Afelandra - Simple And Tasteful. Home Care. Photo

The genus name comes from the Greek words aphelis andros idle and male: the plants have simple unilocular anthers. About 50 species of low-growing shrubs and semi-shrubs that grow in the tropics of America.

Content:

• Description of Afelandra
• Features of growing Afelandra
• Reproduction of afelandra
• Types of alefandra

Description of Afelandra

Afelandra, Latin - Aphelandra

The genus includes about 170 species of evergreen shrubs and semi-shrubs from humid forests in tropical North, Central and South America. The large leaves of Afelandra with silvery veins are decorative throughout the year, and in the fall for about 6 weeks it is decorated with a golden cone of the inflorescence. It is not surprising that this plant has been loved for many generations, but in indoor conditions it cannot be kept for longer than a few months: most plants begin to lose leaves. This can be avoided if the plant is regularly fed, the soil is not allowed to dry out, sprayed frequently and kept warm in winter. Faded inflorescences are removed.

The plant has apical leaves with a yellow or red tint. Flowers of bright color are collected in an inflorescence - an ear. Different varieties of leaves and flowers have different colors. This houseplant is prized for its large, beautiful leaves and lush bloom in the fall, when most of the other houseplants have already faded. Blooming large yellow or golden flowers can last almost two months. However, this is a very difficult crop for indoor cultivation, as it requires special care and attention. Afelandra is a large-leaved and fast-growing plant.

Features of growing Afelandra

Location

Afelandra needs a bright location, but not sunny. In the summer, the plant should be kept at a temperature not lower than +20 ° C. The bulging aphelandra can withstand an air temperature of + 10 ° С, this has a beneficial effect on its flowering, but at the same time the aphelandra should be in a bright room. Afelandra grows well and develops in warm and light greenhouses and rooms.

Lighting

Afelandra loves bright light.

Watering

Afelandra needs a constantly moist soil. If Afelandra winters in a cool place, then watering should be limited. Drying out the soil is detrimental to the plant, as well as waterlogging.

Air humidity

Afelandra needs high humidity. Afelandra needs frequent spraying as it needs high humidity. To do this, use soft water at room temperature. You can also lower the pot with the plant into a pallet with wet expanded clay, peat or moss.

Fertilizer

Afelandra needs feeding every two weeks. Fertilize with flower fertilizers in liquid form.

Difficulties

Falling leaves. The reasons are too dry air, draft in the room, low air temperature.

Transfer

Young plants about a month after entwining a coma of earth with roots are transferred into larger pots.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out before the dormant period to restore plant growth (rejuvenation), since old plants are not decorative, they stretch and lose the lower leaves. To give the plants the shape of a bush, the plants are pinched on the 2-3rd leaf.

Reproduction of afelandra

Afelandra is propagated by seeds and apical cuttings.

Seeds are sown immediately after harvest (in February - March), the substrate is used consisting of leafy earth and sand (1: 0.25). It is necessary to maintain a temperature of 20-22 ° C, when using a mini-greenhouse with bottom heating, germination of seeds occurs faster. Seedlings dive into a substrate consisting of leafy, soddy soil and sand (1: 1: 1.2). Seedlings bloom in the same year.

Annual ripe shoots 10-15 cm long, with two leaves in March-May, less often in December-January, are cut on cuttings. Treatment of cuttings with growth stimulants (heteroauxin, root, succinic acid) and bottom heating provides faster and more reliable rooting. The cuttings are rooted in wet sand or the mixture of peat and sand is covered with a glass cover. The temperature must be maintained within 20-25 ° C, constantly sprayed and ventilated. Apical cuttings form roots after 15-30 days, stem cuttings - after 45-60 days. After rooting, the cuttings are transplanted into a mixture of leaf, humus, peat soil and sand (1: 1: 1: 0.5). They grow rather slowly, they need warmth and bright diffused light.

Less commonly propagated by leafy cuttings. In autumn or winter, a fully developed (but not coarse) leaf with an axillary bud is cut off, preferably not from flowering shoots. Rooted in a mixture of peat and sand. Cover with a glass cover, maintain the temperature at 20-25 ° C, spray and ventilate regularly.

Features: Old plants lose their decorative effect, stretching out and shedding the lower leaves. Therefore, it is advisable to renew afelandr by cuttings. For better flowering, the bulging aphelandra is kept in winter at a temperature not lower than 10 ° C and with good lighting.

Types of alefandra

Afelandra orange - Aphelandra aurantiaca

Evergreen undersized shrub with thick juicy (lignified with age) slightly reddish stem. Leaves up to 25 cm long., Opposite, ovate, pointed at the apex, entire, glabrous, silver-green. Inflorescence - apical tetrahedral, sometimes branching spike 10-15 cm high. The flowers are bright orange with green bracts. Corolla is two-lipped, with three-lobed lower and two-lobed upper lips. Homeland - Mexico and the north of South America. In culture, mainly the garden form 'Roezlii'.

Protruding Afelandra - Aphelandra squarrosa

Similar to the previous species, it differs in dark green leaves with bright white stripes along the veins and a pale yellow color of flowers, one third covered with bright yellow bracts. Unlike the previous species, it sets seeds. Homeland - Brazil. In culture, mainly the forms 'Leopoldii' - with a bright orange inflorescence, 'Louisae' - a smaller plant with bright yellow inflorescences and their hybrids.