Gusmania / guzmania

Refers to the family of bromeliads. Fatherland - the American jungle.

General description: The most often cultivated species in the indoor environment is Guzmania lingulata (Guzmania reed). Its curved, entire leaves reach 45 cm in length. The inflorescence of gusmania is very spectacular. As if all bromeliads, it is located on a long peduncle, owns bright red or orange bracts, in the center of which are a brush of small, whitish-yellow flowers. This variety grows quite wide enough, so many choose a more compact form of Guzmania lingulata minor.

There are other species: Guzmania zahnii (Guzmania Tsana), which has leaves up to 70 cm long, Guzmania musaica (Guzmania musica) with variegated leaves.

Plant care recommendations Guzmania:

Illumination : Photophilous, but in no way tolerates direct sunlight.

Irrigation regime : Abundant during the growth period (fill the outlet with a 2/3 leaf water), in winter moderate (watering into the soil).

Humidity : Guzmania requires regular spraying and wiping of leaves with a damp soft cloth.

Temperature regime : Moderate in the warm season (not above 25 ° C.). In winter it is optimal 15-20 ° C.

Soil : Proper benign drainage is required.

Recommended soil mixture: 1 share of sod land, 1 share of leaf land, 1 share of peat, 1 share of humus and 1 share of sand. A mishmash for orchids will do.

During the growth period, one needs fertilizing once a moon with fertilizer for bromeliads or usual at a concentration of 1/4 of the indicated on the package.

Breeding : Lateral shoots, which have roots, seeds (sow in loose soil).

Transfer: Once a couple of years in the spring. The root system of Guzmania is superficial, so the pot must be wide, but not deep.

Pests : Affected by a spider mite (in a dry atmosphere, leaves and stems are braided with cobwebs), scabbards (brown plaques appear on the leaves and stems, leaving sticky excretions), mealybugs (covered with white cotton woolly fluff), aphids.

The plant is allowed to help finish with a soap solution, warm washing and spraying with an actinic (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Guzmania - Guzmania