Echmea is an example of home care. Aechmea - decoration from the rainforest

Aechmea striata is a flowering herbaceous perennial whose main feature is that only one flower appears on each stem. And after it fades, the trunk also dies. And the plant itself continues to live in side rosettes. The homeland of echmea is tropical forests, where it grows in hollows of trees (or in other voids formed in their trunks), or hang in a web from the branches of trees.

This annual belongs to the bromeliad family, which includes a huge number of different plants growing on the ground, as well as receiving basic nutrients from the air.

Ehmeya striped feels great at home, for this you should provide this flower with appropriate care.

First of all, you should decide which type of echmea is more suitable for a particular room. There are a lot of varieties of this flower that can be grown at home.

Gallery: echmea (25 photos)

How to grow echmea (video)

Echmea striped (fasciata)

This flower has a small and voluminous stem, leathery foliage grows on it, and it grows in a spiral. These leaves form a kind of funnel into which raindrops flow in nature and can stay there for several days (and longer). The leaves are bent down (approximately from the middle of the leaf plate). The smooth shiny foliage has a dark emerald color, across the leaves there are stripes of a silvery hue and an indefinite shape. Because of these stripes, ehmeya was called "striped". Leaves under natural conditions can grow in length up to 1.3 - 1.5 m, but at home their length is much less (no more than 0.8 - 0.9 m).

Perennial blooms in spring or summer. A peduncle grows from the middle of the leaf funnel (the length of which can reach 40 - 45 cm), on which an inflorescence of a loose spike-shaped form gradually opens. The main beauty of such a “flower” is given by large bracts of a light pink hue, among which small purple flowers with a blue tint bloom. These flowers only complement the beauty of the inflorescence, and the bracts have the main decorative effect.

After the end of flowering, the main rosette dies along with the flower, and the perennial continues its life in the lateral processes. So this plant spreads gradually over a large area.

Echmea striped (fasciata)

Aechmea sparkling

The stem and leaves of this type of echmea are similar to the striped echmea, only the color of the leaves differs. The sparkling perennial has smooth and shiny foliage on the upper side, light emerald, and the reverse side is green with a purple tint.

This perennial blooms, like other species, in spring or summer. A voluminous peduncle up to 13-15 cm high appears from the center of the rosette, on which a spike-shaped inflorescence grows, covered with coral bracts. In their axils, very small flowers of a pale blue color bloom. Flowering can last up to 1.5 months. If during this period fruits (red berries) have time to appear, then the peduncle does not die off until they are fully ripe. After the death of the peduncle, the main rosette also dies, and the plant continues its growth from the side branches.

Aechmea sparkling

Echmea curved

The rosette of this plant consists of elongated leaves that grow from a tube. The length of the leaves can reach 38 - 40 cm, and in width - 1.3 - 1.5 cm. The edges of the leaves are slightly serrated. Peduncle in length grows up to 18 - 20 cm, elongated inflorescence, bracts and petals - a bright red hue.

Echmea curved

Ehmeya tailed

The leaves from this rosette stick out in different directions, their color is bright emerald, there is a border with yellow stripes with a cream tint. The inflorescence is paniculate, the flowers are yellow with a golden hue, located on a thick peduncle (which is about 40 cm long), bracts are yellow.

Ehmeya tailed

Echmea matte red

The rosette has the shape of a funnel, the foliage is densely located, has an elongated tongue-shaped shape, a soft green hue, a lilac hue from below, small spikes are located along the edges. The foliage tapers slightly towards the base. The peduncle has a red color, at its top is a pyramidal inflorescence. The flowers have large sepals, bright red, the petals are pale blue. After flowering, fruits appear - pink. Flowering usually lasts at least 1.5 months.

Echmea matte red

Echmea golostalky

The leathery foliage is densely collected at the base in a short dense rosette. The leaves seem to be chopped off at the ends, on the edges there are sharp black spines of medium length, the color of the leaves is green with a gray tint. The shape of the inflorescence is spike-shaped, the peduncle is erect, long, small flowers are planted close to each other, do not fully open.

Aechmea shaggy

The foliage of this species of Echmea up to 1 m long is collected in a rosette, small teeth are located along the edge. Small yellow flowers are located on the spike-shaped inflorescence, bracts are red. Blooms in winter period.

Aechmea shaggy

Aechmea Weilbach

The socket is “assembled” from leathery xiphoid foliage, red-green in color with a copper tint, intensifying towards the base of the leaves. The inflorescence is complex, located on a peduncle 50 cm high. The bracts are large, red, the flowers are small, located in bracts, the sepals grow together almost halfway, the petals are blue with a purple tint, along the edge there is a white border. Throughout the height of the peduncle are bracts of raspberry color with a pink tint..

Aechmea Weilbach

Ehmeya two-row

This species has loose rosettes, their foliage is elongated, narrow, up to 50 cm long and about 2.8 cm wide, along the edge are small brown spikes. The bracts are red, and the small flowers themselves are purple.

Ehmeya two-row

Optimal conditions for growing a flower at home

The optimal conditions for growing indoor echmea at home are:

• air temperature - about 20 degrees;
• the soil is moist;
• In order for the roots to develop better, special preparations should be applied to the soil.

Usually this flower is extremely unpretentious, so beginner gardeners can also take care of it.

Echmea breeding methods

Ehmeya, after landing in a flowerpot, grows and gains strength for at least three to four seasons, then a peduncle appears from the rosette, at the end of which small flowers bloom in the bracts. After the inflorescence has withered, the peduncle itself is carefully removed from the outlet and destroyed.

The plant itself is transplanted into a larger pot. Over time, several children grow up near the main outlet. Aechmea is cared for until the children grow to the size of the mother bush. The mother bush dies off over time, and the children are seated in separate flowerpots.

How to care for echmea (video)

Planting and transplanting echmea

Plants of the bromeliad family do not require frequent repotting, since the roots practically do not supply nutrients to the flowers, but are rather a means of fastening to the ground. Usually transplanted echmea every three seasons(or if the soil mix is ​​depleted). The pot in which this perennial is planted should be wide, but shallow.

The plant is planted in a wide and shallow flowerpot, and this must be done very carefully so as not to damage the root system of the flower. The soil can be bought in a specialty store (mixture for bromeliads). But the substrate can be prepared by yourself. For this, humus, peat and sphagnum and half of the river sand are taken in equal parts. Charcoal and horn shavings are also added there. A layer of drainage is necessarily laid out at the bottom of the flowerpot.

Usually transplanted echmea every three seasons

Features of caring for echmea at home

Care for this tropical perennial consists of watering, fertilizing, protection from diseases and pests. If all the rules are followed, then the plant will grow well and will certainly please with its flowering.

The plant needs bright sunlight in the morning and evening hours, direct hits are allowed sun rays on foliage. If a flower with hard foliage grows indoors, then they should be shaded in the middle of the day so as not to cause burns on the leaves. In winter, additional lighting is usually installed so that the daylight hours of the echmea are at least 12 hours.

In summer, the temperature in the room should be maintained at about 23 degrees, and in winter - about 19 degrees.

Watering

The soil mixture should be constantly slightly moist. In spring and summer, watering should be carried out in a flower outlet. The water level in the outlet should be monitored, and once every 30 days this water is drained, the outlet is washed. Then fresh water is poured into the outlet. Water is poured into the daughter processes only when they reach the appropriate size.

In spring and summer, watering should be carried out in a flower outlet.

Since this perennial is tropical, it loves a humid atmosphere very much. You can maintain such humidity at home by regular spraying of settled leaves. warm water.

top dressing

These perennial tropical plants are fed more often in spring and summer than in winter.. Usually, special preparations should be used for this. You can use complex fertilizers that are used to fertilize flowering plants, but the concentration for feeding echmea should be half as much as it is written in the annotation for the drug.

Once a month, you can carry out foliar feeding of these flowers. In winter, top dressing is applied to the substrate every 30 days, and one part of the preparation is taken for 4 parts of water.

Ehmeya in the spring and summer is fed more often than in winter

Protection against diseases and pests

This flower can be affected by the following pests:

• bromeliad scale;
• aphids;
• mealybug;
• spider mite.

If the owners notice the first signs of pest damage, then the soil in the pot should be covered with polyethylene or other protective material and the plant should be washed under running water. warm water. Then you need to treat the flower with the appropriate chemicals.

But echmea is not affected by any special diseases. Most often, the plant can suffer from improper care.

How echmea breeds (video)

Lack of flowering and other problems when growing echmea

This perennial may not begin its flowering. This is due to the lack sunlight. Therefore, the foliage can change its color. It is enough to move the pot with the plant to a sunny place.

Due to improper watering, echmea may begin to rot.. The first sign will be a change in the color of the leaves - they will begin to turn brown. This color of the foliage may indicate that the room where the flower is standing is too low an air temperature.

Recently, more and more often at home they are trying to breed exotic plants. And echmea is one of those tropical plants that do not require special care and have a wonderful decorative look. And if you wish, from the many varieties of this perennial, you can choose the most liked specimen for your apartment.

Estimate

Growing in an apartment or house, striped echmea belongs to exotic plants that require the creation of necessary, but uncomplicated conditions. A feature of echmea is that after a single flowering, the plant dies, so you should take care of its reproduction in advance.

Indoor plant ehmeya - description

An exotic, unusual plant that conquers with its asceticism, has the appearance of a rosette, which is formed by fleshy, elongated leaves. Different kinds ehmei have elongated, leathery, leafy plates that differ in length and width, and also have spines (notches) along the edges. In the process of flowering in the outlet, a peduncle is formed, which may have different forms and colors, in accordance with the species, but for the most part - the inflorescence is large and spectacular.

Flower growers often breed striped echmea, these flowers are the most beautiful representatives of this plant. Green leaves of a dark shade with silvery stripes up to 50 cm long form a tubular rosette. From the middle, over time, a peduncle appears with an inflorescence of a capitate-pyramedal shape, the color of the petals of which is bluish at first, and by the end of flowering it is blue-red.

Ehmeya striped - home care

Caring for echmea indoor flowers is simple, but for comfort and the possibility of flowering, the following rules should be followed:

1. Provide bright, diffused lighting, this will create the prerequisites for flowering. It is best to keep echmea on windowsills that exclude the north and south sides, protect the flower from drafts and the hot rays of the sun.
2. The plant does not tolerate heat, but loves warmth, in summer it grows superbly at 20-27 ° C, in winter it is desirable to provide a temperature of 17-18 ° C in the room.
3. Moisturizing the soil should be regular, especially in the spring and autumn, prolonged drought will destroy the plant. In summer - use soft, settled water to irrigate the soil and add a little to the leaf socket, in winter this is not necessary.
4. Create an echmea striped high humidity, to do this, regularly spray it with warm water or place a container with a flower in a tray, at the bottom of which pour pebbles, which you constantly moisten.

Soil for echmea

For comfortable growth and care of striped echmea, a special mixed substrate is suitable for growing orchids or bromeliads. For a self-prepared composition, use turf taken from the topsoil, universal purchased soil, leaf humus, sand. You can use more exotic substrates, which include:

• humus, leaf earth;
• (crushed);
• broken red brick chips;
• fir bark or any coniferous tree;
• crushed fern roots;
• charcoal.

Pot for echmea striped

A properly selected pot for planting echmea should be a wide, small in height, stable container, similar to a bowl, since the root system, even of adult plants, is underdeveloped. At the bottom of the pot is laid out in a small layer that prevents stagnation of water. Caring for an echmea plant requires its periodic transplantation; as the outlet grows, gradually increase the size of the pot.

Ehmeya home flower - watering rules

In the spring-autumn period, the soil should be abundantly moistened, but there should not be excess moisture. In cool winters, water when the soil is slightly dry on top. Ehmeya at home is watered with soft, settled, warm water, which should be poured into the outlet, but only for adult specimens (excluding winter time otherwise the plant will start to rot). Moisture in the outlet should not be constantly, once a month the funnel should be well washed. During intensive development, replace the water in the outlet with a special diluted fertilizer.

How to transplant striped echmea?

Prepared sterilized or roasted soil is poured into a pot, lightly sprinkled with drainage in advance, filling it up to half. Near the very base of the flower, fold the leaves into a bundle and carefully pull the plant out, this will not be difficult, since the substrate is loose and the roots are easily removed for it. After placing the echmea in a container, sprinkle the roots with a substrate, choosing for the plant permanent place, shade it for two or three days.

Before transplanting echmea at home, disconnect the “children” that appeared on it from a mature plant by planting them in separate containers. In order for the transplanted plants to adapt to the new growing conditions, they should not be watered for the first three days. Flower growers recommend transplanting echmena, depending on the intensity of growth of rosette leaves and roots, but not very often.

What does it take to bloom striped echmea?

“Capricious”, indoor echmea may not bloom, in this case, help her. The pot with the plant should be placed in a transparent plastic bag, overlaying it with halves of a cut, ripe apple or orange. Hold the plant in this position for 4-6 weeks, protecting it from the sun so that overheating does not occur. The fruits will release ethylene, which will serve as a hormone capable of causing flowering, which can take place three to four months after manipulation.

Echmea after flowering

Echmea flowering at home occurs from May to the end of October, the rosette can throw out the peduncle only once. After the flowering process, “babies” appear in the plant, the leaves will, slowly withering, transfer energy to them. In order for the "kids" to grow and develop, remove the peduncle. Young shoots will appear between the leaves, cut off the sprouts that have grown to a third of the mother echmea and plant them in separate containers. Experienced flower growers it is believed that after flowering, the striped echmea does not die; daughter rosettes can grow at its base for some time.

Ehmeya does not bloom - what to do?

Only adult plants begin to bloom, this happens to them at about the age of three, the echmea at home should gain maturity, its outlet should reach the required size. The problem with flowering is often prosaic - the pot with the plant is located in an excessively dark place, there is no special, slightly acidic soil or good drainage, which causes the process of decay. A good incentive for flowering striped echmea will be the temperature difference: summer and winter (within the limits necessary for echmea) and top dressing.

Ehmeya striped - reproduction at home

Reproduction of echmea striped occurs in two ways:

1. Rosettes. A well-developed, 15-18 cm "baby" is separated from the mother plant and planted separately.
2. Seeds. They are collected from the plant at the time of its flowering and sown in the spring. Well-moistened soil is prepared for sowing, seeds are laid in it, sprinkled with earth, covered with a transparent film or glass (this will create a greenhouse effect).

Containers with future plants are installed in a warm place, well lit, but without direct sunlight. Three-four-month-old plants dive, then each of them is planted separately. Using this method of reproduction, echmea will bloom after a 3-4 year period of growing up, delighting the grower with exotic, unusually beautiful inflorescences.

Ehmeya - reproduction by processes

Knowing how to properly plant an echmea flower with rosettes, and using this method, you can admire flowering plant already in its second year of growth. A well-developed, strong shoot (reaching 12-18 cm), is carefully separated from an adult flower, placed in a separate container, where drainage is prepared, light soil with the addition of peat. The preferred time for jigging sprouts is the beginning of March; roots are easily released in early spring.

The cut of the mother plant is processed with crushed charcoal or activated charcoal and slightly dried. Cover the detached process with a transparent bag or glass jar, we place the pot in a warm, well-lit place. Transplant a well-rooted plant into a large container, observing standard rules care.

The exotic, unusually beautiful striped echmea flower, which appeared in our country in the last decade of the twentieth century, quickly became popular, falling in love with both professional flower growers and amateurs. This flower, of the bromeliad family, is undemanding in care, it reproduces easily, and it is not difficult to provide conditions for it. At proper care pleases with long flowering and beauty.

Ehmeya - perennial herbaceous plant bromeliad family. Distributed in Central and South America and has about 300 species. Many representatives of this genus are beautiful ornamental plants and grown at home. Aechmea is an epiphyte and can grow between rocks and in thickets of trees, forming vegetative shoots. It's pretty easy to take care of her. The plant will please flowering for a long time: from April to August.

Description

A characteristic feature of echmea is a rather thick shortened stem. Leathery leaves grow in a spiral, forming a funnel. Under natural conditions, it accumulates rainwater. The lower part of the leaves, which is decorated with silvery stripes, has thorns. The entire upper leaf plate is covered with silvery stripes. At the age of 5 years, a bulbous head with bright pink jagged bracts forms in a vase of echmea. Between them appear small flowers of a pale blue hue.

Echmea is underdeveloped root system. The plant feeds not thanks to the roots, but due to the leaves, which accumulate minerals and moisture. They are forced to curl into a tight funnel to retain rainwater and dew.

Kinds

The most common types of echmea include the following:

Name	Description	A photo
Weilbach	Linear sword-shaped leaves of a red-green hue are covered with small thorns and collected in a rosette. The peduncle reaches a length of 50 cm, directed upwards and densely covered with raspberry-colored leaves. The inflorescence is complex, racemose. The petals are bluish-lilac, and the edges are white
double row	The leaf rosette is sprawling and reaches a diameter of 1 meter. The long and narrow leaves are pointed at the ends, with thorny edges. Lilac colored flowers
curved	The leaves are linear, rosette, fuse at the bottom into a tube and can reach a length of 50 cm. Their edges are covered with two-millimeter spikes. The inflorescence is low, and the flowers are red
striped	The rosette of this plant is tubular. Belt-shaped leaves are gray-green in color, having transverse marble-white stripes. Peduncle straight, directed upwards and covered with scales. The shape of the inflorescence is capitate-pyramidal with bracts. Blue-tinted petals that turn blue-red over time

Home care

To grow striped echmea at home, you need to follow certain rules.

Lighting and temperature

Ehmeya is a photophilous plant. It is best to grow it on the western and eastern windows. On the south side, the flower should be shaded, as it does not tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. In summer, it is recommended to take it outside or onto the balcony.

Ehmeya striped loves warmth. Optimum temperature in summer for her + 20 + 25 degrees. In winter, the flower feels comfortable at a temperature of + 18 + 20 degrees. If it drops below +16 degrees, then the plant may die.

Watering and humidity

Care for striped echmea at home provides for proper watering. In summer, it is recommended to moisten it abundantly, preventing the soil from drying out in a pot. For irrigation, use only soft water. In the spring and summer, the outlet must be moistened, but the moisture in it should not linger for a long time. It needs to be drained every month. It is impossible to water small shoots into the outlet that have not yet been separated from the mother plant. During the active growth of the flower, the water in the outlet is replaced with liquid fertilizer.

You need to take care of echmea in conditions high humidity. To do this, the flower pot is placed on wet pebbles, and the plant itself is regularly sprayed with soft warm water.

Soil and top dressing

It is best to grow echmea in soil consisting of the following components, taken in equal proportions:

• humus;
• leaf, sod and peat land.

Also, for comfortable development and flowering, it is recommended to take chopped moss, leafy soil and compost in equal parts, to which sand and crushed shards are added. Aechmea is also grown in purchased soil mixture intended for bromeliads.

In order for the flower to fully develop, top dressing should be applied all year round. For this, liquid complex mineral fertilizers are used. In spring and summer, the plant is fed every 15–20 days, in autumn it is done once a month, and in winter - once every 1.5 months.

Flowering and transplant

Echmea blooms from April to August. But sometimes it happens that the plant does not bloom. This process can be called artificially. There are various ways:

• 2-3 ripe apples are placed in a pot with a plant, the container is covered with a plastic bag and tied, but not tight. In this state, the flower should be within 10-15 days. The gas released by the fruit speeds up the onset of flowering.
• Place a piece of calcium carbide into the funnel. When interacting with water, which is in it, gas is released.

Ehmeya striped needs to be replanted every year. Since she does not have a very large root system, a medium-sized pot is taken. For transplantation, a substrate is used, consisting of humus, coarse sand, cut sphagnum moss and leafy soil. A layer of drainage consisting of expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pot. The plant is carefully removed from the old pot along with an earthy clod. Placed in a new container and sprinkled with a substrate. Do not water and keep 2-3 days in a shaded place.

Reproduction methods

Echmea striped reproduces by shoots and seeds.

In March, shoots 10–20 cm long are separated from the mother plant. They must have leaves. The cut point is processed charcoal and let dry. Then the shoot is planted in light soil and covered with plastic wrap. After 40–45 days, roots appear, after which it is planted in a separate pot and continues to be looked after as an adult plant.

Propagation by seeds is a more labor-intensive process, and there is a high probability of loss of varietal characteristics. planting material need to be planted in peat and placed in the shade. Maintain high humidity and a temperature of +25 degrees. Seedlings are regularly aired and watered. After 3 months, the sprouts that appear dive into the soil, consisting of leafy and heather soil. They are transplanted into ordinary soil after a year.

Diseases and pests

A echmea striped can be attacked by a scale insect. As a result of its activity, the leaves of the flower begin to turn yellow, and small spots appear on them. Actellic's solution helps to fight it, with which a sponge is moistened and the leaves are wiped with it. When the plant dries out a little, it is sprayed with the same solution.

Another pest - the mealybug - damages the leaves and slows down the growth of the flower. Sooty mold develops on the secretions it leaves on the plant. If you do not fight the mealybug, the echmea dies. To get rid of the pest, it is treated with Karbofos, Fufanol or Actellik.

Aphids settle on the upper side of the leaf plate and suck the juice out of it. After a while, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Actellik also helps to fight the pest.

With a strong waterlogging of the soil, echmea can affect root rot. With such a disease, the flower becomes lethargic, and its leaves begin to hang down like rags. To save the plant, it is transplanted into a new soil, cutting off all rotten roots and treating the sections with activated carbon powder.

Aechmea comes from Brazil, and its natural habitat is forests. Ehmeya sprouts in the voids that have formed in the trees.

Her leaves rich color and specific form. At the base, they twist, thereby forming a funnel where water collects during rain.

Ehmeya striped: optimal conditions for growing

In order for the striped echmea to actively develop and grow well, it is important to know how to care for it and provide comfortable conditions within the premises where you plan to settle it.

Lighting

Keeping in mind that in nature this plant lives in the tropics, the need to provide a large amount of light for echmea is natural. You can place the flower pot on windowsill west or east side of the house.

If the south side was chosen, then you will have to shade the flower during the highest activity of the sun, protecting the leaves of the plant from direct burning rays. It is better not to choose the north side at all, since the lack of lighting will make the color of the leaves blurry and indistinct, which will significantly reduce the attractiveness of the striped echmea, and you can forget about flowering altogether.

Temperature

Ehmeya striped loves warm rooms, but can't stand the heat. Therefore, it should provide temperature regime within +20...+27 °С in summer and +17...+19 °С in winter. Under such conditions, the plant will develop and grow steadily, and the differences in night and day temperatures will stimulate flowering in echmea.

Important! The temperature in the room where the striped echmea grows should not fall below +16°C .

Like many other domestic green pets, echmea needs an influx clean air, so do not forget to regularly ventilate the room, but at the same time, drafts should not be allowed to form.

Ehmeya striped: home care

Ehmeya striped is not a capricious plant, and feels quite good in conditions or at home. But in order for you to admire not only the beautiful leaves, but also the flowering of the plant, you should still know some of the requirements and rules for caring for it.

Watering and humidity

Echmea striped naturally requires regular watering. But the method of moisturizing is somewhat different from caring for other plants. So how to water echmea?

Concerning containers, then you should choose a relatively low, but wide pot. We must not forget about, in order to prevent stagnation of water and, accordingly, rotting of the root system.

Speaking of echmea fertilizer, it is worth remembering the special dressings from the store for bromeliad plants, or for. These fertilizers are available in liquid form and are ideal for. Simply place the liquid in a spray bottle and spread the solution over the entire surface of the echmea leaves.

Precautionary measures

When planning to plant echmea at home, flower growers are often interested in whether it is or not. It should be reported that the juice of the leaves can indeed become cause of skin irritation. In this regard, when working with the plant, always use gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after the procedure.
But you don’t need to be afraid to keep this flower at home, because pets are unlikely to want to feast on its hard leaves, and you can protect it from your pet by placing it in an inaccessible place. As flower growers sometimes joke, the main thing is not to chop the plant into a salad, in other cases it is practically not dangerous.

Transfer: when and how

Echmea transplantation will need to be carried out every year if possible. Doing this is recommended.

In the period when echmea blooms, transplant it in no case it is forbidden. The pot for the plant is selected low, but wide. If the previous echmee pot was cramped, choose a larger container, always with holes for water to drain. You will also need a wide pallet under the flowerpot.

Half of the prepared substrate is poured into a new pot. Then, the leaves of the echmea are very carefully collected in a bunch (at the very roots) and the plant is removed from the old container, after which it is placed in a new one.
Echmea striped does not hold on to the soil with its roots, so it will not be difficult at all to remove it without damaging the plant itself. In a new pot, the roots of echmea are sprinkled with fresh substrate and placed in a permanent place of residence.

Important! In order for the striped echmea to be able to quickly adapt to the new soil, it should not be watered for 2-3 days, and it is also recommended to protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.

Ehmeya striped: reproduction by children

Fans of striped echmea will certainly be interested in the method of its reproduction. You can perform the procedure by separating and transplanting children, who at that time should grow up to 10-20 cm in height and have their own developed roots.

To propagate echmea through transplanting children, you need to carefully cut them off from the main plant, and sprinkle the cut itself with powdered wood charcoal, dry it a little and plant it in a separate pot. A young plant will be able to bloom in about a year and a half. Echmea striped is able to reproduce and seeds. True, only special enthusiasts undertake this process. A plant that has been grown by sowing seeds will bloom only after three or even four years.

It is important to know that this plant blooms only once, so when wondering why your striped echmea does not bloom, try it first transplant her in a new pot and this issue will certainly be resolved.

Did you know? The name "ehmeya" comes from the Greek word "ahme", which in literal translation means "spearhead". Most likely, this is due to the pointed bract of the plant.

Pest and disease control

Diseases can affect a flower as a result of improper care.

Too low temperatures and excessive watering often cause rotting of the leafy rosette, and even the peduncle itself. If the temperature, on the contrary, is very high, and the air is extremely dry, then the plant will burn and wrinkle. To avoid such problems, it is enough just to provide suitable, comfortable conditions for echmea, and soon she will begin to delight the grower's eye with her appearance, without any manifestations of disease.

echmea one of the most beautiful plants of the bromeliad family. In popularity and decorative qualities, she is in no way inferior to her closest relatives and. There are already more than 150 types and varieties of echmea. But in indoor floriculture unconditional leadership holds ( Aechmea fasciata). I don’t want to say that other types of echmea are less beautiful, but it is she who can most often be found in the collections of amateur flower growers.

But in any case, caring for striped echmea is no different from caring for any other. And in general, echmea is contained in the same conditions as the vast majority of representatives of the bromeliad family, including.

Ehmeya: home care

Carefully! Echmea striped in its leaves contains a poison that can cause skin irritation. When caring for her, be careful, use rubber gloves and do not let her juice come into contact with exposed skin.

Lighting

Echmea in lighting unpretentious flower. It can normally exist both in bright light and in a slightly shaded place. The best place for her will be the most comfortable for indoor plants east and west windowsills. For a more accurate indication of exactly where your plant will be best, pay attention to the leaves of the echmea. If they are hard, sinewy, then such an echmea can and should be placed in the brightest place, up to the southern windows (but with protection from the burning rays of the sun). Moreover, in the warm season it is better to take it out into the fresh air altogether. If your echmea with soft leaves, then it will be better in partial shade, where the lighting is more moderate.

Temperature

Like all natives of the tropics, echmea loves warmth and is not at all afraid of the daily temperature changes that are characteristic of her native places. If your echmea is indoors in the summer, then the air temperature in it will suit her quite well. The only thing that must be taken into account is that echmea constantly needs an influx of fresh air. If you follow the canonical recommendations, then in summer time the temperature for the maintenance of echmea should be maintained within + 20-27 degrees. It can be higher, but do not forget about ventilation.

In winter, the echmea goes “to rest”, respectively, and decreases somewhat, but not significantly, to + 17-18 degrees.

Watering and humidity

Ehmeya is watered, like all bromeliads. The main watering is in the outlet, and only after that the soil in the pot is watered. Although it is believed that the roots in the nutrition of echmea play a secondary role, it is impossible to let the earth dry out too much. Closer to cold weather, watering is reduced, and in winter it is reduced to a minimum, and only the earth is watered. When watering Special attention focus on water quality. Water for watering echmea should not be cold and hard. Its temperature should be a couple of degrees above room temperature, and you can read how to make it softer in the article.

Ehmeya calmly tolerates dry air (so it is believed). But still it is better not to torment the plant and create a humid atmosphere for it. There are many ways to increase humidity, read about some of them -. But the most accessible and simple has always been spraying. If in winter you could not create cool conditions for echmea, be sure to spray it regularly.

top dressing

Ehmeya is fertilized only in the warm season, with a frequency of 15-20 days. If you use the usual complex for flowering indoor plants, then reduce its composition in solution by half. But it is better not to experiment, but to buy special fertilizers for bromeliads. Their echmea perceives best.

Echmea transplant

It is recommended to transplant the plant every year, in the spring. It is better for beginner flower growers not to bother with the preparation of the earth mixture, but to buy a ready-made one - “For Bromeliads”. Those who wish can use this soil recipe for transplanting echmea - mix in equal parts peat, sod, humus and leafy soil. It is desirable to add a little perlite (or sand) to the mixture. .

The root system of the echmea is weak and superficial, therefore, take a wide and not very deep pot for it. When transplanting, take care to create good drainage.

After transplantation, the plant needs some time to recover and "move away from the shock." Therefore, put the transplanted echmea for a couple of days in the shade and do not water.

Echmea flowering period

Ehmeya usually blooms from late spring (May) to mid-autumn (October). Although these terms are very relative. Sometimes echmea does not bloom at all, but more on that below. The rosette blooms only once, but after flowering, the faded echmea usually gives a replacement - a baby. You should not rush to plant it separately. After the plant has finished flowering and you (required!) Removed the withered inflorescence, continue caring for the echmea in normal mode. Only when the baby reaches half the size of the mother plant, it can be planted separately.

Why echmea does not bloom

There can be many reasons for this. But they can be summarized into one - improper care for echmea. After all, it can be unbalanced watering, and a high temperature of the content, and stagnant air in the room, and so on and so forth. Only by finding out the cause and eliminating it, you can expect that the echmea will bloom. But it also happens that the care is good, no flaws have been identified, and the flower does not want to bloom and that's it.

What to do to make echmea bloom?

There is an old tried and tested way to stimulate bromeliads (and not only) to bloom. The stimulant is ethylene gas. But do not be afraid, you do not need to purchase it specifically. The most common apples release this same ethylene when ripe. So put a couple of apples near the echmea, or even better, cover them together with a cap from a PE bag. Hold them like this for 15 days. After such a procedure, echmea should bloom within 3-4 months.

Reproduction of echmea

Echmea can be propagated by seeds and children. The seed method in indoor floriculture has always been considered unreliable and is used only when other methods are not available. In our case, the simplest and affordable way propagate echmea with a baby (daughter offspring). As I mentioned above, there is no need to rush to separate too young plant. Although with very careful care, a full-fledged echmea can turn out of it. For beginner growers, I still recommend to be patient.

When the offspring reaches the desired size, it can be carefully separated from the mother plant. By this time, he should have formed his own roots. After separation, slices on an adult echmea and a young one, sprinkle with wood ash or activated carbon, slightly dry, and can be planted separately. Young echmea should bloom in a year and a half.

Possible difficulties

• A fairly common mistake when caring for echmea is overflowing. If the water in the outlet stagnates, the leaves may rot. A sign of decay - echmea leaves become brown. I remind you - in winter, water is not poured into the outlet!
• But a change in the color of the leaves, their browning may also be the result of too cold content.
• If, on the contrary, the plant does not have enough moisture, then the leaves will lose their elasticity and become lethargic.
• About dry air, echmea will tell you the appearance of dry patches on the tips of the leaves.
• Of the pests, you should especially be wary of aphids, spider mite, root mite, scab.

Good luck with your growing and beautiful flowering!

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