How to cultivate积水凤梨 (Bromeliad) to make it bloom vigorously
For many girls, how to cultivate积水凤梨 to make it bloom vigorously and the detailed introduction of the correct maintenance methods for green plants and flowers, let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Bromeliaceae plants,积水凤梨 subfamily (bromelioideae), epiphytic plants growing in tropical rainforests, the most numerous but least diverse, most with spirally arranged leaves, central积水 can store water, most are epiphytic. Many produce berry-like fruits and wet seeds, dispersed by birds and animals, most leaves have spines. There are 31 genera and 800 species. Their color, shape, and ecological habits are diverse, reversing the common impression of pineapples, making them extremely unique plants.
Since积水凤梨 is an imported product, there is relatively little experience in cultivation within the country, and the planting experience shared by gardening enthusiasts is for reference only!
1. Watering
The center of the积水凤梨 must be kept clean with water. The water should be clean. In summer, the accumulated water can easily become spoiled or grow green algae. Clean it up and rinse with fresh water, otherwise dirty or spoiled water can cause the heart to rot. Don't think that it won't die just because there is accumulated water; clean water is needed.
Watering the roots depends on the situation. Generally, for newly bought积水凤梨, to encourage root growth, water more frequently, such as every two days, which helps root development. Some people even mention the method of "waist watering," which involves placing the pot in water up to the waist level, of course, the pot must have a hole at the bottom. This promotes root growth quickly. I haven't tried this, but looking at the photos from enthusiasts, it seems to be effective. I usually water every two to three days, and the root growth doesn't seem to be a problem. It is said that the roots of the pineapple are for stabilization, so it's not a big problem if the water is less. Sometimes I don't water for half a month in summer, and it's still fine, as long as there is accumulated water in the leaves. As long as there is accumulated water in the leaves, even if it is not planted, it won't die. This is the characteristic of积水凤梨; the leaves can also drink water.
As for whether to fertilize when watering, please see the section on fertilizing below. Never fertilize randomly, as countless tragic lessons have been caused by incorrect fertilization.
2. Sunlight, sunlight is a good companion for积水凤梨. Only with sunlight will the pineapple have various bright colors. Except for some delicate V species, they can all be exposed to the sun, and it's best to do so. Without sunlight,积水凤梨 will become very green, lose its original color, and the leaves will grow long and irregularly. Many people like to keep them in aquariums, which requires a high-power light, consuming a lot of electricity. For environmental protection, it is recommended to use natural lighting, as much as possible during the day, preferably direct sunlight. In summer, with strong sunlight, it should be properly shaded, otherwise it will get sunburned. I had one deep-colored积水凤梨 sunburned in summer, but the others were fine. I saw that Thais grow pineapples with a thin shade net, but they are on the equator. Whether to shade or not depends on your own situation, but I personally think that in our country, there is no need to shade in spring, autumn, and winter, just enjoy the sun. Whether to shade in summer also depends on the living environment. Generally, for those with limited sunlight on balconies, there is no problem not shading in summer.
3. Color development, personally, I think low temperature and sun exposure are indispensable conditions for color development, of course, it also depends on the variety. Some varieties are green and won't change color. Accumulated凤梨 is a bit like succulents; in cold weather with plenty of sunlight, they will have brilliant colors. Of course, in summer, many accumulated凤梨 will fade, but some varieties still maintain good color with enough light.
4. Temperature, although积水凤梨 is a tropical plant, it is also frost-resistant. Generally, above zero degrees is not a problem, but below zero degrees, you need to be careful. It is said that the A and B genera are not as cold-resistant as the N genus, so in colder places, it's better to plant the N genus. Of course, if there is no heating in winter, temperatures below zero can easily cause frostbite or even death. Reduce watering in cold weather, and don't let there be accumulated water around zero degrees; pour out the water. The frost resistance of each variety needs to be analyzed specifically and summarized through the practice of enthusiasts.
5. Blooming, generally, a pineapple blooms only once, with a few small flowers appearing from the center of the leaf where water accumulates. Accumulated凤梨 cannot self-pollinate, and if you need to collect seeds, you need to pollinate manually. After blooming, the accumulated凤梨 will stop producing new leaves. The care after blooming is crucial. Many enthusiasts report that the accumulated凤梨 is prone to rotting after blooming, mainly due to improper care. It's best not to have accumulated water after blooming, let the flowers finish blooming, and when they seem to be done, pull the flowers out near the base of the leaf, clean up, and then don't let there be accumulated water. Many people's hearts rot because the残花 after blooming is not dealt with in time, causing the whole flower heart to rot. Remember to clean up the flowers after they have finished blooming.
6. Sideshoots, most accumulated凤梨 are propagated through sideshoots. Many people wonder when to pick the sideshoots, actually it depends on your purpose. If you want more sideshoots, it's better to pick them earlier. Generally, when the sideshoots have three or four complete leaves and a water-filled groove forms in the center, they can be picked. When picking, try to get close to the mother plant's roots. I'm used to breaking them off by hand, holding the bottom of the sideshoot and摇动 it back and forth until it comes off. I heard from Thai friends that the first few sideshoots are the best quality, and the subsequent ones may not preserve the characteristics of the mother plant well.
7. Fertilization, fertilization, fertilization, important things are said three times! Many people often fertilize their accumulated凤梨 after buying it, causing the leaves to grow too long, turn green, and affect the appearance. Adult accumulated凤梨 plants do not need to be fertilized, as fertilization affects their ornamental value. However, in the early stages of seedlings, fertilizing can help them grow better and stronger. Once they are close to maturity, don't fertilize. From my personal experience, top-dressing after flowering is also good because the accumulated凤梨 has stopped growing after flowering, so fertilizing won't cause significant changes in its appearance. But fertilizing after flowering is great for爆侧芽, resulting in more and thicker sideshoots. As for how to fertilize, I usually use the blue water-soluble fertilizer like Meile, diluted according to the ratio, better to dilute it a bit more than to make it too concentrated, as too concentrated can burn the seedlings. It can be applied to the roots or poured into the central积水.
8. Propagating offspring, accumulated凤梨 is easily propagated through sideshoots, which can completely preserve the characteristics of the mother plant. Generally, all named accumulated凤梨 are propagated through sideshoots. Hybridization through seeds will cause variation. Seed propagation is a long process. First, the accumulated凤梨 needs to be pollinated manually, and the seeds take two years to germinate and grow slowly. They are still very small seedlings, less than 10 centimeters long, and it takes about four years to grow into an adult. It's really not feasible for home cultivation to spend this much time, and young accumulated凤梨 don't have any characteristics and look like a pile of green weeds, with no ornamental value.
Some people ask whether the offspring from the same variety mating will still be the same as the mother plant. The answer is no. The accumulated凤梨 currently available on the market are not native species but horticultural varieties hybridized from various native species. Native species are the original species found in tropical rainforests, not artificially cultivated but naturally evolved. Horticultural varieties are often more ornamental than native species. Because horticultural varieties are already the product of various hybrids, their genes are unstable, and sexual reproduction will lead to genetic recombination and variation. Only native species will produce the same native species when mating with the same native species, as their genes are relatively stable.
If you want to create new varieties, you can try seed propagation. Generally, professional accumulated凤梨 growers hybridize to select excellent patterns and colors, creating new varieties. However, out of every 100 hybrid offspring, only one beautiful one is selected to be registered as a mother plant by the International Bromeliad Society, and the rest are discarded. This surviving mother plant is then registered and certified by the International Bromeliad Society and propagated widely through sideshoots. Therefore, creating new varieties of pineapples is a laborious process, and many countries hold pineapple exhibitions every year to judge the latest pineapple varieties.
9. Many people think that their accumulated凤梨 blooms too early and want to delay it. Foreign flower merchants told me not to move it around constantly, as frequent changes in position can trigger blooming.
The above content introduces how to cultivate accumulated凤梨 to make it bloom vigorously and the detailed maintenance methods for pineapples. I hope it is helpful to you!