Neoregelia

Family. Bromeliaceae.

Origin. Brazil. 

Description. The genus Neoregelia includes about 70 species of evergreen, perennial herbaceous plants, some of which in their natural environment behave as epiphytes and grow on trees. Neoregelias produce a basal rosette of attractive leaves. The leaves are glossy, sword-shaped, up to 60 cm long, from light to dark green, sometimes with stripes of contrasting shades, sometimes the leaves change color during flowering - the center of the rosette becomes red. With age, a low trunk sometimes appears. During the flowering period, small purple, blue or white flowers appear in the center of the rosette.

Height. Grows slowly and rarely exceeds 25 - 30 cm in height, but can sometimes reach 60 cm.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

A heat-loving plant that should be kept at a temperature of 18 - 27º C. In winter, do not expose the plant to temperatures below 10 ° C. Do not have a clearly defined dormant period and grow evenly throughout the year.

How to care

Remove fading flowers and yellowing leaves. 

Lighting

Neoregelias need bright light and should receive several hours of direct sunlight in the morning or evening hours. Plants that do not receive enough light become elongated and lose color.

Reproduction

In spring, daughter rosettes often form around the mother plant. Each division must have a sufficiently developed root system.

Flowering time

Flowering can occur at any time of the year and is not of particular interest; inconspicuous small flowers are lost against the background of colorful leaves. Depending on the specific species, after flowering the main rosette may die, forming small daughter rosettes. 

Transplantation

Neoregelia like slightly cramped conditions, and when replanting it is not at all necessary to change the size of the pot. Adult specimens are replanted every 2-3 years, in the spring.

Soil

Well-drained soil, a mixture consisting of 1 part peat, 1 part pine bark and 1 part coarse river sand or perlite is suitable.

Feeding

Like most members of the bromeliad family, they do not require frequent feeding. Fertilizers can be applied monthly at half strength; it is advisable to feed them by spraying the leaves.

Watering 

The bushes are watered in the center of the rosette - with distilled or soft rain or bottled water. Every month, the water from the rosette is drained and replaced with new water. In the warm season, the water should always be in the center of the rosette. If the plant is kept in a cool place in winter, water it under the root, drying the soil to half its depth between waterings.

Pests and diseases

Excess nutrients in the soil leads to loss of bright color. The lower leaves turn yellow and dry out due to lack of moisture. The tips of the leaves dry out when there is insufficient air humidity. When overmoistened, putrefactive manifestations are possible.

Among the harmful insects, plants can be annoyed by mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and aphids. 

Air humidity

Spray the leaves if the indoor air becomes too dry. To increase air humidity, you can place the plant on a tray with wet pebbles. Neoregelia does not like drafts. 

Note

With proper care, neoregelias can live for many years in indoor conditions.

Growing hydroponically

Many species grow well in hydroponics.