Description
Aechmea gamosepala – This erect vase like perennial from Southeastern Brazil grows 20” tall and 2’ wide. The strap like bright green leaves have gray scaly underside with rounded spiny tips. In summer cylindrical inflorescences to 10” long with blue or purple petals and red or pink sepals and reddish brown bracts followed by spherical rose pink fruit.
Zones 11
Aechmea –
There are about 200 species of bromeliads in this genus. Often spread by horizontal roots growing above or below ground, it’s an evergreen native to South America and the West Indies and some from South America. The name Aechmea is of Greek origins with numerous ways to pronounce it. Its usually a rock dweller conserving water in its vase like structure formed by rosette of stiff, strap like to triangular like leaves. The leaves may be barred or striped otherwise patterned with prickly edges in some species. They have long lasting brightly colored tubular flowers and triangular (petal like) bracts usually grown in a warm greenhouses and used as a houseplant.
Grow in bromeliad potting mix in bright filtered light with moderate to high humidity and excellent air circulation. Apply low or fertilizer with no nitrogen monthly. Keep central stalk filled with water.
Prone to scale insects, mealy bugs especially when flowering, Helminthosporium leaf spot, and crown rots caused by a variety fungi, bacteria are common and excess watering also contributes to fungal root rots.
