Dyckia

Family. Bromeliaceae.

Origin. South America.

Description. The genus Dyckia includes perennial evergreen plants, their hard, fleshy leaves up to 22 cm long and about 1.5 cm wide with spiny edges, usually collected in dense rosettes. The leaves have a rich spectrum of shades - from the usual green to gray and bright burgundy, sometimes with light stripes along the edge. When grown in full sunlight the leaf color will be more saturated. On mature specimens, a thin flower stalk up to 30 cm high appears on the side of the leaf rosette in spring. Small bell-shaped flowers about 2 cm in diameter are not of particular interest, usually yellow or orange. Unlike other bromeliads, dyckia does not die off after flowering.

Height. About 30 cm, grows quite slowly.

Home care

Temperature

Summer heat does not harm this plant at all - it is very heat-loving. Dyckia does not have a specific rest period; its growth depends on the ambient temperature. In winter, the room temperature should not fall below 10 ° C.  

Lighting

Grows best indoors in full sun all year round. Lighting is critical to maintaining beautiful foliage. With the right light, you will have a strong, stocky, healthy plant.

How to care

In  the warm season, it is advisable to place it in the fresh air, but the plant must be prepared for this gradually. This is a very hardy species that does not require much care.

Soil

A ready-made mixture for cacti and succulents with good drainage in the form of, for example, coarse sand - up to a third of the volume of the mixture and the addition of a small amount of organic matter. 

Feeding

Apply liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season from spring to autumn.

Purpose

Valuable decorative foliage plant.

Flowering time

In the spring.

Air humidity

There is no need for spraying. 

Watering dyckia

Water dyckia sparingly during warmer months. The soil should dry out almost completely between waterings. In winter, water rarely - about once a month. The frequency of watering will directly depend on the temperature of the content. Dyckias are able to withstand long periods of drought.

Transfer

Replant in spring. Don't forget to add a drainage layer to the bottom of the pot. Young specimens are planted in larger pots in spring, when their roots cover the entire surface of the soil.

Reproduction

Dyckia reproduce in spring by daughter rosettes, which are formed in large quantities in the mother bush. For reproduction, rosettes that have reached 10 centimeters in diameter are taken. Young seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place without direct sunlight. The soil for planting should contain a lot of coarse sand - about half.

Pests and diseases

With proper care, the flower is rarely attacked by insects. Make sure that water does not stagnate in the tray - this can lead to rotting. Sometimes mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites appear.

Note

When handling this plant, use thick gloves and exercise caution - the leaves are equipped with sharp spines.