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Guzmania is one of the most beautiful and particular indoor plants that we can find and that is very popular, in addition to its beauty, for its easy care. They are plants that you can buy in practically any florist or specialized store for very little money, as they are a great option to decorate an interior because both their taped leaves and their inflorescence are tremendously decorative.
If you want to learn how to take care of a guzmania to have yours as radiant as possible, keep reading us in this Green Ecologist article in which you will find a practice guide on caring for guzmania.
Guzmania characteristics
These bromeliads are actually a whole genus of plants, which features more than 200 species accepted. These are epiphytic plants of tropical origin, which means that, in their natural environment, they grow anchored on the trunks or branches of other plants or rocks instead of burying their roots in the ground.
The sheets of guzmanias bromeliads They are arranged in the shape of a ribbon, they are bright green and grow arranged in a rosette, forming a small water tank where they are inserted, as is the case in almost all bromeliads. Its inflorescences are of warm tones that can go from yellow to reddish, with a central stem and some showy bracts that give a lot of life to the plant.
Climate and location for guzmania
Like many tropical plants, guzmania needs a hot and humid environment, but at the same time does not resist direct sunlight, because in its natural environment it is below and the tree dome blocks the sun's rays.
Place your guzmania in a very bright room with a temperature between 15 and 20 ºC, but always away from windows or direct light sources, which can burn the leaves of the plant. In the same way, avoid areas with drafts, as well as the proximity of artificial sources of heat or cold such as air conditioners or radiators, which dry out the environment and deprive them of much-needed moisture.
Irrigation of the guzmania
Ideally, you should always water your plants with lime-free water or rainwater, although with some plants this is more of a necessity than a recommendation. Guzmania is one of these cases, so always try to water it with non-tap water and if possible at room temperature, so that you save the plant sudden changes in temperature that do not suit it.
When watering, pay attention that the water falls on those small spaces in the birth of the leaves and on them, since this plant absorbs moisture through them. Water it every 2 or 3 days in the warm months and 1 or 2 times a week in the cold. Also try to change and renew the water in the bud weekly or biweekly.
Additionally, it is necessary spray the plant at least two or three times a week with water without lime and warm to provide that environmental humidity. At this point, another option is to place a small plate with gravel and water under the pot, so that they provide moisture without keeping the substrate soggy.
In this other post you can learn more about When to water the plants.
Substrate and fertilizer
Uses a specific substrate and fertilizer for epiphytic plants, since these have very different nutrient needs from those of common plants. For example, a normal fertilizer could burn its roots, which are more sensitive.
For the substrate, if you prepare the mixture yourself, a mixture of six parts of peat, three parts of perlite and one part of worm castings will suffice. Here you can learn how to make worm castings.
Pruning of guzmania and its multiplication
The pruning the guzmania It is based on a very simple maintenance, since you simply have to remove the dry leaves as they spoil, as well as the inflorescence when it withers.
The most common is that, no matter how good the conditions in which it is, the plant dies after flowering, so don't worry because it is normal. Also, when a guzmania leaves, it never leaves us alone. The plant generates side shoots or suckers, which you can carefully separate from the mother plant, preserving several roots, to re-plant it and give rise to a new plant.
Why my guzmania does not bloom
The most common when a guzmania does not bloom or it does not produce its inflorescence is that it does not have the contribution of all the nutrients it needs.
To solve this problem, you can opt for a foliar fertilizer specific to apply on its leaves, or by a low nitrogen fertilizer, that does not damage the delicate roots of this epiphytic plant.
Why does my guzmania have a dry flower
Guzmanias flower only once and its flower begins to dry naturally when its life cycle ends. The best when this moment comes is always prune the inflorescence as soon as it shows bad appearance, so that the plant saves energy to be able to prepare more suckers. Sometimes a guzmania can survive after pruning for one or a few more years.
Why does my guzmania have brown leaves?
If the leaves of the plant appear dry and brown it may be because they are exposed to direct sunlight that is burning them, or to dryness due to drafts or lack of humidity.
To solve this situation, put the plant under cover from direct sun, spray the leaves with lukewarm lime-free water and keep it away from drafts.
If you want to read more articles similar to Guzmania care, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
