Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Guzmania spp. |
Common name |
Guzmania. |
Family |
Bromeliads. |
Origin |
South America, Central America. |
Dimensions |
Up to 40 cm in height despite slow growth. |
Foliage |
The foliage is evergreen. The leaves are green, smooth and shiny. Lanceolate in shape, they are arranged in a rosette. |
Bloom |
Flowering can occur all year round, with a preference for late winter and summer. The floral bracts are red, yellow or orange in color. The flowers are very ephemeral and are white or yellow in color. |
Exposure |
Partial shade. |
Ground |
Acidic, rich, well drained. |
Rusticity |
Not hardy, +15°C. |
Native to tropical areas of South and Central America, Guzmanias belong to the Bromeliaceae family.
If the genus has more than 120 species, it is the
Guzmania lingulata
variety which is the most widespread in garden centers.
How to properly care for a guzmania?
Guzmania is a tropical plant that can be grown outdoors only in warm, humid regions.
In our latitudes, it is an indoor plant that can flourish in any living room.
It can have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years if taken care of.
Also read: The 12 easiest indoor green plants
Location:
Place your guzmania in a warm, sunny room with a temperature between 18 and 24°C throughout the year.
Growing in a greenhouse or veranda is possible, but watch the winter temperatures carefully!
Avoid locations close to a heat source or exposed to direct sunlight;
Substrate:
guzmania flourishes in a
rich, acidic and light substrate
, ideally composed of potting soil, heather soil and bark.
Otherwise, an orchid mix may be perfect for it;
Container:
due to its poorly developed roots, guzmania does not need a very deep pot.
Choose a pot about ten centimeters in diameter in which you will place a layer of clay balls to ensure drainage of the substrate.
How to maintain a guzmania?
Easy to grow, guzmania requires little maintenance.
Due to its slow growth and shallow roots,
it does not require pruning or repotting
.
You just need to provide it with enough water daily and fertilizer in spring (every 15 days with watering water).
Fairly resistant, guzmania suffers
few diseases
.
However, it can see its roots rot when it is overwatered, or its leaves be attacked by powdery mildew.
On the parasite side, it can be attacked by aphids and mealybugs.
Guzmania does not require pruning or repotting.
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How to water a guzmania?
Guzmania appreciates a humid environment and a well-drained substrate.
Also, it is preferable to water the plant
at the level of its leaves
rather than its roots, by pouring a little water into the center of its rosette.
When temperatures are between 18 and 20°C, a simple spraying of the guzmania leaves may be sufficient, in addition to light watering of the substrate.
How to make guzmania flower again?
Well maintained, a guzmania can maintain its flowering for several months.
However, once the flower dies, it is
very difficult to get it to bloom again
.
However, you can cut the flower which has turned brown to help the plant produce suckers which can give rise to new plants.
To do this, detach these suckers from the mother plant and plant them each in a pot.
With a little patience, you will get new plants and flowers!