What is the difference between golden pothos and pothos? Detailed guide to growing methods

"Lucky strike" is a New Year greeting many people use. To keep good fortune coming all year round, many people grow the bromeliad Guzmania (Vriesea / Guzmania) at home, hoping to bring out its auspicious meaning. To help you grow it well, the editor below introduces the growing methods for Guzmania.

Potting soil selection for Guzmania
The soil for Guzmania needs to be rich in humus, loose, fertile, with good air permeability and drainage, and slightly acidic (pH 5-5.5). At home, the most commonly used mix is leaf mold, river sand, a small amount of cake fertilizer, or decomposed chicken manure. Of course, to save trouble when repotting, you can buy it directly from a flower shop.
The growth lifespan of Guzmania is not very long. Usually plants 3-4 years old will bloom, then gradually wither after flowering, and the plant is renewed after withering. Therefore, it should be repotted once every 1-2 years to ensure sufficient nutrient supply in the soil.
Watering method for Guzmania
Guzmania likes a humid environment. During the growing period, it needs to ensure relatively high air humidity and sufficient soil moisture. Keep the potting soil moist, and it is best to control the air humidity at 70%-80%.
The usual watering frequency is every 5-7 days. For some hard-leaved types that need less water, keep the pot surface relatively dry. For soft-leaved types that need more water, keep the potting soil moist often, and it is best that the surface soil does not look dry. Always keep water in the leaf cup; a lack of water in the leaf cup can easily cause the plant to wilt.
After the beginning of autumn, the growth of Guzmania slows down, so watering and spraying should be properly controlled. After entering the dormant period, watering should be controlled, and it is enough to keep the potting soil slightly moist. Do not water if the potting soil is not dry; overly wet potting soil easily causes root rot. Keep the bottom of the leaf cup moist, but do not give too much water, so as to avoid rot.
Fertilization method for Guzmania
During the growing season, fertilize once every 10-20 days, using fermented cake fertilizer or chemical fertilizer. For chemical fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are usually used, with the concentration controlled at 0.1%-2.3%. When fertilizing, try not to apply fertilizer at the center of the plant, so as to avoid harm. Fertilization should be stopped during the flowering period, dormant period and summer.
Light requirements for Guzmania
The growth of Guzmania requires sufficient light, and the daily light time should be controlled at 12-16 hours. Under sufficient light, combined with high humidity and good ventilation conditions, growth will be faster and better. The plant will become short, plump and sturdy, with broad, short, stiff leaves and bright, beautiful flower colors.
Notes on growing Guzmania
Humidity is very important for the growth of Guzmania. The suitable relative humidity is 50%-75%. If it is higher than 80%, ventilation should be strengthened, otherwise it is prone to disease or leggy growth. If it is lower than 40%, it easily causes leaf tip withering, and regular spraying is needed to maintain moisture.
The care of Guzmania also depends on the variety. For light-loving varieties such as painted-leaf Guzmania, more light should be given, and they should be placed on a windowsill or balcony for care.
The water quality for watering is also very important for Guzmania. It likes to grow in acidic soil and requires the water quality to also be weakly acidic. It does not like salts, especially calcium salts and sodium salts.
The growing methods for Guzmania are as above. When growing Guzmania, you should pay attention one by one according to your actual situation and the problems you encounter. Especially when facing Guzmania withering or leaves turning yellow, only by solving it in a targeted way can you "revive" it.