We grow at home an unusual indoor flower Vriese
In nature, the vriezia flower is an inhabitant of the tropical regions of South America. We, the inhabitants of the middle zone, grow Vriezia at home, but overseas, in Brazil and Argentina, plants live in humid mountain forests, settling in the soil in the root zone of trees and as epiphytes in the upper tier.
The numerous genus, named in memory of the Dutch wildlife researcher V. de Vriese, unites 250 different species. The original appearance of plants with bright leaves and unusual inflorescences attracted indoor crop lovers, and today more than a hundred varieties of vriezia are used for landscaping residential premises and offices.
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Description of vriese
The flowers themselves can hardly be called decorative. They are very small, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences and are hidden by large bracts. It is their bright color and shape that sometimes become the reason for the delusion of novice florists.
A tall peduncle growing from the center of the rosette, decorated with elegant bracts of red, pink, yellow or orange color, gives the flower a unique look for a very long time. When flowering ends, the rudiments of daughter plants appear at the base of the rosette. A little later, when they grow up, a home vriezia flower is planted, carefully separating the children.
Amateur flower growers who have been growing Vrieseia at home for a long time know that this green pet does not cause much trouble. However, its flowering should not be expected earlier than 3-4 years after planting.
A reluctance to bloom is a characteristic feature of many bromeliads, such as pineapple. It's good that even at home plants can be "fooled" by covering the pot with vriezia with a bag and placing a couple of apple slices inside. The release of ethylene stimulates the formation of flower buds.
Lighting for growing vriese at home
Based on the description of vriese and analysis of the conditions in which the plant lives in nature, we can conclude that at home the flower needs partial shade, stable warm air, loose air-permeable soil and regular watering.
The plant will best show its beauty on the western or eastern windows. The pot can be placed on a windowsill facing north, but here the flower will not be too comfortable in winter.
If the vriezia is in direct sunlight, it is possible:
- the appearance of burns on the leaves, their twisting or drying;
- lightening the decorative coloring of foliage;
- cessation of growth;
- refusal to bloom.
Vriezia is thermophilic. In summer, she will be comfortable at temperatures from +24 to +28 ° C. In autumn and winter, when caring for Vriese, the temperature at home is maintained within the range of 20-22 ° C. If the air is colder than 18 degrees, the plant loses its ability to absorb water and nutrients. It weakens and may die.
Features of irrigation of Vriesia
Under the canopy of the rainforest, the air and soil are never dry. This must be remembered for flower growers who grow Vriese at home.
The optimum air humidity is 60–80%. The substrate must be moistened as the top layer dries.
In the hot season and in the heated period, the soil dries out especially quickly. Therefore, it is more convenient to put the pot in a low pallet filled with wet expanded clay or moisture-absorbing balls from a special gel.
When the room is cold, the plant becomes sensitive to excess moisture. Watering vriezii is carried out very carefully, be sure to drain the excess water flowing into the pan.
For irrigation, use warm, settled water, while it is important that moisture does not stagnate in the core of the leaf outlet.
If the house has indoor vriezia flowers grown as epiphytes on fragments of a tree, they are watered differently. Since there is little soil around the root system, the lower part of the plant is completely immersed in irrigation moisture once a week for 20-30 minutes, or it is abundantly sprayed from a spray bottle.
Soil for home flower vriezia
There are no special requirements for the soil of different species of vriezia, the main thing is that the soil should be light, structured.
For planting young specimens and transplanting a plant after purchase, ready-made compositions for bromeliads or a mixture based on equal parts are suitable:
- leafy and soddy land;
- purified peat;
- washed sand;
- crushed coniferous bark;
- sphagnum.
Before planting, it is useful to warm the substrate in the oven or disinfect it in another way. Otherwise, there is a danger of damage to pests and diseases.
A thick layer of expanded clay must be poured onto the bottom of the pot before planting. If drainage is not done, the roots of a home culture that needs high humidity can rot.
Transplant and other aspects of Vrieseia care at home
For the first time, a flower is transferred to a new soil immediately after purchase; plant transplantation at other times is carried out as needed. It is better if it will be in the spring, when the vegetation is activated, and possible damage will be quickly repaired.
The base of the socket must not be buried, as well as pieces of soil must not be allowed to enter the core. If there are large children on the mother plant at the time of transplantation, they are carefully separated from the outlet and transferred to their pots filled with a light substrate.
After transplantation, Vriezia is fed only after a month, using liquid ready-made products for bromeliads. Fertilizer is applied on wet soil, not exceeding the recommended dose.
Being attentive to the care of Vrieseia, you can enjoy its bright greenery and original flowering for a long time. Although this plant is very persistent, frequent waterlogging, cooling or improperly selected soil can cause damage to diseases and pests, for example, root rot or mealybugs.