Among indoor plants there are many amazing flowers. Ehmeya striped refers to exotic representatives. It reproduces easily and does not require special care. In total, there are more than 300 varieties of plants, but only some of them are bred at home.
Home Care
Echmea belongs to the Bromeliad family. In nature, it can only be found in South and Central America. Some species attach to the trunks of other plants, but do not harm the wearer. The leaves are connected to the outlet, can be plain or striped.
During flowering, a long pink peduncle appears, after which it dies.
What does an ehmea flower look like?
At home, several species are grown:
- fasciata is the most popular echmea. The leaves are narrow and long, collected in a rosette, painted in light and dark shades of green. The inflorescence reaches a size of 30 cm, and the children grow on creeping stems;
- the example reaches a height of 65 cm. The leaves are dense and curved, the flower is red-purple;
- sparkling, or Aechmea Fulgens - the most unpretentious in the family. The width of the sheet does not exceed 6 cm, and the length is 40 cm. The edges are decorated with small teeth, the outer part is painted in purple. The sparkling ehmea is distinguished by unusual colors - red with a blue top;
- Weilbach - leaves are leathery and soft, reach a length of 50 cm. The color of the plate is green, which gradually turns into red.
- the two-row echmea has thorns along the edges of the leaves. The width of the plate does not exceed 3 cm, and the length is 50 cm. The peduncle reaches a length of 60 cm, and the flowers themselves are lilac with bright interspersed with red;
- curved is characterized by narrow leaves that grow together into tubes. The edges are decorated with small spikes. The flowers are bright red;
- shaggy is distinguished by large leaves, which reach a length of 1 m. The edges are fine-toothed. The flower is yellow with red bracts.
Echmea fasciata, sparkling, example and other varieties require almost the same care. These are photophilous plants that will feel good on the western and eastern windows.
Important! The flower must be covered from the scorching sun, as it can cause burns.
In warmer months, the pot can be placed on the open balcony. In winter, additional artificial lighting is needed. Ehmeya example with a lack of light begins to fade.
Flowering is an indicator of the creation of the right conditions.
The temperature in the warm season should be around 25 ° C, in the cold - 20 ° C. The plant loves fresh air, so the room where the shoot is standing needs to be constantly aired.
Features of watering
In nature, the flower can be found in tropical forests, so he loves moisture. Echmea fasciata (Aechmea Fasciata) loves watering not only the earth, but also sockets. Therefore, water is carefully poured into the junction of the leaves.
In the summer, once a month, an indoor plant is gently washed under a warm shower. In winter, the outlet can not be watered, only soil. Excess moisture is drained from the pallet.
Note! Ehmey is constantly sprayed from a spray bottle. In the heating season, water containers are placed next to the pot. Moisture will evaporate and prevent air dryness.
Ehmeya care at home does not require particularly complicated. It is enough to put the pot in a bright place, away from drafts. Variegated specimens are more sensitive to temperature conditions.
Landing and transplanting
An adult plant has weak roots, so it is rarely transplanted. Young ehmeya needs this procedure every year, and it is better to carry it out in the spring.
Make it easy at home. It is enough to take a low but wide pot, drainage and substrate for the Bromeliads. Soil can be prepared independently. To do this, you will need to mix sphagnum, sand, pine bark and horn shavings in equal parts.
Important! Adding a small amount of coal will prevent mold.
The transplant process itself is quite simple. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot. As it is used broken brick. A little substrate is poured on top and a plant is placed in it.
During the transplant, you need to carefully examine the roots of the echmea
Rotten or dry roots need to be removed, places of cut are sprinkled with charcoal. After the plant is watered with warm water.
Breeding
Experienced flower growers are interested not only in how to properly care for the echmea flower, many want to propagate their specimens. The simplest option is the shoots. After flowering, individual shoots appear on the plant, which are overgrown with the root system.
The shoot is cut with a sharp knife, the place is sprinkled with charcoal and dried. Then the shoot is planted in the ground, watered and maintain high humidity.
The shoot is easy to separate, it will sprout quickly in new soil
Propagation of ehmei can be carried out using seeds. They can be bought at the store. Seed before planting is soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and after a day it is placed in peat.
Seedlings appear after about three months. The most common care for echmea from seeds is to maintain high air humidity and a temperature within 25 ° C. You can make a small greenhouse from a plastic bag or a glass jar.
Features of flowering
Striped ehmea requires proper care at home. Only when creating the necessary environment will the plant please the owner with its appearance, especially large and bright inflorescences.
Ehmeya is poisonous, so you need to keep the pot with it out of the reach of children. A kid can be attracted by a bright look, and he will try to pick a leaf. When transplanting or pruning, a person will need rubber gloves.
Important! If juice gets on the skin, the place is washed extensively with warm water and soap.
Ehmea blooms only once in a lifetime and this happens only in adult specimens. Not always the florist knows why his plant does not produce a peduncle.
Most often, the problem lies in improper conditions of detention. Excessive amount of light or its deficiency, improper temperature conditions can lead to the fact that the echmea will not bloom.
A large pot will also interfere in this matter. Then the plant will actively develop the root system, not the leaves.
Ehmei have beautiful and bright flowers that immediately attract attention
Experienced gardeners use different tricks that will help make the plant bloom. You can create a temperature difference and put the pot in a cool place. A small amount of calcium carbide is placed in the outlet, which will stimulate flowering.
Problems with the appearance of inflorescences can occur due to diseases or pests. Therefore, you need to carefully examine the ehmeya for rot, bugs, brown spots and other problems. When identifying something like this, the plant is treated with special means.
Ehmeya does not require special care, it is particularly unpretentious. Therefore, such a houseplant is suitable for beginner growers. The pot can be put not only at home, but also in the office.
