How to care for a Bromeliad (Guzmania): teaching you the correct cultivation methods
I. Cultivation environment
1. Soil: Use breathable, loose soil with good drainage for cultivation.
2. Watering: It likes a moist growing environment, so sufficient moisture must be ensured; you can water once every 5-7 days. After autumn arrives, its growth slows down, so watering should be controlled at this time; just keep the potting soil moist, and be sure there is no standing water, to avoid root rot.
3. Fertilizing: During the growing period, apply liquid fertilizer once every 10-20 days; fermented cake fertilizer can be used. When fertilizing, do not sprinkle the fertilizer into the leaf cups, otherwise fertilizer damage will occur. No fertilizing is needed during the flowering period and dormant period.
4. Light: Give it about 10 hours of light and a ventilated environment every day, and it will grow better, with more vivid colors.
II. Propagation methods
1. Division propagation: April is the best time to do it. First take out the mother plant, break off the new shoots, then make a cut on the wound so that the cut surface stays smooth, which is more favorable for rooting. Disinfect it, coat it with plant ash, put it in a ventilated place to dry, and then plant it. No watering is needed; just let the surface of the potting soil have a layer of moisture. Place it in a ventilated place, and it will root in about 20 days.
2. Sowing propagation: When sowing, the temperature should be controlled at 16°C. After sowing, cover with plastic film to keep it moist, then control the temperature at 25-30°C. Seedlings will appear in about one month. When the seedlings are 4 cm long, they can be pricked out, and as they continue to grow they can be transplanted separately.
III. Common pests and diseases
1. The common disease is Fusarium; when it is found, chlorothalonil can be sprayed for control.
2. Common pests include red spider mites and scale insects. For red spider mites, dicofol can be used for control, spraying once every half month; for scale insects, trichlorfon mixed with dimethoate can be sprayed for control, once a week.