All the time use a pot with at the very least one good-sized gap within the backside. These crops gained’t tolerate soggy soil or standing water across the roots.
To domesticate Vriesea efficiently, hold the next in thoughts:
Mild
The primary consideration right here is to keep away from extreme gentle. These crops aren’t suited to full solar, however there’s a species to match nearly another publicity, from full shade to partial solar.
Most species will tolerate a broad vary, from dappled shade or brilliant, oblique gentle.
Some are even tolerant of dense, full shade, and are a pretty choice if you’d like flowers in a dim spot.
For essentially the most vibrant foliage and bract coloration, goal for brighter gentle. Simply because a plant can tolerate low gentle doesn’t imply it’s going to carry out finest in these situations.
Temperature and Humidity
Vriesea species are additionally adaptable with regards to temperatures.
Something from simply above freezing to as much as 100°F is okay, although the crops will solely tolerate extremes for brief intervals. A tough freeze will kill the plant.
They’re effective in low humidity so long as the sunshine isn’t too brilliant and temperatures aren’t too excessive.
When uncovered to loads of solar and warmth, they’ll want extra excessive humidity to thrive. Goal for 30 to 60 p.c humidity.
Rising Medium
As Vriesea species are epiphytes, clinging to tree branches the place water drains away shortly, they want a unfastened, well-aerated rising medium, not commonplace potting soil.
Search for a business bromeliad combine, or mix your individual with equal elements orchid bark, perlite or pumice, and peat moss or coconut coir.
The purpose is quick drainage with simply sufficient water retention to maintain the roots flippantly moist.
Keep away from dense or moisture-retentive mixes. Something that stays moist for lengthy will put the plant prone to root rot.
Mounted crops can develop with only a layer of sphagnum moss across the roots, as long as humidity is enough and also you mist frequently.
Water
Water completely however keep away from soaking the roots. The potting medium ought to keep flippantly moist, not soggy and oversaturated.
An excessive amount of moisture can result in root rot, whereas water pooling between the leaves could trigger crown rot.
That mentioned, it’s effective to fill the central tank if you happen to do it rigorously and you should definitely flush it out each week or two with distilled water.
Be taught extra about watering bromeliads right here.
Fertilizer
Feed your vriesea with a light, balanced foliar fertilizer as soon as within the spring and once more within the fall. Remember to coat all the plant.
Species and Cultivars
There are dozens of species however you gained’t typically discover them out there at shops. Hybrids are by far the most well-liked.
Basically, the flaming swords shall be listed just by that widespread identify no matter whether or not it’s a species plant or a hybrid.
Listed below are some excellent species and cultivars to search for:
Corcovadensis
If you happen to recall, we talked about how most Vriesea species are epiphytes.
V. corcovadensis is among the few in cultivation that isn’t. It’s a terrestrial sort that may develop in unfastened, wealthy soil.
You may mistake the lengthy, strappy leaves for an air plant, however it’s not. That’s all of the extra evident when it shoots out an enormous, daring gold and yellow flowering spike.
Vriesea corcovadensis
This species is finest grown in areas with temperatures between 50 to 80°F. Provided that, put together your self for vigorous development as much as a foot tall and many offsets.
You may choose up a small plant from Sprig and Stone by way of Amazon.
Splendens
V. splendens is the plant mostly known as flaming sword. It grows as much as three ft tall and two ft large with stable inexperienced or stripey purple, grey, and inexperienced linear leaves.
This species grows finest in temperatures above 50°F and that you must hold the vase full always.
The flattened racemes of pink, orange, or yellow bracts can final for months.
Splenriet
Splendid ‘Splenriet’ is a splendens hybrid that sports activities giant, engaging leaves with distinct stripes of grey and darkish inexperienced.
The orange, pink, and yellow blooms can final for as much as six months earlier than the plant sends out pups and dies again.
That’s fairly the lasting efficiency. It likes the identical situations as its splendens father or mother.
White Line
‘White Line’ was the results of the efforts of a number of breeders over a few years.
It began when Carlos Broeckaert found the primary variegated vriesea hybrid V. x poelmanii. He named it ‘Madam Carlos Broeckaert.’
Sadly, it wasn’t steady and breeding efforts from it have been failures.
Then the corporate Deroose bought a maintain of the plant and tried to domesticate a steady sort – the outcome was ‘White Line.’
