AECHMEA

Within this large genus of approximately 240 species and 500 cultivars there is a wonderful variety of from,size, and color.The species are mostly epiphytic in their natural envoirment--that is, they grow on another plant for support--and are found mainly in the humid regions of Central America down to the cooler areas of southern Brazil and Argentina.The rosette-forming foilage ranges in color from shiny green to silver, and the edges of the leaves have teeth that vary from very fine to almost vicious.Their dramatic spear-like flowerheads can vary from short to elongated, and many have bright red bracts beneath the flower branches that attract hummingbirds as pollinators.

CULTIVATION

an extermely popular  genus, plants are mostly grown in cultivation in pots with some form of shade.In mild areas they are best grown indoors; outdoors they need a moist humusrich soil.Propagation is mainly by offsets, but some species can be raised from seed.

Top Tip

These plants need plenty of  water during the growing  season -- keep the central cup filled with water, and fertilize monthly with a mixture that is low in nitrogen.