Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is known and loved all over the world today. Today, the fragrant cone has become the second symbol of the New Year along with tangerines. But flower growers pay attention to its other features, namely, exceptional decorativeness and elegance. And since there was a demand for a plant that would resemble the appearance of an overseas fruit, then there were proposals. Meet the pineapple flower.
General Description
Perhaps for some this is still a revelation, but cones with fragrant pulp do not grow on a palm tree at all. The pineapple flower grows on the ground, and it is planted in whole plantations. This plant belongs to the bromeliad family. This is an unusual and very interesting houseplant. And the colorful varieties look completely cheerful. Pineapple flower forms inflorescences, which consist of a dozen flowers. If you want to get a fruit, then you need to keep it on the plant. But worth itnote that at home the plant does not bloom too often. At the same time, the height of the plant can reach 70 cm.
Caring for indoor pineapple
This plant is very fond of sunlight. Most varieties tolerate even direct sunlight. But even light penumbra will be fatal for them. Pineapple flower loves to grow at a temperature of +22 … +25 degrees. In autumn and winter, the plant does not have enough light, so it is necessary to install lamps for illumination.
Watering requires moderate at high humidity. And not vice versa. Homemade pineapple flowers need to be kept clean. Therefore, purchase a spray bottle and spray the plants several times every day. This will ensure normal air humidity and clean leaves.
The plant is quite large, but you don't need a deep pot. The fact is that its root system is superficial. Therefore, it is best to choose a pot wide and stable. It is very important to fill it with a porous substrate that easily passes water. Do not forget to fertilize regularly in the summer. It is best to purchase both the substrate and fertilizers in a specialized store. Periodically, it will be necessary to carry out preventive pruning and remove dry leaves.
Planting and flowering
Many people dream of seeing a pineapple flower on the windowsill. Photographs in magazines support these dreams, as today there are many varieties of plants that look like him. But more on that later. The easiest wayget this plant - grow it from a ripe pineapple. To do this, you need to unscrew the sultan of green leaves from the cone. This will be the planting material. within two days it needs to be slightly dried, then planted in peat with sand. If the temperature is from 24 degrees or more, then in about 3-4 weeks roots will appear. It is very important to cover the sultan with a bag and regularly moisten the soil.
When the plant takes root, it is moved to the window. Now the pineapple flower becomes a cherished dream. How to care for a plant so that it blooms, we have already discussed above. This usually occurs in early summer and the fruit matures within 4-5 months. There is a way to make a plant bloom. To do this, a package with ripe apples is tied to it. They release ethylene which promotes flowering.
Transplantation and disease control
Pineapple grows very fast, and the high nutrient requirements mean that transplanting will have to be done quite often. The plant is transplanted after 2 months before it reaches a year. Then the frequency is reduced to once a year. In this case, the pot should be small for him. Pruning is not required, except for the removal of dry leaves. Pineapple loves to gnaw on a pest called a worm. If yellow spots appear on the leaves, then you definitely need to pay attention to it. The mealybug can be easily removed with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
Diversity of species
If you failed to grow an exotic cone - do not worry. You can easily pick up a flower that looks like a pineapple. A photo will helpyou make a choice, so read the article to the end. Today, we're looking at just a few of the brightest options for decorating your home collections. In fact, there are many more offers on the market today.
The most interesting thing is that pineapple-like flowers belong to different families: bromeliads, lilies, asparagus, proteas. But they have common features, namely the structure of a leaf rosette and a flower that blooms in its center.
Eukomis
This is a bulbous plant of the hyacinth family. It can be grown as a pot or garden plant. It grows quickly, flowering occurs in the summer. The blooming inflorescence has a certain resemblance to a pineapple. "Beautiful tuft" so you can translate its name. A flower like a pineapple - that's what flower growers call it among themselves.
The plant is unusual, but it is not difficult to grow and care for them. The main care is regular watering and top dressing. Watering should be stopped when the plant leaves turn yellow. Now comes a period of rest. Until spring, the onion is recommended to be stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Top dressing should be done 2 to 3 times a year, while nitrogenous fertilizers are not the best choice.
Protea
An amazing plant that was brought to our region from Africa. It is used to decorate gardens and also planted in pots. Proteas are very different, some resemble a simple burdock. The most beautiful royal protea. During the formation of a bud, it is very similar to a pineapple, and during flowering it looks like a hugeartichoke. The diameter of the flower is approximately 30 cm. 10 buds are formed on one bush. At the same time, caring for the plant is simple, it is completely unpretentious. Even without watering, it is able to pick up luxurious buds and delight you with flowers.
Gusmania
And again a guest from the tropics. This plant is an epiphyte from the bromeliad family. It grows in South America. It has long, glossy rosettes that are assembled into a dense basal rosette. The plant is quite attractive, but most flower growers look forward to the appearance of buds. But this can be difficult. Only in the fourth year of life, an upright stem is thrown out of the center, with a bright inflorescence. But the flowers only last a few days, so the long wait is disappointing.
Nidularium
This is a real gem of every collection. For the color of the upper leaves, resembling a star, it got its name. Spectacular leaves are collected in a dense rosette. The leaves themselves at first glance resemble artificial ones, they are dense and shiny. A large rosette of long leaves with small notches. You don’t have to wait for flowering, the plant is decorative in itself. All the beauty is given to it by bright, reddish leaves in the center of the outlet. Like a star, it shines all year round.
Neorehelia
This species was also imported from Brazil. Bright and original representative of the bromeliad family. Decorative retains throughout the year. The rosette is made up of shinyleaves. They form a dense, dense rosette. The edge of the rosette is decorated with thorns. During flowering, the central leaves of the rosette become intensely red. This gives the impression that a red flower has blossomed. The plant needs diffused sunlight. But direct sunlight can be dangerous, as the leaves will get burned. In winter, it is imperative to install fluorescent lamps. In spring and summer, the air temperature is +25, and in winter it must be reduced to +16. Air humidity is very important, it should not be below 60%, so it is advisable to install a humidifier in the apartment.
Aechmea
Herbaceous plant of the bromeliad family. Under natural conditions, the plant can be found in tropical forests. They grow on trees. This family includes plants that get their nutrients from the air as well as those that feed from the soil. What type of echmea is it? Her root system is poorly developed and is used only for fixing.
The plant receives all the necessary substances from the air. Therefore, the leaves have a specific shape, twisting towards the center. So, they collect water after rain. Such an amazing flower in the form of a pineapple. The photo and title were checked against a catalog of modern ornamental plants.
This is pretty much the only plant that won't grow if there's no water in the center of the outlet. Most species, on the contrary, do not tolerate it. Make sure that in hot weather, the funnel in the center of the plant leaves a little water every day. But in the cold season, excessive moisture cancause root system rot.
Bromeliad
This is another beautiful indoor flower that looks like a pineapple. Its name gave its name to a huge family, which includes several hundred plants. This overseas beauty comes from Latin America. The plant has dense and hard arrow-shaped leaves. They form a symmetrical rosette. The color of the leaves is monophonic or variegated. But the flowers deserve the most attention. They are collected in apical spike-shaped inflorescences. The color may vary, but most often the flowers are red or purple.
Bromeliad blooms in winter, which is why it is sometimes called the Christmas star. The plant is not too demanding for care. It is important to water it abundantly in the heat and reduce the temperature in the winter.
