Vrsia

Family of bromeliads. The genus of the vrsia. Natural climatic conditions: for most species, the humid subtropics of South America.

Characterized by shortened stems with pronounced rosette of leaves, poor development of roots. Most species are epiphytes.

The following species are most commonly cultivated: Vivid glitter * Epiphyte, which can exist as a terrestrial plant, rosette broad, funnel-prominent, leaves are reedy, green with brownish( sometimes reddish) strips, there are other varieties of coloring. Inflorescences spiked( "scallops"), flowers are yellow with bright red bracts, which retain the plant decorative appearance for a long time after the end of the actual flowering. Vibrance keel ♦ It differs from the previous species

with monochromatic leaves of light green color. Sanders's Vision * Mainly a terrestrial plant. The leaves in the rosette are linear, bluish-green with bright brown spots. Inflorescence paniculate, flowers yellow, bracts yellowish-greenish. Requirement for moisture: with the exception of the more moisture-loving Sanders vrise, which requires summer watering at least once every three days, in case of maintenance on a land-like substrate, moderate watering is preferred, in other cases they are replaced by spraying, which can not be carried out during flowering. Epiphytic forms in the period of active growth are removed from the support once every 10 days and immersed in standing water until saturation, after which they are returned to their place. In winter, the amount of moisture consumed is reduced.

Temperature regime: best grows at temperatures around 18 ° C, can tolerate short-term temperature drops of up to 13 ° C.After transplantation, higher temperatures( 22-26 ° C), preferably with lower heating, are desired.

Light mode: unpretentious, but does not like direct rays( in very bright light, the color of the leaves changes).It feels the best in the eastern and western expositions.

Substrate requirement: eiifit forms can be cultivated on a piece of bark, on decorative driftwood or on a substrate, the main component of which is a crushed bark mixed with peat, sheet earth and manure with the addition of pieces of charcoal, when grown in pots and similar containers, drainageis necessary. In large compositions can be placed on old hollow trees in hollows or specially made crevices. In the summer fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is necessary, in the autumn( by the time of flowering), it must be stopped.

Sanders' varsity is cultivated in a land mixture with a predominance( in comparison with the above) of a fibrous sod land with the addition of a relatively small amount of sand.

Reproduction: offspring during transplantation( in March), less often - by seeds.

Features: after flowering, it is advisable to cut off dead rosettes. He does not tolerate drafts.