 ° C and does not fall below 12 ° C.
The cultivation of ribbon echmeiis carried out in small pots, and the best substrate is garden peat . As a rule, adult plants are not transplanted as the root system is very small. We only replant the specimens that begin to outgrow the pots. The pot is practically only to keep the plant upright. Echmea can be grown at home, also attached to a piece of bark, thanks to which it can create a hanging decoration. Suchechmea grown in a hanging structureshould be regularly sprinkled with water and ensure the constant presence of water inside the leaf rosette.
Ribbon echmea
Echmea ribbon, like other species of the family of bromeliads, blooms only once in a lifetime. After it has flowered, remove the echmeiby cutting it off at the base with a sharp knife or pruner. After fading, the old rosette slowly shrinks and dies, and 2-3 young break up at its base. Child rosettes are planted into separate pots. They will bloom after 2-4 years when they are of sufficient size. Echmea blooms spontaneously in summer, although there are examples that bloom at other times of the year.
Good to know!You can speed up the flowering of the ribbon echme by using a clever trick. In the funnel of the rosette of the young plant, place the core of the apple. The gas (ethylene) emitted from the core causes the flowering of even young plants.
Echmea ribbon - reproduction
Multiplication of the ribbon echmeiis very easy, it is done from the root suckers. For this purpose, prepare a small pot, put a drainage layer on its bottom, and then fill it with peat. We have to wait until the old rosette has completely died before separating the shoots that appear at the base of the mother plant.Then, with the help of a knife, we separate the young rosette from the old one. Properly preparedribbon echmei seedlingshould be half the height of the mother plant and have its own small roots. We plant the seedling in a new pot. Knead the substrate around the young rosette. Water the whole lot with plenty of water.
Ribbon echmea
Echmea ribbon - diseases and pests
1. Non-infectious diseases of the ribbon echoey
Rosette or inflorescence rotting- the cause is too much water and too low ambient temperature. We remove the water from the rosette funnel and dry the substrate in the pot. It is also worth moving the plant to a warmer and more airy room.
Drying leaves of echmei- the reason is too high temperature and too little watering. Water the plant and make sure that there is a 2.5 cm layer of water inside the rosette. We cover the plant with rainwater twice a week.
Inflorescence and inflorescence shoot wither and turn pale pink- this is a result of too low temperature, move the pot with echmea to a warmer place.
Note!Echmei's inflorescence dries up and fades after 7-8 weeks of flowering, when it begins to die. It is an natural phenomenon
2. Fungal diseases of the ribbon echmei
Fusarium gangrene of the base of pineapple shoots(Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp. Aechmeae) - infected plants have slow growth, andyellow small spots appear on the lower leaves of echmeiThen the leaves at the base of the rosette turn dark brown or black and then die. The fungus spreads mainly through contaminated soil. The first symptoms of the disease are visible 7 days after infection. The development of the disease is favored by high substrate humidity and temperature of around 25 ° C.
To prevent the development of fusarium gangrene, avoid excessive watering of the echmei When we notice the first symptoms of the disease, water the plant with Topsin M 500 SC (1 ml of the agent in 1 liter of water) or one of the biopreparations: Bioczos or Biosept Active, using 50 ml of liquid per 10 cm pot.
Root and base rot of pineapple shoots(Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp.) - diseased plants grow slower and wilt. After taking the plant out of the pot, you will notice a soft and dark brownrot of the roots and bottom leaves of echmeiAs with fusarium gangrene, to avoid rot, the echmea should not be allowed to grow in a water-soaked substrate. When we notice symptoms of the disease, we water the plant with Magnicur Energy 840 SL or with the above-mentioned biopreparations: Bioczos or Biosept, using a dose of 50 ml of liquid per pot with a diameter of 10 cm.
3. Pests of the ribbon echmei
The main pests of echmei are scales.These are bugs belonging to the group of June. Scales most often feed on young shoots on the lower side of the leaf.Yellow and brown spots form in the places of their feeding,echmei leaves deform and turn yellow , and plant growth is inhibited. The leaf surface is covered with a sticky discharge, the so-called honey dew or honeydew, which becomes a breeding ground for mushrooms. Plants attacked by scales are weakened and therefore more often attacked by diseases. Echmea is most often attacked by two species: Bromeliad Scale (Diaspis bromeliae) and Tarchnik echmeae (Gymnaspis aechmeae).
Forfighting scales on echmei , use Provado Care sticks (1 stick per 1 liter of substrate), Bros for scales (1 briquette per 1 liter of substrate) or Ultra PR thyroid sticks (1 stick per 1 liter of substrate). You can also watering or spraying with the preparation Polysect Long Acting 005 SL (60 ml of the agent in 1 l of water).
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
