The exotic echmea flower belongs to perennial herbaceous crops of the Bromeliad family. There are about 300 varieties. Native to Central and South America. The name in Greek means "spearhead". Florists associate it with the pointed structure of the bracts. Differs in unpretentiousness and ability to adapt to any conditions. Growing such an ascetic is within the power of even a beginner. It is valued not only for its amazing decorative leaves, but also for its bright inflorescences. Despite the fact that for the entire life cycle it forms buds only once. Let us consider in more detail how to properly care for a flower at home.
The flower does not need special conditions.
Lighting
Ehmeya is not very demanding on the place of cultivation. Grows well in full sun and partial shade. If you are afraid of harming a flower, it is quite easy to determine its need for light. Take a closer look at the structure of the leaf plate. Aechmea subspecies with hard leaves develops best with prolonged exposure to sunlight. The optimal place indoors is the southern window sills. In summer, move the flower to the balcony.
Soft-leaved varieties prefer darkened rooms. You can also support diffused lighting.
Watering
Remember to water the plant regularly. It is important to keep the substrate moist. Initially, pour some water into the outlet, and then into the ground. Use settled liquid at room temperature.
In early September, the frequency of watering should be reduced. In winter, water as needed. But keep in mind that prolonged drought will harm echmea.
Temperature and humidity of the environment
Maintain the temperature in the room around + 20- + 25 degrees. A native of tropical and subtropical climates, it prefers warm conditions. In the winter season, you need to lower the thermometer to +18 degrees.
Ehmeya, unlike most representatives of the flora, responds favorably to temperature changes at night and during the day. Regularly ventilate the room in which the flower is located. Fresh air contributes to the decorativeness of the plant.
Does not put forward special conditions for the humidity of the environment. Excellent resistance to dry air. But still it is better to keep the level of the psychrometric hygrometer above 50%. If you do not have a humidifier, improvised means will do.
Prepare the pebbles and place them in the tray. Then pour water. The roots of the plant should not come into contact with the liquid. You can also spray the flower every day. Use water at room temperature. The procedure also needs to be continued in the cold season. Especially if the plant is located near the radiators.
Transplant procedure
You will need to change the substrate and pot for echmea every year. As the root system grows, choose a container with a larger diameter. Depth doesn't really matter. But flower growers are still advised to use small, wide containers. Please note that the flowerpot must support the echmea in an upright position.
After changing the substrate and the pot, the plant will have a recovery period. Place the pot in a dark room and do not water for about 3 days.
Cutting technology
Ehmeya does not need periodic pruning. It is enough to clean the plant from fading inflorescences and dried leaves, shoots.
Outdoor cultivation
A flowerpot with echmea at the end of spring can be taken out into the street. Make sure your flower variety likes full sun. For example, a curved echmea develops well under direct rays. Sparkling is best kept in a semi-shaded room. For on-site cultivation, light tolerance can also be tested according to leaf structure using the method above.
Container culture technology
soil mixture
For successful cultivation of echmea indoors, it is important to choose the right composition of the substrate. Mix peat, humus, leafy and soddy soil in equal parts. You can also add clean, medium-grain river sand. If you plan to keep a flower in an open area in the summer, prepare the following components:
- Leaf soil.
- Compost.
- Crushed moss.
- Crushed shards.
- Sand.
If you don't want to take the time to prepare the right potting mix, stores and garden centers sell standard bromeliad potting soil. Also make sure that there is a good drain of excess liquid in the container. Lay out a thick drainage layer at the bottom.
top dressing
Despite its unpretentiousness, echmea still needs growth stimulation. Fertilizers should be applied to the substrate in spring and summer. The procedure should be carried out twice a month.
Choose liquid bromeliad fertilizers. It is also allowed to use other preparations for flowering houseplants. But in this case, the concentration must be halved.
How to care for echmea at home, you can learn from the video:
Typical plant diseases and problems
As a rule, all problems are associated with excessive watering, and as a result, waterlogging of the substrate. You need to remove the water from the sockets. If the central part of the leaves is constantly wet, the echmea will begin to rot. You can easily determine this by the brown areas of the plant.
But keep in mind that dark spots can also indicate a cold ambient temperature. Sluggish leaves appear from lack of moisture. Too dry air causes dry leaf tips.
The absence of inflorescences, as a rule, is associated with insufficient lighting. According to the observations of flower growers, varieties with a variegated leaf structure have such a weakness. A short duration of daylight hours can lead to a loss of the original shade.
If you notice the first signs of leaf or root rot, you need to urgently change your watering schedule. This condition is associated with excess moisture, especially in the funnel of the leaves.
Pest infestation
Several pests can infect a plant. After the appearance of aphids and scale insects, you will notice the curling of the leaves. Also, yellow spots will appear on the plate. Cultural development will slow down.
Small colonies can be removed with a damp cloth. Prepare a mild soapy solution or soak a sponge in alcohol. If the echmea is severely damaged, chemicals will be needed. Perfectly cope with the task of "Karbofos". Wipe the leaf plates on both sides with the product.
On the left secretions, spores multiply. Leaf plates are covered with a film. It is difficult for plants to absorb nutrients from the environment. You can get rid of pests in the same way as from scale insects.
The root bug damages the roots of the echmea. The decay begins. At the initial stage, the plant can be saved. Treat the flower with Karbofos. It is also desirable to transplant the culture into a decontaminated container and substrate.
Spider mites cause no less trouble. The pest is able to multiply rapidly. Already a few days after the appearance of the insect, the plant may be covered with cobwebs. Recognizing a tiny insect without a magnifying glass is quite difficult. You can distinguish the pest infestation by the characteristic brown spots on both sides of the leaves.
As a rule, the vegetative organs located in the lower part of the plant are initially damaged. If you do nothing, the leaves will dry out and begin to fall off. It is necessary to clean the plant from damaged areas and wash off the pest with a solution of soapy water. Then treat the echmea with an insecticide. In the future, spray the flower with warm water. After all, the main reason for the appearance of spider mites is dry air.
Echmea leaves form a funnel.
Features of flowering
Ehmeya blooms from late May to mid-autumn. Each funnel can bloom only once. After flowering, you need to remove the inflorescences. Soon babies will be born. When they get stronger (the size will be about half of the mother culture), it is necessary to plant them in a separate container.
Ehmeya is included in the list of safe crops. But there is one exception. Echmea striped contains a small amount of poison. The harmful substance is located in the leaves. Avoid casual contact. Be sure to wear protective equipment for handling. Otherwise, an inflammatory reaction of the skin may occur. Treat the affected area with an antihistamine and seek medical attention.
Breeding technique
Echmea can be distributed in several ways. Use rudiments or processes. Keep in mind that plants obtained from babies will form buds in an average of 2 years. Echmea from seeds may have no inflorescences for a long time - about 4 years.
Spreading the flower by children
Carry out the procedure in March. Children need to have their own roots. Look also at the leaves. The plant must produce a sufficient number of vegetative organs.
Treat the affected areas at the cut site with a disinfectant. Crushed wood ash is perfect. After that, the area should be slightly dried.
Echmea from seeds
Loose peat substrate can be used for sowing the primordia. In addition to the standard mixture, the plant will also quickly germinate in crushed fern roots. Place the bowl in a darkened room. Provide a high level of humidity and warm air temperature - about +5 degrees. To create a greenhouse effect, you can cover the sprouts with polyethylene.
Under the right conditions, already after 3 months, mature sprouts can be transplanted into containers with a special mixture. It must necessarily include leafy and heather soil.
During the next year, provide the young plants with proper care. Maintain the temperature of the environment above +22 degrees and regularly spray settled water at room temperature on the flower. After a year, you can change the container and substrate, as for an adult culture. In the future, take care of the echmea according to the standard method.
Flowering stimulation
In the absence of inflorescences, it is necessary to reconsider the conditions for keeping the flower. Also consider the method of reproduction. If all the recommendations are followed, and the buds are not formed, use the favorite method of experienced flower growers.
Prepare fresh apples or bananas. Keep in mind that apples can ripen and go rancid in a closed environment in ten days. Therefore, you need to regularly monitor the process. Use only a transparent plastic bag. After all, most bromeliads are capable of independently producing ethylene under appropriate conditions (with optimal daylight hours, temperature conditions and watering). There will be a low concentration of lighting in a matte or color package. Therefore, all efforts may be in vain.
If you are afraid of harming the flower, increase the air temperature to 30 degrees and humidity to 60%. So you increase the chances of flowering without possible negative consequences. Just don't overdo it. Caring flower growers often take the flower out into the open air. A temperature of about +40 degrees in the sun leads to burns.
planting material
The grown sparkling echmea is sold in specialized stores in a container with a diameter of 12 cm. The average cost is 1000 rubles.
Do not try to save the plant after flowering. From the old echmea, you can easily get several young children. Follow simple care recommendations, and the flower will delight you with its decorative look for a long time.
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 types of echmea have elongated, leathery, leafy plates that differ in length and width, and also have spines (notches) along the edges. In the process of flowering, a peduncle is formed in the rosette, which can have different shapes 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 begin 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 from it. After placing the echmea in a container, sprinkle the roots with a substrate, choosing a permanent place for the plant, shade it for two to 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 believe 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:
- Rosettes. A well-developed, 15-18 cm "baby" is separated from the mother plant and planted separately.
- 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 a flowering plant already in the 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 transplanted process with a transparent bag or a glass jar, place the pot in a warm, well-lit place. Transplant a well-rooted plant into a large container, following the standard rules of 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. With proper care, it pleases with long flowering and beauty.
Ehmeya is one of the few houseplants that has not only decorative leaves, but also magnificent flowers. Flower growers love her precisely for these qualities, despite the fact that she blooms only once. To admire a magnificent flower, you need to know and follow the rules of care at home.
Origin and appearance of the plant
The Bromeliad family can afford to boast of brightly flowering representatives, among which echmea occupies an honorable place. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to Central and South America. Echmea belongs to epiphytes, terrestrial species are less common. The distribution area of this natural miracle is large - tropical rain and seasonal rain forests with sharp fluctuations in temperature. It prefers to grow on the trunks of old trees, snags, and is found among stones and rocks. The resulting vegetative shoots take root very easily.
In nature, echmea loves to settle on old trees.
There are up to 300 species of echmea, many of which are widely used in home floriculture.
The plant has a short stem and reaches a height of 50 cm. Echmea leaves distinguish it from other representatives of bromeliads. Leaf plates are elongated and wide, rigid, with a prickly edge. They are collected in a funnel that can retain moisture. There are species with soft leathery leaves. The color varies from solid green to grey-green, striped leaf blades.
A distinctive feature of echmea are the jagged edges of the leaves.
The root system is underdeveloped and serves to keep the echmea on a support. It takes little part in the process of nutrition.
Inflorescences are distinguished by a variety of forms: spike-shaped, in the form of a head or panicle are found. The bracts are spiky (hence the name, translated as “spear tip”), painted in pink tones. Flowers, red, blue, purple, are located in the axils of the bracts. The fruit is a berry.
It is impossible to take your eyes off the blooming echmea
Caring for echmea in an apartment is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The plant adapts quite well to the room environment. And if some requirements are met, echmea will thank you with its luxurious appearance.
Ehmeya takes root well in apartments and office buildings.
Species and varietal diversity - table
| Name | plant description |
| Epiphyte, but there are also plants growing on the ground. The leaf rosette is loose, widely spreading, sometimes reaching a meter diameter. The leaves are long and narrow, ending in a sharp point. The maximum length is 50 cm, and the width is 3 cm. The main color is green, the edges are covered with brown spikes. The bract is bright red, the flowers are purple. | |
| The most unpretentious in the family. The leaves, similar to belts, are collected in a rosette. The length of the sheet is 40 cm, the width is 6 cm. Teeth protrude along the edge, the top ends with a rounding. The upper side of the leaf plate is even green in color, the lower side is painted in a purple-red hue. The inflorescence looks like a panicle. The bract is pink, the flowers are painted in a coral hue with a blue top. | |
|
Aechmea bearded, or caudate |
Rosette dense, consisting of bright green leaves. The peduncle is long, covered with a whitish coating. Inflorescence - panicle with yellow-golden flowers. |
| Echmea striped (fasciata) | The leaves are belt-shaped, leathery. They form a high tubular rosette. The length of the leaf reaches 60 cm, the width is up to 5-6 cm. The leaf is colored green with white marble stripes, the edge is covered with small dark teeth. The peduncle is erect, it is covered with multiple scales. The inflorescence is very large and highly decorative, reaching a length of 30 cm. The shape is capitate-pyramidal. The leaves of the bract are pink, glossy. Flowers are blue-red. The leaves contain poisonous substances that cause skin irritation. |
| Leads a terrestrial or epiphytic lifestyle. The leaves are linear, narrow - up to 1.5 cm wide, and long - up to 40 cm. Spliced from below, form a tubular rosette. The edge of the green leaf is studded. The inflorescence is capitate, 20 cm long. The bract is red. | |
| It is a variety of echmea striped. Plant height up to 65 cm. The leaves are hard, dense, curved. Form a socket. The bract has a bright pink color, the flowers are red-purple. | |
| The rosette is formed from linear-xiphoid, soft-skinned leaves. The color of the leaf plate is green, turning into copper-red at the base. Length up to 50 cm. The surface is smooth, has no spines along the edges. Peduncle tall, erect, up to 50 cm in height. Bracted leaves are red. The flowers are purple-blue. |
Beautiful echmeas in the photo
Seasonal care conditions - table
| Season | Humidity | Temperature | Lighting |
| Spring | The acceptable humidity level is 60%. It can tolerate dry air for some time, but spraying is necessary to maintain echmea in a normal state. On hot days, you need to moisten the leaves of echmea daily. You can place the flower on a pallet with wet pebbles. Spray with soft water, which is several degrees warmer than room temperature. | The plant is thermophilic. The optimum temperature will be + 20 ... + 28 ° С. The difference between the temperature of day and night is more likely to benefit the echmea. If the flower grows indoors, be sure to ventilate, but do not leave the echmea in a draft. |
Ehmei can feel great being in bright light and hiding in the shade (in this case, do not wait for flowering). It will be more useful for its development to have bright diffused lighting, for example, when located on a western or eastern window. On the south window, the plant should be shaded during the hours of active sun. In summer, echmea likes to be on the balcony or in garden. But it must be gradually accustomed to the open air. Best of all, bright light is tolerated by curved echmea, and sparkling echmea is the most shade-loving species. |
| Summer | |||
| Autumn | When the central heating is on, when the temperature is above 20 ° C, it is necessary to spray the leaves in the morning. When the temperature drops below this, make sure that no water enters the funnel. It is very useful to wipe the leaves from dust with a damp cloth. | The winter temperature norm is from +14 to +18 °С. | Starting in October and ending in February, the plant can be left on the windowsill without shading. |
| Winter |
In the summer, echmea can be taken out into the air
Landing and transplant
What do you need for boarding?
Since echmea has a shallow root system, give preference to a shallow but wide pot with drainage holes. In volume, it should be slightly larger than the volume of the root system of the planted plant. Of the materials, give preference to plastic - it is not as cold as ceramics. And for echmea, which loves warmth, this is important. To give additional stability to a rather large plant, a pot with it can be installed in a beautiful planter, which will also serve as an element of decor. In this case, you will need not to be lazy and every time after watering, remove water from the pots.
For greater stability, the pot with echmea can be placed in a decorative planter
The soil mixture can be purchased at a specialty store for flowers. Of course, we stop the choice on the ground for bromeliads. The soil should pass air and water well, and also be distinguished by increased friability. The best option would be a mixture prepared by oneself, which includes:
1 part pine bark;
1 part chopped sphagnum;
1 part coarse sand;
peat and horn shavings - to improve the structure.
To prevent the earth from becoming moldy, add pieces of charcoal to the substrate.
Another option is also good:
- 1 part peat;
- 2 parts of leaf land;
- 1 part coarse sand.
Before planting, be sure to sterilize the soil mixture by dousing with boiling water or roasting in the oven.
Bromeliad substrate is an ideal choice for planting echmea
It is advisable to transplant echmea annually - in the spring.
Step by step process
At the bottom of the pot we pour a thick layer of drainage. This is a prerequisite, since echmea does not like waterlogged soil.
On top of the drainage, we fill up a layer of soil in almost half the volume of the pot.
Having collected the leaves of echmea in a bunch at the very base, carefully remove the flower from the old pot.
We lower the flower into a new container and fill up the remaining earth.
We transfer the pot to a slightly shaded place. For the speedy adaptation of the roots, we do not water the echmea for 2-3 days.
After planting, echmea is not watered for 3 days, giving the roots the opportunity to adapt
Care
Irrigation features - table
| Season | Irrigation Features |
| Spring Summer | Watering is carried out systematically and plentifully, as soon as the top layer of soil in the pot dries. First, water is carefully poured into a rosette of leaves, and then the soil is moistened. The water in the funnel needs to be changed twice a month, not allowing it to stagnate. To do this, slightly tilt the plant, holding it tightly and allowing the liquid to drain. And you can blot the water with a napkin. Water for irrigation should be separated, soft. The temperature is several degrees above room temperature. Do not allow prolonged overdrying of the soil, as well as its watering. |
| Autumn | During this period, watering is gradually reduced. |
| Winter | Watering into the outlet is stopped if the temperature drops below +20 ° C. The earth is moistened gently, making sure that the soil dries well between waterings. |
In summer, echmea is watered regularly.
top dressing
In order for the echmea to fully develop, it needs nutrition. Feeding starts in March and stops in October. You can use fertilizers for bromeliads or for decorative flowering plants, which are diluted with water 2 times the norm. Choose compositions that do not contain copper and boron - they are toxic to echmea.
Top dressing is applied immediately after watering foliarly. It can be used to spray foliage, as well as pour the solution into the outlet. Fertilize twice a month.
Some flower growers continue to feed echmea even during the dormant period, but at this time the frequency of fertilization is reduced to 1 time in 1.5 months.
For the full development of echmea, you need to regularly feed
flowering period
Echmea blooms can be observed from May to October. The plant blooms once, after which it begins to slowly fade. But during this period, children appear.
A plant grown from seeds blooms after 4 years, rooted children - after 3 years.
The flowering process lasts several months. Moreover, the flowers fade very quickly, and the bract lasts for several months. In order not to shorten the flowering period, when watering the plant, try not to wet the bract. After the peduncle dries, it is cut almost to the very base with a sharp pruner. Be sure to remove the water from the outlet, otherwise the process of decay will begin, which will destroy the plant.
If ehmeya is naughty, does not want to bloom, she can be helped. To do this, remember the lessons of chemistry. Citrus fruits and apple fruits release a gas called ethylene, which stimulates the formation of flowers. Place a pot with a plant in a large plastic bag and put 2-3 apples or oranges in the same place. Tie, but not too tight. The experiment should last no more than 2 weeks. After this, the echmea should bloom within 4 months. And one more important aspect: a suitable temperature for the stimulating effect of ethylene should be at the level of +22 °C.
Apples and oranges release ethylene, which stimulates the flowering of echmea
rest period
Ehmeya rests in winter. At this time, her future peduncle is laid. The temperature should be in the range from 17 to 19 ° C and not fall below 16. Watering is very accurate. In winter, spraying will be useful for echmea, but make sure that water does not get into the leaf outlet.
Common errors and how to fix them - table
| Leaving error | Cause | elimination |
| The leaf blade has become lethargic. | Insufficient hydration. | Moisten the plant as soon as the top layer of the soil dries out. Do not allow prolonged drying of the earthy coma. |
| The tips of the leaves dry. | Humidity dropped to a minimum. | Do not neglect spraying, especially on hot days and heating periods. |
| The color of the leaves becomes brown. | The room became cold. | The temperature regime in the room must be maintained depending on the season. |
| Light brown spots appeared on the leaves. | Traces of sunburn. | Be sure to shade the plant from the midday sun. |
| The leaves lose their brightness, become monophonic. | Excess or lack of light. | Choose a place for the plant with bright but diffused light. |
| The plant's leaves are turning yellow. | Wrong watering. | Water echmea, adhering to the rules. |
| Echmea leaves begin to rot at the base. | The combination of low temperature with excessive watering. | Moisten the plant after the top layer of the earth dries out. In winter, drain the water from the funnel, watering with extreme caution. |
| Ehmeya does not want to bloom. | Insufficient lighting. | If the plant is in the shade, move it closer to the window, providing maximum light. |
The combination of low temperature with waterlogged soil leads to rotting of echmea leaves.
Diseases and pests
Improper care weakens the plant, which contributes to the development of fungal or viral diseases. In addition, echmea should be regularly inspected in order to detect pests in time and take action.
Ways to combat diseases and pests - table
| Diseases andpests | Symptoms | Control measures | Prevention |
| The surface of the leaf is covered with small round blisters, sometimes filled with liquid. After some time, dark brown stripes and spores of the fungus form in their place. | Triple treatment with a fungicide (for example, Fundazol, diluted according to the specified standards). Leave a week interval between treatments. If the plant is heavily infected, it is best to destroy it. |
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| The roots and leaves at the base of the outlet begin to rot. A neglected form will lead to the death of the plant. |
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| The adult pest is under a brownish-gray shell. Located in the axils of the leaves. The larvae take over the plant very quickly. | You can fight pests with the help of Aktara or Confidor. The rate of preparation of the solution and the frequency of its use are indicated on the label. When infected with a root scale, the soil must be processed. |
 Aphids like to settle in whole colonies  The root bug is very difficult to detect at an early stage of development.  Shchitovka is able to very quickly "get comfortable" on the plant  Fusarium can lead to the death of the plant  Leaf spot is a common disease among houseplants. Reproduction of echmea at homeEhmeya can be propagated in two ways: by sowing seeds and planting daughter shoots. Child shootsThis is the easiest and most efficient way. The faded echmea begins to actively form daughter shoots. Don't be in a hurry to drop them. The baby must grow, its height must be half the size of the mother plant, or at least be more than 15 cm, and it must also acquire its own root system. Then the breeding process, which is carried out in March, will pass without difficulty.
seedsThis is the less popular and more time consuming method. Plants grown from seeds may lose varietal characteristics. |
This amazing plant will not leave anyone indifferent. People who have not tried to grow echmea are afraid to start their acquaintance with this strange flower. Both the appearance and the growth characteristics of the plant promise great difficulties for beginners to care for. But in fact, everything is much simpler. Ehmeya is very undemanding, anyone can handle it. At the same time, there is a large selection of varieties, among which there are very original specimens.
plant description
Aechmea belongs to the Bromeliad family. These plants are epiphytes, that is, they grow on the trunks, as a rule, of old trees. Sometimes they settle on snags, among stones and rocks. Only a few species grow on the ground. Ehmei are found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
This is a herbaceous perennial, although it has an interesting feature: after flowering, the plant begins to die. That is, echmea blooms once in a lifetime. Fortunately, it is prone to vegetative reproduction and leaves behind baby plants that will someday also bloom. At the same time, echmea is not afraid of strong temperature changes, it is very hardy.
The flower has a short stem, no more than 50 centimeters in length, from which much longer leaves extend. Those, in turn, grow in such a way that they form a funnel with their plates, in which rainwater should be collected. The leaves themselves are wide, hard, they are covered with thorns along the edges. But their colors can be very different, depending on the species.
The roots of echmea are weak and are needed only for the plant to be in an upright position. Plant nutrition mostly occurs in a different way: through the moisture that falls on the leaves. In the wild, in addition to rainwater, leaves and branches fall into the funnel, sometimes even insects settle. All this enriches the plant and gives it all the necessary substances for life.
Although the leaves of echmea are of great interest, her flowers are no less interesting. First of all, they differ in that their bracts are brightly colored pink. Even when flowering ends, the color remains. The bracts have a pointed shape, which is why the plant got its name, which means "spike tips".
The flowers themselves are collected in inflorescences, which may differ in shape and color, depending on the species. They can be in the form of a panicle, spike, head. There are ehmei with purple, red, blue flowers. After the end of flowering, a fruit is formed in the form of a berry.
The plant itself begins to fade, however, during this period, echmea daughters are formed.
Types of echmea
There are over 180 plant species, many of which are suitable for indoor cultivation. Among them we can mention:
Orchid oncidium: home care
There are many other ehmei, some of them are very beautiful, others have the original color of the leaves and flowers. Not all of them are suitable for growing at home. Still, this is a heat-loving plant and there are certain rules for care. Nevertheless, species such as striped or sparkling Aechmea are quite suitable for a simple city apartment. These beauties can be found quite often in people who are not experts in the field of botany.
Care rules
Despite the fact that this flower is very different from ordinary indoor plants, anyone can grow it at home. It is important to understand how this representative of the flora develops, blooms and reproduces.
Care is not particularly difficult. So, it tolerates bright sunlight well, but light shading also does not really hurt. If there is a choice whether to put the window on the south side or on the western (eastern), then it is better to prefer the second option. It should be remembered that in the absence of light, echmea simply will not bloom.
The leaves of the plant are covered with small scales and often have a pattern in the form of stripes. If you run your fingers over them, then a trace may remain on them that will not disappear soon.
In principle, echmea is not very sensitive to indoor air humidity, but the soil in which it is rooted must be moist. This is especially true during the flowering periods of echmea. The temperature regime depends on the season. In summer, it should not exceed 27 degrees, and in winter, when the plant is sleeping, 17-18 degrees Celsius is enough. The lower threshold at which a flower can live normally is 16 degrees.
If the plant is cold, this may affect the appearance of the peduncle. It acquires a dirty shade, the flowers dry up. In such a situation, it is better to move the echmea to a warmer place.
Watering should be done once every two weeks. Water does not flow onto the ground at the roots, but into a funnel, which is formed by leaves. After two weeks, this water must be poured out by tilting the plant, or removed with a napkin. During cold periods, it is advisable to remove water from the funnel, only the soil should be slightly wet. If moisture stagnates, it can cause the plant to rot.
Indoor hydrangea: home care
It is best to use rain or melt water when irrigating. If tap water is used, then it should settle.
Feed this plant infrequently. However, you can buy fertilizer for bromeliads. Such top dressing does not need to be applied to the soil, it must be added to a funnel with water.
flower transplant
Ehmeya needs to be transplanted once a year. And you need to do it in the spring. It is best for a flower that is not very deep, but a wide pot. Preferably buy plastic. Since the dimensions of the echmea are quite large, the pot must also be fairly stable. Water that remains in the soil during irrigation should be drained.
For echmea, it is better to immediately buy a special soil for bromeliads. It is important that the earth is very loose, allowing water and air to pass through. You can buy this mixture at the store or make your own.
For soil mixture you will need:
- 1 part coarse sand;
- the same amount of crushed sphagnum;
- 1 part pine bark;
- peat, charcoal, horn shavings.
There is another recipe for making soil for echmea. Here you will need:
- 1 part coarse sand;
- the same amount of peat;
- leaf ground - 2 parts.
Before you start transplanting a plant, it is better to sterilize the existing soil. This can be done with boiled water or heating in an oven.
The transplant is very easy. First, a good layer of drainage is poured into the bottom of the pot., after which the container is half filled with soil. Ehmeya is removed from an old pot, for this you need to keep the plant on the leaves at the base, collecting them in a bunch. After that, the flower is placed in a new soil and its roots are covered with the remnants of the earth mixture.
In order for the plant to get used to the new pot, it is better to put it in a shaded place and not water it for 3 days.
flowering plant
A flower that was grown from seeds should bloom in 4 years. His children will delight with flowers even earlier - in 3 years. This fascinating process lasts quite a long time, several months. The flowers themselves fade rather quickly, after which the inflorescence must be removed with a pruner. But the bract remains bright and beautiful much longer. It is better to remove water from the funnel during this period so that the plant does not start to rot.
There are situations when the plant does not want to bloom. There are folk methods to speed up this process. If you are interested in the question of how to make echmea bloom, then you need to remember the school biology course. So, oranges and apples give off a special gas, ethylene. It is he who can contribute to the appearance of flowers.
It is enough to place the fruits and the plant in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. Don't close too tightly. After that, the echmea must be removed from the bag and wait for the flowers. This will happen within 4 months. In this case, the plant should be warm, the room temperature should not be lower than 22 degrees Celsius.
Mistakes in caring for echmea are most often associated with improper watering or location. The lack of water makes the plant lethargic, the leaves turn brown from the cold. With a combination of low air temperature and an excess of moisture, the flower will rot. It is better to know in advance what kind of echmea flower is, how to care for it correctly in order to avoid trouble.
The internal structure of the leaf - the relationship of cells
Disease control
Plants also have diseases and pests.. Among them are:
Features of planting daughters
After flowering, echmea begins to fade. But at the same time, daughter plants are formed in her, which can be completely transplanted into another pot. First you need to wait for the moment when the daughter is at least 15 centimeters high and she has developed roots.
The process itself is easy. It is necessary to remove the mother plant from the pot and cut off the daughter from it along with its root system. Place the cut should be sprinkled with activated charcoal. Young echmea is first planted in a small pot with a diameter of no more than 9 centimeters. The container is filled with soil, consisting of leafy soil, sand and peat.
The planted echmea should be covered with a bag and put in a warm, bright place. When it takes root and gets stronger, it can be transplanted into another, more suitable pot. After that, the daughter must be looked after as an adult. If we consider a plant such as echmea, reproduction by shoots will not require much effort.
Among flower growers, exotic plant species are becoming increasingly famous. Until recently, window sills were decorated with aloe, begonias, violets, but now many can see tropical specimens.
One of the popular species is echmea. A plant that propagates easily and attracts attention with beautiful long flowering.
Ehmeya is unpretentious in care and takes root perfectly in room conditions. It is enough to follow certain rules of content.
illumination
Ehmeya - light-loving plant that develops well on eastern and western window sills. On the southern windows it is shaded from direct sunlight. On the north side and in winter, additional lighting is installed in the room in the form of phytolamps.
Reference! In the summer, a pot with a plant is taken out to a balcony or garden, but placed in partial shade and protected from precipitation.
Temperature regime
In spring and summer, echmea is kept at a temperature of 20–25 degrees, in winter it is lowered to 18–20 degrees. The plant loves fresh air, so the room must be ventilated.
How to water?
Water the flower regularly with warm settled water. In the summer season, watering is carried out into the outlet, while once a month the water is drained from there, and it is thoroughly washed itself.
Attention! In winter, water is applied only under the root of the plant. If it flows into the pan, then it is poured out from there.
Ehmeya feels good with high humidity. Therefore, it is sprayed daily from a spray bottle. Water containers or air humidifiers are placed next to the pot.
Fertilizer
For active growth and development, the plant needs fertilizers. Feed from the beginning of March to October, every 10-14 days. Purchase mineral liquid complexes for bromeliads or orchids. When diluted with water, the dosage is increased by 2 times.
When buying, pay attention to the composition, it should not include copper and boron, they are very toxic to echmea.
The process is carried out after watering, the leaves are sprayed with a ready-made solution or poured into an outlet.
Transfer
The pot gets wide, but shallow, with a large number of drainage holes, plastic is best, as it is not cold, like ceramic, because echmea loves warmth.
Suitable substrate for bromeliads purchased in the store. Or they prepare it on their own, for this they mix in the same ratio: pine bark, chopped sphagnum, sand, peat and horn shavings. In order to prevent the soil from becoming moldy, small pieces of charcoal are added to it.
Young specimens are transplanted annually. Mature plants as needed. The process consists of the following steps:
- A drainage layer of expanded clay is poured at the bottom of the pot.
- From above, the prepared substrate is poured into half the volume of the pot.
- The plant is carefully removed, the old soil is removed, the roots are examined for rotten and weakened ones, and if found, they are removed.
- Ehmeya is lowered into a pot and filled with the remaining earth.
The flowerpot with the plant is transferred to a slightly darkened place and watered.
reproduction
Many flower growers propagate echmea at home. Carry out the process as follows:
- Branches. After flowering, daughter shoots actively begin to form on the plant. After they grow more than 15 cm and have their own root system, they are separated with a sharp knife. Places of cuts are sprinkled with crushed activated carbon, and then dried. A mixture of leafy soil, peat and sand is poured into small containers, and then shoots are planted. Then they are covered with a film and put in a warm place. Moisturize and ventilate regularly. Young shoots, as soon as they take root, are transplanted into a slightly larger container. The first flowering occurs after 2-3 years.
- Seeds. Seed material is purchased at the store. Peat is poured into the container, prepared seeds are poured on top, and then slightly deepened. Then covered with glass. Put in a warm place where the temperature is not lower than 22 degrees. Periodically ventilate and moisten the substrate. After 3 months, the seedlings that have appeared dive into a container with a mixture of leafy and heather soil. A year later, they are transplanted into a substrate for adult plants. Flowering occurs after 4-6 years.
Poisonous or not?
Aechmea is a poisonous plant. If the poison comes into contact with the skin, it causes irritation.
Therefore, when working with a flower, it is necessary to wear rubber gloves. Wash hands thoroughly with soap after work.
What to do if it does not bloom?
It often happens that echmea does not bloom at home. The following factors influence this:
- Lack or excess of sunlight.
- The room temperature is low.
- The pot is too big.
- The humidity level is very low.
- The presence of diseases or pests.
Some gardeners resort to the following tricks to speed up flowering:
- An orange or an apple is placed near the pot with the plant, and everything is covered with foil and left for 2 weeks. The flower appears after 3-4 months.
- The plant is moved to a cooler place, as it is believed that temperature changes have a good effect on flowering.
- A little calcium carbide is placed in the echmea socket. When interacting with water, it releases a gas that promotes flowering.
In winter, the plant must be satisfied with the rest, since it is at this time that the laying of the flower begins. The air temperature is lowered to 18-20 degrees. Water infrequently and carefully.
Possible problems
With improper maintenance, the plant can get sick. The main difficulties appear as follows:
- The leaves turned brown. This happens if the temperature in the room where the plant is located is low. The pot is moved to a warmer place.
- The tips of the leaves dry. The room is low damp. Ehmeya is often sprayed, and a container of water is placed next to the pot.
- Brown spots appeared on the leaves. Occurs with sunburn. The plant is urgently shaded.
- The leaves wrinkled and drooped. The flower lacks water. Reconsider the irrigation regime.
Aechmea must be regularly inspected, as it is often attacked by spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs. To remove them, the leaves are wiped with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water. In case of severe damage, the plant is treated with insecticidal preparations.
