Vriesia is an unusual plant with a rosette of leaves in the shape of a crown. Its main decoration is bright spike-shaped peduncles, which can be compared with feathers on a hat. The numerous genus of the plant has more than 250 species, many of which are suitable for indoor cultivation. It belongs to the Bromilia family. In the natural environment, bright bushes live in South American rainforests. Vriesia can be found among the rocky mountains, on living trees or snags. At home, she behaves quite obediently and with proper care annually pleases with bright flowering.
Plant description
Vriesia is a perennial evergreen epiphyte. It has a short and fragile rhizome. The height of the plant varies from 40 to 75 cm. A few leaves form a funnel-shaped rosette. Their length is 15-60 cm and a width of 4-8 cm. The sheet plate has a belt-like shape with smooth edges and a pointed end. The glossy surface of the sheet can be solid dark green or have a marble color with whitish, reddish or brown stripes.
A flat inflorescence in the form of an ear is on a long erect peduncle. It reaches a height of 1 m. In turn, a large spike consists of rows of small-flowered inflorescences. Each bud is surrounded by bright plain or variegated bracts. Usually they are yellow, terracotta or scarlet. For the wide and flat shape of inflorescences, vriesia is often called the "fire sword."
Flowering lasts more than a month. Many varieties of vriesia die off after its completion, the leaves dry out along with the peduncle. This is normal, after a while young shoots appear from the soil. After pollination, small seed bunches ripen in place of the flowers, in which seeds with a lush crest hide.
Types of Vriesia
In the natural environment there are more than 250 types of vriesia. In bright tropical forests you can see an intricate carpet of these flowers with different colors of petals and leaves. The variety of room vriesia is also great. More than 150 species are suitable for cultivation.
Brilliant vriesia (Splenriet). A decorative variety that is most suitable for indoor cultivation. Rigid lanceolate leaves with small scales gather in a dense funnel. On dark green foliage there are raspberry cross strips. A long peduncle crowns a complex spike of red-orange color. Blooms twice a year: in February and June.
The variety is popular Vriesia AstridIt is small in size. The height of the flowering bush does not exceed 45 cm. The leaves are narrow-lanceolate, dark green. On one plant, 5-7 peduncles of scarlet are simultaneously located.
Vriesia mix. A plant with bright green plain foliage blooms more fluffy spike. Scaly bracts are yellow or red.
Hieroglyphic vriesia. This attractive plant has wide, folded leaves. Dark green and light green transverse stripes alternate on the glossy surface of the leaf plate. The spike-shaped inflorescence reaches a height of 50 cm and is colored yellow.
Breeding
Vriesia propagates by sowing seeds or separating children. Seeds can be collected independently from an adult plant. When they fully mature, the box itself opens. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then they are dried and sown in peat soil. You can add a small amount of sand and sphagnum moss to the soil. Crops are located at a depth of 5-10 mm. The soil should be slightly moistened and covered with a film. The greenhouse is kept at a temperature of + 22 ... + 24 ° C. Ventilate and spray the soil daily. Shoots appear together in 10-20 days. After another 2 months, the plants can be planted in separate pots. Flowering seedlings are expected in 2-3 years.
More simple is the vegetative propagation of vriesia. An adult plant after flowering gives numerous offspring. Children develop rapidly and in 1-2 months reach a third of the height of an adult plant. Now they can be carefully separated. The cut site is sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Usually they already have weak roots, which are important not to damage during transplantation. Plants are immediately placed in separate pots with soil for adult plants. Within 10-14 days, it is recommended to cover the children with film or glass, so that the adaptation period is easier.
Transplant Features
Vriesia has rather fragile roots, therefore, when transplanting, it is important to be very careful. Carry out the procedure only if necessary, when the old pot becomes small. In spring or early summer, the plant is reloaded into a new container. The pot should be shallow and wide enough. A thick layer of drainage is necessarily laid out at the bottom. The following components are used for soil compilation:
- leaf soil;
- soddy soil;
- peat;
- river sand;
- pieces of pine bark;
- sphagnum moss;
- charcoal.
After planting the plant on the surface of the soil, it is recommended to lay out small pebbles or pieces of wood.
Home Care
At home, caring for vriesia is not difficult. However, like most tropical plants, it needs a special microclimate. The plant is afraid of direct sunlight, preferring diffused light and partial shade. Varieties with variegated foliage need more lighting than the rest. It is recommended to put the pot on the east or west window.
The optimum air temperature for vriesia is + 24 ... + 28 ° C. In winter, a slight cooling is allowed, but not lower than + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Overcooling of the soil and contact of leaves with cold window glass should not be allowed.
Humidity near vriesia should be 70-80%. It is often recommended to spray the crown with purified water at room temperature and wipe the leaves from dust with a soft cloth. During the flowering period, it is important to ensure that moisture does not get on the inflorescence. With the beginning of the heating season, you need to remove the pot with vriesia away from the heat source.
It is necessary to water vriesia often in small portions. The water is used warm and thoroughly cleaned. It is poured into the center of a leaf outlet. Watering is repeated after the soil surface has dried.
From April to October, the plant is fertilized twice a month. Special fertilizers for epiphytes or bromilium should be used. The dose of conventional dressing for indoor plants is halved. Fertilizer is dissolved in water. Part of the portion is poured into the soil, and part of the leaves are sprayed.
Diseases and Pests
Excessive watering can cause rot to form on the roots. At its first signs, shoots and soil can be treated with a fungicide solution.
Often, vriesia is attacked by bromile scale insects, worms and spider mites. From parasites, they are treated with a solution of insecticides. During the procedure, care must be taken not to damage fragile leaves.
