The 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 for decorating an interior because both their ribbon-like 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 EcologíaVerde article in which you will find a practice guzmania care guide.
Characteristics of guzmania
These bromeliads are actually a whole genus of plants, which has 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 guzmanian bromeliads They are arranged in the shape of a ribbon, they are bright green and they grow arranged in a rosette, giving shape to a small water tank where they are inserted, as it is in almost all bromeliads. Its inflorescences have warm tones that can range from yellow to reddish, with a central stem and showy bracts that give the plant a lot of life.
Climate and location for guzmania
Like many tropical plants, the guzmania needs a hot and humid environmentbut at the same time does not withstand direct sunlightbecause in its natural environment it is below and the tree canopy 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 sources of direct light, 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 a lot and deprive them of much-needed moisture.
Irrigation of the guzmania
The ideal is to always water the plants with water without lime or with rainwater, although with some plants this is more a necessity than a recommendation. The guzmania is one of these cases, so try to always water it with non-tap water and if possible at room temperature, so that you save the plant sudden changes in temperature that are not convenient for it.
When watering, pay attention that the water falls on those small spaces at the birth of the leaves and on these, 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 ones Also try to change and renew the water of the bud weekly or fortnightly.
Additionally, it is necessary spray the plant at least two or three times a week with water without lime and lukewarm to provide that environmental humidity. At this point, another option is to place a small plate of gravel and water under the pot, to provide moisture without keeping the substrate soggy.
In this other post you can learn more about when to water plants.
Substrate and fertilizer
Uses a specific substrate and fertilizer for epiphytic plants, as these have very different nutrient needs from those of common plants. For example, a normal fertilizer could burn your roots, which are more sensitive.
For the substrate, if you prepare the mixture yourself, a mixture with six parts of peat, three parts of perlite and one part of earthworm humus will suffice. Here you can learn how to make earthworm humus.
Pruning of the guzmania and its multiplication
The guzmania pruning It is based on very simple maintenance, since you simply have to remove the dry leaves as they deteriorate, 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’s normal. Also, when a guzmania leaves, it never leaves us alone. The plant generates side shoots or suckerswhich you can carefully separate from the mother plant, preserving several roots, to replant it and give rise to a new plant.
Why does my guzmania not bloom
The most common when 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 fertilizerwhich does not damage the delicate roots of this epiphytic plant.
Why does my guzmania have dry flowers?
The guzmanias bloom only once and its flower begins to dry naturally when its life cycle ends. The best thing when this moment comes is always prune the inflorescence as soon as it looks bad, so that the plant saves energy to be able to prepare more suckers. Sometimes, a guzmania can survive after pruning 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 by drafts or lack of moisture.
To remedy this situation, place the plant out of direct sun, spray the leaves with warm lime-free water, and move it away from drafts.
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