Ehmea (Aechmea). How to care, flowering, reproduction.

The genus Aechmea belongs to the family Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) and includes about 300 species of epiphytic plants, which are widespread in domestic culture, but in nature they are found in Brazil and Mexico. The lower leaves of Ehmeya are decorated with stripes, and the upper ones have silvery blotches. The name of the genus Ehmeya comes from the Greek "aechme" - the tip of the peak due to the leaves, which have jagged edges. The stem is shortened. In their homeland, Ehmei grow in hollows, feeding on humus.

Ehmeya begins to bloom at the age of five.

Aechmea miniata.

Description of the plant

The Echmei genus is part of the large Bromeliad family. These are epiphytes and terrestrial species that grow in the forests of the tropical part of Latin America, where there is a pronounced dry climate and sharp temperature fluctuations. Ehmeya most often settles on old snags and trunks of large trees. Terrestrial specimens are less common, when the vegetative shoots that form take root among stones and rocks in poor soil.

Ehmeya is an unusual, even amazing exotic flower with sharp-pointed bright bracts, which some take for flowers. This is where the name comes from - after all, "aechme" is translated from Greek as "spearhead" or "arrowhead".

We draw your attention to the fact that ehmeya is a poisonous flower. Its juice contains a small amount of toxins, so it can irritate the skin. It is strictly forbidden to take berries in your mouth, and even more so to eat them. Any work with a flower should be carried out with rubber gloves, and after them - wash your hands with soap and water.

Appearance

Echmea's leathery leaves are very long. The shape of the leaf plate is linear (in the form of a belt or sword), with a pointed or rounded end. In the wild, the leaves can be up to two meters in length. In indoor specimens, the length of the leaf ranges from 30 to 60 cm. The leaves are finely toothed or prickly-serrate at the edges. In this they differ from other representatives of the Bromeliad family. At the base, they form a high rounded rosette in the form of a funnel, the diameter of which is also impressive in size - up to 60 cm or more. This funnel is used to retain moisture in the flower. The color of the leaves is varied. Dark green or gray-green leaf plates are covered with a chaotic pattern of spots, transverse or longitudinal stripes of a silvery color.

Echmea stem is short. Plant height ranges from 30 to 90 cm. The root system is superficial, poorly developed and is intended mainly for fixing the flower on supports: trunks or branches of other plants. Ehmeya feeds mainly through the leaves. Each rosette produces a long, dense peduncle after 3-4 years.

Inflorescences in different types of echmea are different: in the form of an ear, brush, head or panicle. Bright long pointed bracts of a lanceolate shape are colored pink or red. In their sinuses, small flowers in the form of stars of different shades of pink, orange, red, blue, lilac or purple are revealed at the same time. Each rosette blooms for several months. After pollination, small juicy berries appear on the plant. When they ripen, small, oblong-shaped seeds appear inside them.

Unfortunately, after the appearance of offspring, the plant dies.But, during its growth, lateral rosettes appear at the base of the flower, which will also bloom in 3-4 years.

Reproduction methods

Exists two ways breeding ehmea: the first is reproduction by shoots (offspring), and the second is by seeds. The most common and fastest way is the first, since the second involves a long wait (more than four years) for the plant to bloom.

Offspring

The most effective for the offspring is his growing near the mother plant

, since the shoot is fed for a long time at its expense. After a while, the dried parent plant should be removed.

Most flower lovers want the echmea to bloom earlier: for this, it is recommended to separate the shoot, but for this you need to know how to plant the echmea correctly. The processes should be separated when they reach at least 1/3 of the height of an adult, and the presence of formed roots is also desirable. After such actions, the young ehmeya will be able to bloom in three years.

It is possible to separate a ten-centimeter shoot with a sharp knife, but then flowering will begin no earlier than five years later. The cut should be sprinkled charcoal or activated charcoal and allow to dry. Then the scion should be planted in light soil, covered with plastic wrap. When the roots appear in 40–45 days, the offspring can be planted in a separate pot and begin to care for him like an adult.

Seeds

Seed propagation requires a lot of effort, and there is also the possibility of loss of varietal traits. The seeds are planted in peat and placed in the shade, where the temperature should be between 21-24 ° C. It is necessary to carry out regular watering and airing.

After a month, the seedlings are transplanted into heather and leafy soil, where the temperature should be between 20 ° C and 25 ° C throughout the year. After a year, you should transplant into ordinary soil.

Seeds can also propagate such indoor plants: nolina, fittonia, croton, cyclamen, indoor euonymus.

Striped

Ehmea Striped (Aechmea Fasciata) or Bilbergia Striped.

This look is considered one of the most spectacular of its kind. Looks good in the interior as a single plant and in composition with other flowers of the Bromeliad family. Ehmeya Striped cleans the indoor air from formaldehyde and other harmful volatile chemicals. This species belongs to terrestrial bromeliads. It has variegated bright dark green leathery leaves with transverse silvery stripes. The leaf shape is lingual. The length of the leaf is up to 50-60 cm. The upper part of the leaf plate is covered with a thin bluish waxy bloom, which disappears from the touch of the fingers. The edges of the leaves are rounded and have small stiff thorns. Echmea foliage is collected in a high, dense funnel of large diameter. Gradually, the edges of the leaves begin to hang.

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Erect fleshy peduncle, up to 30 cm in length, appears from the center of the rosette at 3-4 years of life of striped echmea. The diameter of the rosette reaches 60 cm. The resulting inflorescence is a large pyramidal or capitate shape, consisting of pointed bracts of bright pink color and small bluish flowers, which eventually turn red-violet. Flowering occurs in the warm season - from May to July, sometimes lasts until autumn. After its completion, the rosette gradually dies off, forming several offspring. One plant lives up to 4 years.

This type of echmea is considered poisonous. Poison is found in small quantities in the leaves of the plant. Contact with them does not lead to serious consequences, but it can cause skin irritation. For safety reasons, we recommend that you work with this flower only with rubber gloves, and then wash your hands with soap and water.

Varietal varieties of striped echmea

An example is a larger plant, up to 70 cm in height. Its curved leaves have the same length. The color of the leaves and flowers is more contrasting.

Albomarginata is a variety with bright green large leaves decorated with a wide white border around the edges.

Variegata. In this variety, longitudinal cream-colored stripes run in the center of the green leaf surface.

Precautions: poisonous echmea

Many people ask the question: is ehmeya poisonous or not? And they are interested in this for a reason, because ehmeya belongs to poisonous plants: Its juice can cause irritation or inflammation if it comes into contact with the skin, so this houseplant should be kept out of the reach of children and pets to avoid accidents.

Important! If the juice gets on the mucous membrane, rinse it well with water and consult a doctor.

Sparkling

Aechmea Fulgens

This is the most unpretentious species of the Ehmei genus. The rosette is loose, spreading, forms a beautiful cascade from dense, long, up to 40 cm, belt-like leaves. Above, the leaves are gray-green with longitudinal silvery stripes, and on the lower side they are reddish-purple. The edges of the leaves are rounded and have small denticles.

Flowering begins in May, sometimes at the end of April, and continues until July. A powerful peduncle emerges from the middle of the funnel-shaped rosette. Paniculate inflorescence is colored in coral colors. Bracts give it such a fiery hue. In the axils of the bracts, small bluish-pink flowers are hidden. The fruits are small, red in color.

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Varieties of ehmea sparkling

Blue Rain is appreciated for the original color of the bracts: they are white below, and blue above.

The Discolor variety also has an original color of the leaf plates: a wide white stripe with a burgundy admixture runs along the edge of each leaf plate. This is the most thermophilic and shade-loving variety of this species, which does not tolerate direct sunlight. Blooms from May to August. After flowering, red berries are tied even at home.

Ehmea bloom

Ehmeya blooms for several months, but it happens only once... The flowering itself begins in the fourth year of the flower's life. After a while, the echmea's rosette begins to die off, but during this period she manages to give birth to offspring.

Flowering can also be accelerated: for this, the pot is placed in a transparent bag with a couple of apples that release ethylene, which stimulates flowering.

Important! At the end of the growing season, the flower should be cut as low as possible.

Shaggy

Ehmea Shaggy (Aechmea Comata) Ehmey Linden (Aech. Lindenii var. Lindenii.)

A dense rosette is formed from long (up to 1 m) belt-shaped leaves. Foliage color - light green. On the edges of the leaves are small dark red, almost black teeth. During flowering, yellow flowers are collected in an inflorescence - a multi-row spike. Bright bracts are painted in coral red shades. This echmea blooms in winter.

Ehmeya - description

Ehmeya (lat.Aechmea) - a genus from the family of bromeliads, which grow mainly in South and Central America, with a total of up to 180 species. The echmeya flower got its name due to the shape of the bracts, and “aechme” itself (Greek) means the tip of the peak.

Representatives of the genus, depending on the species, can be both epiphytic and terrestrial plants. Among other bromeliads, echmeya is distinguished by the presence of thorns at the edges of the leaf plate. The leaves are collected in an outlet, can be either monochromatic or variegated, they are dense and hard or leathery, but soft. Echmea's fruit is a berry.

Although each leaf rosette only blooms once, ehmeya is quite popular in indoor culture. In addition, home care for echmea is relatively simple compared to other bromeliads.

Holosteel

Ehmea Nudicaulis

This is a perennial epiphyte. Its numerous leaves are pointed, dense and shortened, grow in a circle in several tiers and form a cylindrical rosette with a diameter of up to 20 cm and a height of up to 35 cm.The edges of the leaf plates are covered with long (up to 4 mm) brown spines. The inflorescence is spike-shaped. Its base is covered with long pointed bracts of bright scarlet color. The top consists of small yellow-pink flowers, which are densely planted on the flower arrow and practically do not open. Flowering occurs in June. There are no seeds for this type of echmea. It is propagated by the separation of children. Over time, the bracts fall off, and the inflorescence becomes naked.

Errors when caring for echmea

Two-row

Ehmea Distichantha

In the wild, it is found in the tropical rainforests of Uruguay, Bolivia, Eastern Brazil. Prefers rocky mountain areas at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. There they lead both epiphytic and terrestrial life. Narrow and long leaves (up to 50 cm) at the base of the bush grow together into a tube, forming a loose funnel-shaped rosette up to one meter in diameter. The leaves have a smooth surface of bright green color with sharp dark brown thorns along the edges. During flowering, a powerful peduncle appears from the center of the rosette, which reaches 60 cm in height. Large bracts are painted in bright red shades. Small purple flowers coquettishly peep out of the axils of the bracts.

Watering and humidity

Ehmeya is a plant of a humid equatorial climate; it needs regular watering. The potted soil should never dry out. However, over-watering is also harmful to the plant. Watering is carried out at the root and in the center of the outlet.

Watering at the root is carried out after the top layer of the soil dries up by 2-3 cm. Usually, in the summer, it is watered 2-3 times a week. If the air temperature drops, watering is significantly reduced. In winter, watered no more than 1 time in 10 days.

In the center of the outlet, the plant is watered only until the peduncle is formed. In winter, watering is not carried out using this method, since at temperatures below 20 ° C, humidification of the center of the outlet leads to its decay.

In the summer, no more than 20 g of water is poured into the outlet and monitors its drying.

If the water has not dried up in 2-3 days, it must be removed by blotting the middle with a napkin, and then pouring new water.

Ehmeya loves high humidity and spraying.

In the summer heat, ehmeya must be sprayed daily, in winter this procedure is not carried out so that the outlet does not start to rot.

Weilbach

Ehmea Weilbach (Aechmea Weilbachii)

This epiphytic species came to us from the humid Brazilian tropics. The soft, xiphoid leaves of a linear shape form a dense symmetrical rosette in the form of a glass. The length of the leaf in an adult plant does not exceed 50 cm. The leaves are curved, grooved in the center, narrowed towards the edge, almost without thorns. The color of the leaf is bright green, turning purple at the base. Rare thorns are located along the edge of the leaf in its lower part, at the base of the bush.

The peduncle is also painted in the same shade, reddish-purple. He is tall, up to 50 cm in height. It also has bright red leaves, only they are small.The inflorescence is formed in the form of a large (up to 15 cm in length), complex brush. The bracts themselves are large, accrete at the base, colored scarlet. The flowers are simple, small, pale blue and lilac shades.

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Transplant rules: soil and pot

Adult echmea rarely needs a transplant: only when its roots have completely filled the pot. Young echmeya should be replanted annually, preferably in the spring.

You need to choose a container of a small size, on the bottom of which you must put drainage. The soil necessary for ehmea can be purchased at the store (substrate for bromeliads, orchids) or mixed independently: this will require two parts of deciduous soil, one part of sand and one part of peat.

Curved

Ehmea Curved (Aechmea Recurvata)

In the wild, it occurs both as an epiphyte and as a terrestrial plant. Grows on large trees or among rocks in the rainforests of Brazil, Uruguay. The difference from other species consists in very narrow (up to 1.5 cm), long (up to 40 cm) leaves and low (up to 15-20 cm) peduncles. Leaves of gray-green color are densely covered with sharp thorns. They grow together at the base into a wide funnel. A strong peduncle is crowned with a red capitate inflorescence, consisting of elegant triangular salmon-red bracts and mauve flowers. This type of echmea blooms in the spring.

Ehmeya Curved has a varietal variety of Orthosis (Ortgiesii) with thin narrow leaves of variegated color and a squat rosette.

High humidity and insufficient lighting lead to the fact that the leaves of the "Curved" echmea change their variegated color to the usual green color.

Reproduction of Ehmeya:

Ehmeya is propagated by the separation of offspring after the flowering period and by the seed method. Ehmeya's roots are very fragile, keep this in mind when working with them. During reproduction, it is impossible to deeply deepen the neck of the rosettes of the plant in order to avoid decay.

The offspring are usually separated after the mother plant has faded and begins to die. It is necessary to wait until the roots of no more than 1 cm are formed on the offspring. Separation from the mother plant is carried out with a knife, while the sections are sprinkled with crushed coal and dried for 8-12 hours. Then they sit down in separate containers and arrange a greenhouse that is regularly ventilated.

Germination of seeds is carried out in sphagnum moss in a greenhouse at a temperature of 22-24 ° C. The seeds are not buried in the ground and, before planting, are treated in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated and sprayed. When the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, they make a pick.

Aechmea recurvata.

Bracts

Ehmea Bracts (Aechmea bracteata)

It is an epiphyte with a large elongated rosette formed by long (up to 1 m) and wide (up to 10 cm) leaves with large curved thorns along the edges. The peduncle is thin and straight, pubescent, with bright red bent bracts. The inflorescence is pyramidal. The flowers are small, red-yellow in color, appear in late spring and early summer.

Growing ehmea indoors

Queen Mary

Ehmea of ​​Queen Mary (Aechmea Mariae-reginae)

Very rare, but one of the most decorative types of echmea. It lives on the tops of tall trees in the moist coastal forests of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.This species is endangered due to over-harvesting. And all because of its extraordinary beauty. An amazing cone-shaped inflorescence 50 cm long, covered with white hairs with bright pink bracts, is in great demand among flower lovers.

Ehmeya "Queen Mary" is a dioecious plant. These ehmei are pollinated by hummingbirds. For fertilization of female flowers, pollen from male flowers is needed. In nature, female plants are much more common than male plants. Many male-type flowers are required for pollination. Due to the uncontrolled collection of flowers in nature, reproduction is difficult. But, in botanical gardens, these plants are successfully propagated by cuttings.

Pests and diseases

On the leathery leaves of echmea, the scabbard most often parasitizes. This pest can not only deprive the plant of its decorative appearance, but also lead to its death. Adult scale insects are removed by hand, and then the plant is treated with insecticidal preparations to destroy the larvae.

Also, red spider mites and mealybugs can settle on the flower.

To destroy these pests, the plant must be treated with appropriate preparations.

Ehmeya is susceptible to fungal diseases if the irrigation regime is incorrect... The soil in which it grows should not be highly humidified if the air temperature drops below 20 ° C.

Therefore, with excessive moisture in the soil in winter, root rot can begin.

It is impossible to fight this disease, diseased plants die. It is much easier to comply with plant care requirements and prevent the development of root rot.

Allen

Ehmea Allenii

Also a rare species from Panama. It is listed in the 1997 Red List of Vulnerable Species. Most of Panama's coastal forests have been destroyed. Where these ehmeys still remain, they suffer from over-harvesting. These echmei do not exceed 70 cm in height. Their inflorescences have pink or red bracts and white or mauve flowers, which, after pollination, turn into red-purple berries. Grows well indoors. Propagated by numerous seeds.

Lighting and temperature

Ehmeya loves bright light. This is one of the few indoor plants that tolerates direct sunlight well. Its tough, leathery leaves do not suffer from sunburn, even in the summer heat. You can grow the plant in diffused lighting. But with a lack of light, it will grow poorly and will refuse to bloom.

In the spring-summer period, the temperature for keeping echmea should be in the range of 20-26 ° C. Moreover, at night the temperature should be at least 20 ° C, during the day - 25-26 ° C. The difference between day and night temperatures of 5-6 ° C stimulates flowering. This plant is very thermophilic, so sudden changes in temperature during the daytime can harm it.

In winter, a dormant period must be created for the plant.... At this time, the temperature is reduced to 15-17 ° C.

At rest, the flower does not grow, so watering is sharply reduced, making sure that the soil in the pot remains only slightly damp.

It is undesirable for the air in the room where the ehmeya grows to stagnate. At high humidity, putrefactive fungi and bacteria multiply very quickly. Therefore, in summer, and especially in winter, you need to regularly ventilate the room. But the plant should not stand in a draft, it is located away from the opening sashes of the window.

Orlanda

Ehmea Orlandiana (Aechmea Orlandiana)

This species once lived in the tropical Atlantic forests of Brazil. It is considered extinct in nature. However, varieties of this type of ehmeya have survived, which are successfully grown indoors all over the world. Not only its beautiful yellow inflorescences are appreciated, but also leaves covered with small or large spots of red-brown shades.

How to care at home

As already noted, ehmeya is not a finicky plant. Being moisture-loving, it can still live without watering for a long time. In order for the flower to grow fully, you need to follow some rules for caring for it.

Watering

Ehmeya should be watered not only through the soil, but also through the outlet, as is the case in nature.

When watering, water must first be poured into an outlet and only after that - water the ground.

It is important that the water is soft and warm, and that its temperature is slightly higher than the ambient temperature. In summer, ehmeya needs abundant watering, but it is recommended to reduce it in autumn. During the rest period and at the end of flowering, no water is poured into the outlet at all - this can
lead to decay and death plants.

Air humidity

Ehmeya is quite adapted to dry air, but she will not refuse spraying either. It is necessary to systematically spray it in winter, when the house has central heating or other heating devices that dry the air. For spraying, warm, settled water is needed.

If you do not have the opportunity to often spray the flower, then you can increase the humidity in another way: for this you need to place the pot in a vessel with gravel, pebbles or other drainage and poured water.

Fertilization

Ehmeya needs to be fertilized all year round. In spring and summer, the plant is fertilized every two or three weeks, with the onset of autumn - no more than once a month, and with the arrival of winter - with an interval of 45 days. It is recommended to use special fertilizers or preparations for flowering indoor plants, but then the concentration should be halved compared to that indicated on the package. In winter, the concentration is reduced by 4 times.

Ehmei photo

Houseplant propagation

Echmea propagation is carried out by offspring and seeds. Indoor plant is best propagated vegetatively. in early spring. For this purpose, sufficiently developed offspring are separated from an adult perennial plant. The cut area on the mother bush must be treated with chopped charcoal, which will prevent plant decay. Young plants are planted in shallow flower pots filled with nutritious potting soil.

Ehmeya can be propagated quite easily by seed method, but this option is more laborious, therefore the least popular in indoor floriculture. Among other things, as a result of seed reproduction, varietal characteristics and characteristics are often lost. Peat or crushed sphagnum moss is used for sowing. The temperature must be maintained between 22-24 ° C. It is necessary to regularly water and ventilate the plant. After two to three months, the seedlings are dived into separate planting containers.

Disease and pest control - table

Photo gallery: echmea diseases and pests

Spider mites entangle plant leaves with cobwebs

Mealybug colonies look like cotton wool

Root bug is one of the causes of root decay

The attack of the scale insects inhibits the development of the plant

Yellow echmea leaves - a sign of root rot

Origin and description

Ehmei appeared in the collections of Russian flower growers relatively recently, in the last decade of the last century. The amazing flower immediately attracted the attention of professionals and amateurs with its exotic beauty.

The leathery and dense echmea leaves, with characteristic teeth along the edge, resemble belts. They reach 70 cm in length. The color of the leaves is tropically bright. The most common striped echmea (fasciata) has gray-green leaves with a silvery coating.

Ehmeya striped (fasciata) was especially fond of flower growers

Its relative, the glittering echmea, has dark green leaves, painted purple on the back. And the smallest Forster Favorit has reddish-green. In all species, the leaves form a well-defined funnel. From it, when the plant is old enough, a thick peduncle grows. At its end is a very spectacular bright inflorescence. Echmea has a striped large flower head, up to 12 cm, bracts are coral-pink with sharp tips, and the flowers themselves are small, bluish.

By the way, the name ehmeya comes from the Greek word that translates as "tip, end."

In search of the sun, ehmeya moved to tree branches

Ehmeya comes from South America, like most bromeliads. In its homeland, it grows both in the mountains and in the tropical jungle. The warm humid climate of the tropics helps the rapid development of vegetation. But there is not enough light under the forest canopy. Some representatives of the flora, including ehmeya, solved the problem of sun deficiency in an original way. They moved from the dark underbrush to the trees. Such plants are called epiphytes. Having moved to tree branches, bromeliads received a sufficient amount of light. A funnel made of leaves helps to collect water and spend it gradually. Due to the epiphytic lifestyle, the root system of the echmea is very modest, literally a few small roots that serve to keep the plant on the carrier. Some species of echmea remained on the ground, but did not grow significant roots either.

The silvery-white stripes on the leaves of Echmea fasciata are not just a decoration, but another result of adaptation to life at altitude. The scales on the leaves are trichomes; they serve to accumulate moisture and prevent the plant from overheating and drying out. Therefore, it is necessary to wipe the striped echmea leaves extremely carefully, and it is better not to touch them at all.

Ehmeya is considered by many flower growers to be the most unpretentious among bromeliads. It blooms for a long time, multiplies without much difficulty, undemanding to care and conditions. And if you pay attention to it, you will generously please with a beautiful and unprecedentedly long flowering. Echmea inflorescence usually appears in the middle of summer and does not fade until the winter cold.

Video: caring for ehmeya

Types and varieties

There are over 180 types of ehmea. They differ in the color of inflorescences and leaf plates, shapes, sizes, but retain the main species feature - dense leaves form a funnel, which serves to support the life of the echmea. We list the types of this plant that have already won the sympathy of Russian flower growers:

• Ehmeya striped (fasciata).
• A variety of striped echmea - Example.
• Ehmeya Morgan.
• Ehmeya sparkling.
• Ehmeya tailed.
• Ehmey Weilbach.
• Ehmeya Shantin.

Photo gallery: luxurious views and varieties of ehmea

Echmea striped inflorescence - a reward for a caring florist

The bright pink bracts of Echmea Primera, and the flowers are red-purple

Ehmeya Morgana is a delicate pink-orange inflorescence

Ehmea flowers glittering are painted in coral color

Ehmeya tailed - has a red-yellow inflorescence

Echmea Weilbach inflorescences look like a panicle

Ehmeya Shantin is distinguished by dark orange bracts and yellow flowers

Why does not ehmeya bloom

As a rule, the lack of flowering is the result of improper care of indoor perennials. Unbalanced watering can be the reason for the long absence of flowering. or the use of too cold water for irrigation measures. Also, an ornamental plant does not bloom if the temperature regime is too high in the growing room or there is a large amount of stagnant air. Among other things, it is very important to pay attention to fertilizing, since a strong depletion of the soil can also cause a lack of flowering.

If there is no flowering even with proper care for the echmea, then you can try to stimulate the formation of a peduncle on your own.

Ethylene gas is a proven method of activating the flowering processes of any bromeliad crop. A sufficient amount of such gas is released by the most common apples, during the ripening process. A couple of ripening apples should be placed near the flower pot with echmea, and covered with plastic. After about a couple of weeks, the shelter should be removed. If everything is done correctly, then within three to four months ehmeya blooms.

Plant specificity

Ehmeya is represented by various options: terrestrial and epiphytic plants. Among the representatives of its family, this culture stands out in that the edge of the leaves is covered with thorns. The foliage creates a rosette, and its color is both bright and variegated, and monochromatic. In addition, echmea leaves can be soft and leathery, or they can be dense and harsh. The fruit is a berry.

This plant is very popular with gardeners. They are not even confused by the fact that the rosette of leaves is capable of blooming only once. By the way, there is one more difference from the representatives of this family - it is quite easy to take care of it at home.

Ehmeya's fruit is a berry

Florist reviews

This wonderful flower appeared in my house two years ago. A friend wanted to throw him out when he faded and became ugly, but I felt sorry for him and I took him for myself. I did not know what this plant was called and that it blooms once in my entire life, and all the time I tried to revive it, fed it with various fertilizers that contribute to the flowering of indoor plants, watered it only with settled water at room temperature, but it still did not bloom, just released a few kids. Then I accidentally found it on the Internet and read that it is possible to transplant processes from it, and they will eventually bloom. Now I am growing this miracle of nature, while it is just sprouting, I hope it will bloom :-).

Tatyanka1119

Ehmeya has been on my desktop for two months now and does not cease to delight me. Everyone who comes to me runs rather to look, "and what kind of miracle is this," because you rarely see such beauty, I personally have not met before. The flower is unpretentious in leaving, my ehmeya loves the sun very much, it is directly felt how its leaves are filled with energy. The main thing is not to pour it, it is enough to water it a little once every few days. A flower for the lazy, so to speak. The only drawback: ehmeya blooms for a very long time, I have already 2 months without a break, and then, when it fades, the plant dies, leaving behind the "children", when they become half of the "mother", they need to be planted, and they, in in turn, will bloom too. Highly recommend!

Insolence

It is believed that this flower blooms once, and then it remains only to throw it away. Do not hurry! With a minimum of effort, you will have a new, luxuriously flowering plant in a few months.My mother bought an ehmeya in a flower shop after she had faded, but at a discount ... Unscrupulous sellers did not warn her that the plant was, so to speak, "disposable" and would die soon after flowering ... Not even flowering, it is very beautiful, therefore I didn't tell my mother about it right away. It turned out that after flowering, new shoots appear near the main plant - "babies". If they are planted, they easily and completely grow into a new flower without any problems. Throw away the old stem (it really dries up after a while). The apartment feels great. I buy soil for bromeliads, but you can also use universal, just add more peat - the plant loves very loose soil. It stands on our table near the south window, there are tulle curtains on the window, that is, the sun hits it, but scattered through the tulle. Watering is regular and plentiful, but not into the soil, but into the rosette of leaves. That's all! As soon as I drop the baby, it begins to grow, after a few months a bud appears, it grows for quite a long time, then it blooms and blooms for several months. Then repeat the operation from the beginning. Very easy to care for and very beautiful plant! Recommend!

cinnamon

I had such a beauty at work for quite a long time: she faded, we poured boiled water into the funnel all the time, it was rarely watered into the pot (so that the earth was slightly wet), but there was always water in the funnel. So: the plant faded, then grew a fat baby on the side, they lived together for about a year, then the “mother” began to rot, and we cut her off, and planted a new plant on our own. A hefty bush grew, which for three years never bloomed and just froze when we moved (we were transported to a new building in December 2008, the flowers had to be carried in a tent gazelle, a lot of scent was gone). From myself I can add: the rastuha is very tenacious, completely unpretentious and does not get sick!

Anna Malik

Boarding and transfer requirements

The soil for a cute neighbor can be purchased ready-made or assembled yourself. In order not to puzzle over how to plant, they buy a store-bought mixture for bromeliads (which is particularly friable) or orchids.

For self-made cooking, you need to take in equal proportions:

• peat formed from bog plants;
• a component from decayed plant and animal residues;
• sand;
• natural mulching material - pine bark.

Recommendation: a composition made by hand will not interfere with disinfecting - pour boiling water over it or warm it up in the oven.

You can replace or refresh the substrate every three years, since the main source of nutrition is not the root system (poorly developed and more performing the function of fasteners), but oxygen that penetrates through the walls of the leaves.

The roots take little part in this process. But if they have grown and filled the entire space of the container, it's time to move.

The most suitable container is a fairly wide and low pot or basin. According to the transplant rules, it is better to do it in the spring.

The container must be filled with a large layer of drainage expanded clay and only then with soil. Then a flower is carefully placed in the prepared "house" and a few more handfuls of earth are added, and at first they are not watered in order to facilitate and ensure adaptation to new conditions.

Possible problems

• Leaves turn brown... Most often, the echmea foliage turns brown if the bush is grown in a too cold place. It can also happen when rot appears on the bush.
• Ehmeya does not bloom... The bush does not bloom if the lighting is too poor, especially for variegated forms. Lack of light also causes the foliage to lose its characteristic color.
• Harmful insects... Such a plant can sometimes be occupied by scale insects, aphids, as well as root worms. To get rid of them, the plant is treated with a solution of a special insecticidal preparation.

Echmea transplant: features

The plant is transplanted annually; for this, it is necessary to carefully remove all the earth from the root system of the flower so as not to damage the fragile roots. It is at this moment that its dying part is separated from the plant, and young specimens are transplanted into a new, pre-prepared soil. The pot for ehmeya, the bottom of which must be covered with a drainage layer (preventing water stagnation), should be spacious, but not high, because the roots of the plant grow on the sides. A large capacity is not recommended, because the green pet will not bloom and will give all its strength to the development of the root system, with which it will try to fill the entire space.

The optimal composition for a houseplant will be a composition obtained from leaf, peat, humus and peat soil, taken in equal proportions. You can also add half of the coarse sand here. It will turn out exactly such a soil composition in which the magic ehmeya most manifests its qualities.

Care errors and their elimination

In the table, growers will find a lot of useful information about the action of negative factors and methods of eliminating them:

Ehmeya is poisonous or not?

The poisonous species of echmea is considered to be striped echmea. When deciding to grow this species at home or in a summer cottage, be careful. The juice of the fruit of the plant contains poisonous substances that can cause severe irritation of the skin. Avoid touching the crop without gloves, and make sure that children and pets do not try to taste the plant's very attractive fruits.

Ehmeya is an excellent choice for both beginner flower growers and experienced lovers of living plants. Each type of plant has a special appeal and amazes with a unique palette of inflorescences. Use ehmeya when forming elegant compositions for your interior or summer cottage, and your garden will sparkle with new colors.

Landing rules

So that the echmea rhizome is not affected by rot, it is recommended that the plant's soil be replaced annually during transplantation. The best time for this is the beginning of spring. A deep pot is not necessary for a superficial rhizome, but it is desirable that the container is wide enough. The pot and the soil in it serve not so much for nutrition as for fixing the vertical position.

The plant can be grown by a bush (mother plant with children). The large bushy bush has a distinct appeal. However, at least once every 2-3 years, separation and transplantation must be done.

The soil for echmea must have high air permeability and water permeability. You should also give preference to fertile soils. You can buy special soil for planting echmea at a flower shop (soil mixture for Bromeliads) or compose yourself from the following components:

• river sand;
• sphagnum moss;
• deciduous land;
• deciduous humus;
• peat;
• sod land.

Long-awaited event

Seeing how a green pet blooms is possible only once in its entire life. Observing this will delight the owners from the fifth to the tenth month of the calendar.

If you do not pay enough attention to the baby, this miracle can not be expected at all. But you can speed up the process by placing the pot in a plastic cover, send a couple of ripe apples there, close everything together for a week and a half. Ripe fruits release an organic chemical called ethylene, which will cause the rosette to bloom.

Portrait of a stranger

According to its external description, it resembles a fountain, the jets of which fly up diagonally. The diameter of its wide, oblong leaves with thin sharp tips is more than 100 centimeters. They are in the shape of a tongue or a sword, they are collected in a goblet rosette, and closer to the base they slightly wrap the edges inward so that water accumulates in the resulting depression.

This helps the wild representatives to collect rain moisture. It is both terrestrial and epiphyte, that is, it grows or attaches itself, without parasitizing, to the fragments of dead trees, the trunks of perennial plants, and even to stones. Has a shortened stem.

During the flowering period (and this happens, unfortunately, only once in a lifetime), buds appear in each leafy joint in the form of a panicle, head or spike. They later die off.

It is believed that a growing miracle relieves emotional stress and neutralizes bad energy where it lives.

Benefits and superstitions

It is believed that ehmeya increases the vitality of people living with her in the same apartment. She gives them decisiveness in their actions. Its place should be in the office, near the desktop. This tropical beauty helps not only make smart plans, but also bring them to life. Ehmeya maintains a cheerful mood, gives people around them a cheerful mood and confidence in the future.

However, we do not recommend placing a pot of this flower in the bedroom, because sensitive people near her sometimes suffer from insomnia. And in the nursery, she has no place, since the beautiful, but poisonous leaves of some types of echmea can be tasted by children or pets.

Characteristics of popular types of ehmea with a photo

Striped (Aechmea fasciata)

Terrestrial bromeliad with bright variegated leaves and beautiful flowers grows in the tropical rainforests of Brazil. Sometimes its name in the reference floricultural literature is found as Bilbergia fasciata.

Leaves are leathery, green, with transverse silvery stripes, tongue-shaped, up to half a meter long, collected in a dense funnel-shaped rosette, up to 60 cm in size. From above, the leaves are covered with a thin bluish waxy bloom, which disappears when touched. The leaf is decorated with small thorns along the edges. The edge of the leaf blade is rounded.

Flowers appear in 3-4 years of flower life on a long peduncle.Inflorescence is a large pyramidal raceme, consisting of pink bracts and small blue flowers. It blooms in the spring and summer, from May to July.

This type of ehmea has varietal varieties:

• "Albomarginata" - bright green leaves have a wide white border around the edge.
• "Variegata" - longitudinal cream-colored stripes run down the middle of the leaf.

Ehmeya striped is one of the most spectacular of its kind. Used in landscaping as a single accent or in a group with other bromeliads. Ehmeya striped has a beneficial effect on the microclimate of the room, purifying its air from formaldehyde and other harmful volatile chemicals.

Sparkling (Aechmea fulgens)

The most unpretentious of the kind of ehmey. Belt-like leaves up to 40 cm long, collected in a loose rosette. The leaf blade is gray-green on top, and on the underside it is painted in a violet-red hue. The edge of the leaf has small teeth and ends with a rounding.

Flowering can begin from April to July. From the middle of the funnel-shaped rosette, a powerful peduncle appears, bearing a paniculate inflorescence of coral color. Bracts give it such a fiery shade. The flowers themselves are small, blue, hiding in the axils of the bracts.

Several varietal varieties have been bred by breeders:

• "Blue Rain" - differs in bracts with an original double color: from below they are painted white, from above - blue.
• «Discolor "- along the edge of the leaf blade there is a wide white stripe with a burgundy admixture.

IMPORTANT! This species is the most shade-loving, afraid of direct sunlight, and the most heat-loving species.

The flowering period is in the spring and summer months: from May to August. In indoor conditions, red berries are often tied after flowering.

Weilbach (Aechmea weilbachii)

It is an epiphytic bromeliad with soft leaves forming a dense goblet rosette. An adult plant can grow up to a diameter of 50 cm. Leaves are linear, grooved, curved, narrowed towards the edge, bright green, purple at the base. Thorns are rare, located along the edge of the leaf in its lower part at the base of the plant. The leaf blade at the base has a slightly reddish tone.

The peduncle is painted in the same shade. There are also leaves on the peduncle, only they are small, bright red in color. The inflorescence is a complex raceme, very large - up to 15 cm in length. The bracts and the bracts themselves are colored red. The flowers are small, simple, with pale blue petals. This ehmeya is thermophilic, for good health it needs a temperature of at least 20 degrees.

There is a varietal variety "leodiensis ", in which the leaves are painted in bronze.

It is used in the preparation of group compositions from bromeliads or in vertical gardening - to decorate epiphytic trees.

Shaggy (Aechmea comata)

In the periodical scientific and popular literature, it is sometimes found under the name Ehmeya Linden (Aech. Lindenii var. Lindenii.). The homeland of the plant is South America. The leaves of the plant are wide (4-5 cm wide) and long (grow up to 1 m), belt-like, light green in color. The denticles along the edges of the leaf are small and colored dark red, almost black. It blooms with yellow flowers, gathered in a multi-row spike inflorescence. Bracts are coral red with yellow flowers.

Reference! The flowering period of this species is in the winter.

Two-row (Aechmea distichantha)

Grows in tropical rainforests of Uruguay, Bolivia, Eastern Brazil. Occurs at an altitude of 900 m above sea level in rocky areas of the mountains. Bromeliads are both epiphytic and terrestrial. An adult plant can grow up to 1 m in diameter.

The leaves are narrow (up to 3 cm wide) and long (40-50 cm), at the base they grow together into a tube, forming a loose rosette. The surface of the leaf is smooth and bright green. During flowering, the peduncle grows up to 60 cm. Bracts are large, 3-5 cm in length, bright scarlet in color.The flowers are small, hiding in the axils of the bracts, purple.

On the site you can find other interesting articles about ampelous plants, for example, such as: bacopa, eschinanthus, campanula, dichondra.

Curved (Aechmea recurvata)

In nature, it grows, settling in the forks of trees or on rocks in Brazil, Uruguay. Differs in long and very narrow (1.5 cm) gray-green leaves and low (up to 15 cm) peduncles. A high peduncle is crowned with a red capitate inflorescence, which consists of elegant bright red bracts and lilac flowers. Blooms in the spring.

This bromeliad has a cultivar "Ortgiesii", characterized by a squat rosette and thin narrow leaves.

Attention! In curved echmea, with high air humidity and insufficient illumination, the color of the leaves changes from variegated to the usual green color.

Reproductive system

Ehmeya gives offspring in two ways of reproduction:

• seeds, but in this case it will take about four years to wait for flowering;
• shoots or cuttings, which are detached from their parents when Ehmeya fades, and placed in a separate vessel with earth.

Note. If the new shoots are not taken away, then they will grow, and the old flower will gradually wither away and will need to be eliminated.

Other problems with growing ehmea

Withering of leaf blades. Reason: lack of watering.

The leaves turned brown. Reason: the plant is cold, the ambient temperature has dropped too low.

The leaf plates have become faded. Reason: lack or excess of lighting.

The tips of the leaves dry up. Reason: dry air, humidity dropped below normal.

Brown spots appeared on the leaves. Reason: It could be a sunburn or a fungal disease.

The lower part of the leaves and the root rot. Reason: Excessive watering in the summer or the presence of water in the outlet in the autumn-winter time, when it should be dry.

The inflorescence and peduncle dry up and acquire a dirty pink color. Reason: the flower freezes, it should be moved to a warmer place.

The neck of the flower has rotted in the summer. Reason: the water in the funnel has not changed for a long time, it stagnated and rotten. The leaf outlet should be rinsed with clean water if a lot of dust and debris has accumulated in it. Every two weeks, empty the outlet from the water, dry it, and then refill with a fresh portion of water.

The leaves began to turn yellow. The reasons:

• unsuitable soil: it is heavy, poorly permeable to moisture or air;
• there is not enough food, they have not fed the flower for a long time;
• insect pests.

Care

Watering features - table

In the summer, ehmeya is watered regularly

Top dressing

In order for ehmeya to fully develop, it needs food. Top dressing starts in March and stops in October. You can use fertilizers for bromeliads or for ornamental flowering plants, which are diluted with water 2 times more than the norm. Choose formulations that are free of copper and boron - they are toxic to ehmea.

Top dressing is applied immediately after foliar irrigation. It can be used for spraying foliage, as well as pouring the solution into an outlet.Fertilizers are applied twice a month.

Some growers continue to feed ehmeya during the rest period, but at this time the frequency of fertilization is reduced to 1 time in 1.5 months.

For full development, ehmeya needs to be fed regularly

Flowering period

Echmea bloom can be observed from May to October. The plant blooms once, after which it begins to slowly fade away. But during this period, children appear.

A plant grown from seeds blooms in 4 years, rooted babies in 3 years.

The flowering process takes several months. Moreover, the flowers fade very quickly, and the bract lasts for several months. In order not to shorten the flowering period, while watering the plant, try not to get the bracts wet. After the peduncle dries up, it is cut almost to the very base with a sharp pruner. Be sure to remove the water from the outlet, otherwise the process of decay will begin, which will destroy the plant.

If ehmeya is capricious, does not want to bloom, you can help her. To do this, you need to remember the lessons of chemistry. Citrus fruits and apples give off a gas called ethylene, which stimulates the formation of flowers. Place a pot with a plant in a large plastic bag and put 2-3 apples or oranges there. Tie, just not very tight. The experiment should last no more than 2 weeks. After that, the ehmeya should bloom within 4 months. And one more important aspect: a suitable temperature for the stimulating effect of ethylene should be at the level of +22 ° С.

Apples and oranges release ethylene, which stimulates echmea flowering

Dormant period

Ehmeya rests in winter. At this time, a future peduncle is being laid. The temperature should be in the range from 17 to 19 ° C and not fall below 16. Watering is very accurate. In winter, spraying will be beneficial for Ehmeya, but make sure that no water gets into the leaf outlet.

Common errors and how to fix them - table

The combination of low temperature with waterlogged soil leads to decay of echmea leaves