How to cultivate积水凤梨 (积水菠萝) to achieve a good condition
Let's talk about how to cultivate积水凤梨 to achieve a good condition and the key points of its cultivation techniques in the field of green plants and flowers. Let's learn about it together.
Accumulating water pineapple is a plant in the Bromeliaceae family, the subfamily Bromelioideae, an epiphyte growing in tropical rainforests, with the most genera but few species. Most have spirally arranged leaves with a central reservoir that can store water, and most are epiphytic. Many produce berries and wet seeds, which are dispersed by birds and animals, and most leaves have spines. There are a total of 31 genera and 800 species. The color, shape, and ecological habits are diverse, challenging the common impression of pineapples and making it an extremely unique plant.
Accumulating water pineapple is an exotic plant, so there is a lack of domestic cultivation experience. The cultivation experience shared by gardening enthusiasts is for reference only!
1. Watering
The center of the accumulating water pineapple should always have clean water. The water should be clean. In summer, accumulated water can easily spoil or grow green algae. Clean it up and rinse with fresh water. Otherwise, dirty or spoiled water can cause the plant to rot in the center. So, don't assume that because there is accumulated water, the plant won't die; it needs clean water.
Watering the roots depends on the situation. Generally, for newly purchased accumulating water pineapples, to encourage root growth quickly, you can water more frequently, such as once every two days, which helps root development. Some people even practice "waist watering," which involves placing the pot in water up to the pot's waist, of course, with a hole in the bottom. This method speeds up root growth. I haven't tried it, but looking at photos from gardening enthusiasts, it seems effective. I water every two to three days, and the root growth seems fine. It is said that the roots of pineapples serve as a stabilizing function, so less watering is not a big problem. Sometimes I don't water for half a month in summer, and the plant still does well, provided there is accumulated water in the leaves. As long as there is accumulated water in the leaves, the plant won't die, even if it's not planted in the ground. This is the characteristic of accumulating water pineapples, as the leaves can also absorb water.
How to cultivate积水凤梨 to achieve a good condition
As for whether to fertilize during watering, please refer to the section on fertilizing below. Do not fertilize randomly, as many tragic lessons have resulted from incorrect fertilization.
2. Sunlight, sunlight is a good companion for accumulating water pineapple. Only with sunlight will the plant have various vibrant colors. Except for some delicate V species, all can be exposed to the sun, and it's best to do so. Without sunlight, accumulating water pineapple will become very green, losing 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 sunlight as much as possible. The more direct sunlight, the better. However, in summer, when the sun is strong, it is appropriate to provide some shade, otherwise, the plant may get sunburned. I had one deep-colored plant get sunburned in summer, but the rest were fine. I've seen Thai people grow pineapples with a thin shading net, but that's because they're near the equator. Whether to shade or not depends on your own situation, but I personally think that in our latitude, there's no need to shade in spring, autumn, and winter, just enjoy the sun. Whether to shade in summer also depends on the living environment. For those with limited sunlight on balconies, not shading in summer shouldn't be a problem.
3. Coloring, I personally believe that low temperature and sunlight are essential conditions for coloring, although it also depends on the variety. Some varieties are naturally green and won't change color. Accumulating water pineapple is somewhat similar to succulents; in cold weather with plenty of sunlight, it will have vibrant colors. Of course, many will fade in summer, but some varieties still maintain good color.
4. Temperature, although accumulating water pineapple is a tropical plant, it also has good cold resistance. Generally, above zero degrees Celsius is not a problem, but below zero, 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's no heating in winter, temperatures below zero can easily cause frostbite or even death. Reduce watering in cold weather, and avoid accumulated water at around zero degrees Celsius by draining the water. The cold resistance of each variety needs to be analyzed specifically, depending on the practical experience of gardening enthusiasts.