Bromeliads.

Ananas.

Family - bromeliads. Homeland - arid areas of Central and South America.Perennial herbaceous evergreen, the only fruit tree in this family. For indoor gardening is the most interesting A krupnohoholkovy with white - striped leaves, which are located on the edge of the sharp thorns 2-3 mm long. The length of the leaves of pineapple does not exceed 70-100 cm, width 2 - 3 cm in the right conditions of room content in 2-3-year plants appear stems 40-50 cm tall with a large number of flowers (150-200). From this grows a large inflorescence a fleshy fruit, covered with scales. In the axils of the leaves develop adventitious roots that supply the plant with nutrients. Breeders displayed a dwarf pineapple, which forms a rosette of leaves up to 20 cm
Accommodation. For the cultivation of pineapple in the indoor environment should be a bright, warm room with a temperature of 20-22 ° C all year round, protected from direct sunlight. In winter the temperature can be several degrees lower.Care. During the period of growth and development of plants (April - September) recommended abundant watering with water containing no lime. In the same period, the plant complex fertilizer fed 2 times a month. Handling make summer a time in 2 years.As a substrate using conventional floral ground, sold in specialty stores.Pests and diseases. The plant is affected beetle, spider mites. When excess moisture spot appear.Reproduction. Perhaps basal or crown, suckers. Can be propagated by seed, and pineapple.The green tuft at the apex of the fruit - it is not nothing but a very short shoots. Cut off the tip of a small part of the pulp, then gently break off pieces of the succulent fruit. If the lower leaves are dried up, they too should be removed. Place the prepared socket with what - something moist substrate - peat mixture, moss, or just put in the water. After a few weeks there will be roots. However, this should protect the future of the plant from temperature fluctuations. To understand what the tip is still alive - look in the middle of the socket. The central leaves should be bright green. Shortly after the female begins to take root to grow in size. New leaves are longer and wider.Council. Pineapples are grown successfully in water culture.


Billbergia.
Family - bromeliads. Homeland - South America.In bilbergii narrow leaves about 30 cm long, and violet - green flowers on long, drooping peduncles. It features beautiful bracts, which a few months retain their decorative effect.It flowers mainly in winter.Accommodation. It prefers light, protected from direct sunlight room. It can be installed on the windows of the eastern and western exposures. The optimum temperature in the winter 12-14 ° C. In the summer it is desirable to make bilbergiyu to fresh air.Care. With abundant irrigation rosette of leaves in the water falls. Bilbergiya - water-loving plants, so in summer it should be sprayed with water from the sprinkler. Fertilizers are best integrated, making every 10-15 days. Young plants are transplanted each year, the old -1 every 3-4 years.
Pests and diseases. A lot of trouble delivering plant Quadraspidiotus perniciosus and spider mites. From - for improper care on the plant appears spotting.Reproduction. Basal suckers, separated from the mother plant in the spring for the transplant.Council. If the time sheet hopper dirty, it should be rinsed with clean water (at least once in 5-6 months).


Vriesea splendens.
Family - bromeliads. Homeland - Central and South America.Vrieziya - epiphytic plant with beautiful decorative leaves collected in the outlet. Looks great blooming vrieziya. It has long stems with a spike inflorescence and bright - red bracts, persisting for several months.For cultivation in the room conditions are most suitable in, excellent, B, colorful, B, and its hybrids meroglifovaya - Favorite Chiang, Rex, and others with variegated or green leaves.Accommodation. As with all bromeliads, vriezii throughout the year needed a warm room with a temperature of not lower than 17-19 ° C, protected from direct sunlight and humid air. The most appropriate place for this plant - teplichke window or room of a winter garden.Care. What is important is abundant watering with water at room temperature, containing no lime. In spring and summer water should be poured into a regular leaf hopper. The plant should be frequently sprayed with water and a fortnightly feed with complex or liquid fertilizers.
Pests and diseases. The plant is suffering from the invasion of red mite. At the plant, there are various spots if the soil is too moist or too dry.Reproduction. Offspring from the parent plant.Council. Vrieziya prefer high humidity, so set the plant on a tray filled with water with pebbles.


Guzmania.
Family - bromeliads. Homeland - Central and South America.Epiphytic plants. In nature, there are over 120 species. In horticulture the most common T Magnifmka, G, Intermedia, G, lingulata and others.The plants are small in height 30 - 35 cm long green leaves up to 45 cm flowers are bright - red, orange, rarely yellow, clustered on the spicate inflorescences, look very decorative.Accommodation. Guzman should always be in a warm and bright, indoors at a temperature not lower than 16 -18 ° C. She does not like direct sunlight, but if it is not enough, the plant does not bloom.Care. Watering should be abundant, soft water, not containing lime (preferably rainwater). In addition, in the spring - summer water should be poured in the center of the socket. During the period of active growth (May - August), plant 2 times a month, fed with liquid manure in the winter - a time in 2 months. Guzman prefers high humidity, so it is recommended to put on a pot filled with water tray with gravel. The plant does not transplant as well as the mother plant dies after flowering.
Pests and diseases. Cause great harm to the plant Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, spider mites, root mealybug. If watering is not enough and the air is dry, the leaves turn brown and fall off.Reproduction. Suckers that appear at the base of the mother plant, and seeds.Council. Guzman offspring planted in moist peat or other substrate, where they quickly take root.


Neoregelia.
Family - bromeliads. Homeland - Brazil.A fairly common plant that is valued by amateurs for the beautiful leaves of bromeliads.Neoregeliya greatly expands in width, and therefore requires a lot of space, it is best to place it on a separate stand near a window. H is especially beautiful, Carolina Its leaves are 40 cm long and 5 inches wide, have a light - the yellow strip on the edge of the sheet, the center painted carmine sockets - red and blue flowers in her. I must say that the middle in front of the red rosette flowering neoregelii. It should be noted that neoregeliya fairly undemanding plant for indoor growing and only tolerates dry air.Accommodation. The plant light-requiring, but it must be protected from direct sunlight in the summer heat of the day. In the winter should be a bright room. The best place - in the immediate vicinity of the southern window sill or on the East or West. In the summer kept at normal room temperature - about 22-25 ° C, in winter - at 16 -20 ° C, minimum winter temperature of - 13 ° C.
Care. As with all bromeliads, neoregeliyu poured directly into the rosette of leaves.Water should always be well-settled, and be at room temperature. In the spring and summer the water at the outlet of the leaves should be always, it must be updated at least once a month at latest. When the content of the plants in the winter at temperatures below 17 ° C water the better the soil, and not leave the water in the outlet. Watering with a moderate - approximately one every 7-10 days, ie when the soil dries out. Neoregeliya like regular spraying, which is necessary if the plant is in a very warm room (with central heating in winter). From May to August, conducted a feeding Fertilizer once a month, while the fertilizer is diluted with water for irrigation and poured into an electrical outlet.Fertilizer is used specifically for bromeliads or common house plants, but taken at a dose of 3 times smaller than for other plants. The mother plant dies after flowering, and the offspring are put into the soil mix consisting of 1 part light turfy earth, a part of the leaf, 1 part peat and 1 part humus of the earth with an admixture of sand. You can use a soil mix for the purchase of orchids. Capacity for planting should not be too deep, it is better to use the wide bowls.Pests and diseases. The main pests - mealybug, spider mites, aphids, bromeliads Quadraspidiotus perniciosus.Reproduction. Lateral shoots that are cut off after they have their roots grow back. Also propagated by seeds which are planted in loose soil (a mixture of sand and leaf soil in a 1:1 ratio).


Nidularium.
Family - bromeliads. Homeland - rain forests of Brazil.In nature, there are about 25 species. In a culture you can find two types:- N. bilbergevidny (TJidularium billbergioides) - is epiphytic or epilithic plant with a rosette of 15-16 leaves, broadly shape, pointed at the tip, with finely serrate edge, up to 50 - 60 cm and 3 - 4 cm wide, bright - green color. The small inconspicuous flowers are collected in a complex inflorescence on direct rather high peduncles. The inflorescence is hidden in the dense surrounding prisotsvetnyh leaves, away from the outlet of outstanding and distinguished bright - yellow color, which turns green after flowering.Bloom can be a very long time - from late spring until December.
- N. Innocent (Isiidularium innocentii) - is epiphytic or terrestrial plant in appearance very similar to neoregeliyu. Its numerous leaves shirokolantsentnoy form, pointed at the end, a length of about 35 - 50 cm and a width of about 4-5 cm, dark - green with a reddish tinge on the upper side and purple on the reverse side of the sheet. Inflorescences on very short peduncles in the axils of hiding prisotsvetnyh leaves bright - red. It flowers from early summer until December. There is a variety with leaves covered with bright stripes.Accommodation. Requires bright diffused light with protection from direct sunlight.Since the autumn of pritenenie not required, since the plant and in this time of year requires good lighting. The best place - in the immediate vicinity of the eastern or western window sill or north window. Nidulyarium rather thermophilic. Prefers summer is about 22-25 ° C in winter, the temperature should be moderate - 18-20 ° C, minimum winter temperature of - 16 ° C.Care. As with all bromeliads, nidulyarium poured directly into the rosette of leaves.Socket is filled with water to 2/3. Water should always be well-settled, and be at room temperature. In spring and summer leaf water outlet should be located at all times. In the winter nidulyarium watered more sparingly. It must be periodically sprayed. From May to September, conducted a feeding once a month, while the fertilizer is diluted with water for irrigation and poured into an electrical outlet. Fertilizer is used specifically for bromeliads or common house plants, but taken at a dose of 4-fold lower than for other plants.After flowering the mother plant dies, so his offspring, and children taken root in a soil mixture consisting of 1 part pegkoy sod land, one part peat, 1 part leaf and 1 part humus of the earth with an admixture of sand. You can use a soil mix for purchase bromeliads.Capacity for planting should not be too deep, it is better to use the wide bowls.Pests and diseases. The main pests - mealybug, spider mites, aphids, bromeliads Quadraspidiotus perniciosus.Reproduction. Offspring (children of outlets). Please note that this decorative appeal of the young offspring will get only a few years.


Tillandsia.
Family - bromepievye. Homeland - South and Central America.In nature, distributed about 400 species. The most common ones:- T, blue (Tillandsia cyanea) - a small epiphytic plant, forming a rosette. Leaves linear form, green with a reddish tint, and 30 cm long and about 1 cm wide, the surface of the sheet in the small scales. Peduncle slightly curved or straight, short, spike inflorescence, broad and flat shape. Bracts are arranged in two rows, close to each other nakpadyvayas herringbone pattern, the color of light - green, to pink and red, up to 5 cm, and completely hide the sepals, petals reflexed flowers, have a rhombic shape and soft purple.
- T, sticking (Tillandsia stricta) - a small epiphytic plant forms a dense rosette. Leaves uzkotreugolnoy shape, covered with gray scales, from 7 to 20 cm long and about 0.5-1 cm in width. Peduncles short, curved. Inflorescence a spike. Bracts are spirally color from pale - pink to bright - pink, scarious, oval. Lower pirtsvetniki long and cover the petals are bluish or purple.- T usneevidnaya (Tillandsia usneoides) - «Louisiana moss" - epiphytic plants with thin stems, which can reach a length of several meters. Leaves filiform about 1 mm wide and 5 cm long, are two-rowed. And the stems and leaves densely covered with scales, from - for this plant has a gray color. The only flower with a scaly, oval bracts and flowers of pale - a bluish or pale - green.- T, tricolor (Tillandsia tricolor) - a small epiphytic plant, forming a rosette. The leaves are linear forms, green, up to 20 cm long and about 1 cm wide, leaf surface in small thick scales. Peduncle long and straight, or a simple inflorescence spike, or a complex of several ears. Bracts long, oval-shaped, lower bright - red, above - and then the yellow - green. Sepals leathery, glabrous, connate at the base. Petals of flowers are of rhombic shape, purple color.Among the dozens of "cultural" types tillandsy there are two somewhat different groups: the "atmospheric" tillandsy virtually no root system, with the finest filiform leaves, covered with thick scales and catching nutrients and water from the air. The leaves are "atmospheric" tillandsy densely covered with scales that reflect light in such a way that the plant looks gray. Hence, we have yet another name - the "gray" tillandsy. tillandsy pot, which are clearly visible root system to form a dense rosette of leaves linear or sharply triangular in shape, as well as very bright showy inflorescences.If the pot tillandsy who "have something to plant" can be grown as normal plants, the "atmospheric" tilandsii usually need special florariyah or teplichke room, which will be supported by high humidity. In addition, potted, blooming tillandsy require bright ambient light, while the "atmospheric" their relatives can be grown in rather shady places. Also, it should be noted that the "atmospheric" tillandsy unlike potted prefer a cool winter, ie,content at about 10-12 ° C.Accommodation. Prefer bright place without direct sunlight. Grow on the northern windowsills. In autumn and winter can be rearranged in a better place - on the east or west window. In general tillandsiii thermophilic, so in winter they are kept within 18-22 ° C, minimum winter temperature of - 15 ° C, in summer - not below 17 ° C."Atmospheric" tillandsii need in the winter in a cool content (minimum - 8 ° C).
Care. Due to the large variety of species tillandsii, watering them a little different.Species having a dense rosette of leaves and well-defined and well-developed root system watered the soil in summer is moderate, pouring water into the center socket and wetting the leaves so that the substrate was slightly moist at all times. In winter, these plants are watered less frequently, letting the soil dry. Types tillandsii with filiform leaves, such as tillandsiya usneevidnaya and others like it, do not water and sprayed on a regular basis. The content of tillandsii in an apartment is complicated because Even frequent spraying is difficult to maintain consistently high humidity. These plants are best kept in a special florariume. Tillandsii require high humidity, not less than 60%. Spray only soft and warm water.All kinds of tillandsii best feed foliar application, ie spraying of the leaves. Plants that are planted in pots and nutrients from the soil, so during active growth they are fed with liquid fertilizer for houseplants at a dose of 2-fold less than the recommended one with regularity every two weeks."Atmospheric" tillandsii get all the nutrients only from the moist air around them, so from early spring until mid-autumn every two weeks when sprayed fertilizer added to the water, taken in the fourth part of the recommended dose.Plants tillandsii transplanted after about 2 years. Take small pots, just to fit the root system and a bit of a substrate consisting of 1 part leaf soil, 1 part peat and 1 part chopped sphagnum moss (or a specific substrate for bromeliads and orchids)."Atmospheric" tillandsii usually grown attached to a piece of bark, the root of the bizarre, the candlesticks, and other suitable places. For this "beam" or gently wrapping socket tillandsii small piece of moss, sphagnum, a wire attached to a support.Pests and diseases. The main pests - spider mites, which contributes to the appearance of lack of humidity.Reproduction. Seed in spring or branch of lateral shoots.Council. One way of dressing "atmospheric" bromeliads is that the plant is removed from the support and freed from the attached substrate. From an aquarium with fish in a basin drained water, and tillandsiyu immersed in it for a couple of hours. This procedure can be carried out once a week during the active growth of plants, and it fully meets the plant nutrients.Council. Dressing very carefully carried out, using only liquid fertilizers. Better not to supplementation than overfeed.


Aechmea fasciata.
Family - bromeliads. Motherland - the tropics of South America.Under natural conditions, there are over 150 species ehmei. The most common is the striped I have it, as with all bromeliads, leathery leaves are collected in a curved funnel, which grows out of the middle peduncle. From May to October is very showy flowers capitate inflorescences (pinkish - red bracts and small blue flowers).In the indoor horticulture meet E, pink, E, Tiger, Oh, brilliant, and others.Accommodation. It prefers light, protected from direct sunlight in a room with a temperature of not lower than 18-19 ° C. Ehmeya normally feel in a room with central heating and air dry.Care. In spring and summer ehmeyu be plenty of water and spray water from the sprinkler. Make sure that the funnel of leaves in the summer has always been water.Feed ehmeyu complex fertilizers is recommended two times a month, and in winter once a month -1. Faded ehmeya dies.Pests and diseases. The plant suffers from scale insects, mealybugs and mites root.When wetting the substrate can be lost the whole plant.Reproduction. Babies, seeds, suckers.Council. If ehmeya or other bromeliads bloom a long time, you can use recommended by scientists - growers recipe: apple and 2-3 ehmeyu place for 1-2 weeks in a transparent plastic bag. After 3-4 months the plant blossoms, because it has absorbed enough of the selected apples ethylene.