Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Aechmea

Specie: A. fasciata

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Silver-Vase, Urn Plant

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Bromeliaceae

Name in English: Bromeliad Family

The Plant

Origin: Brazil

Growth Habit: multi-stemmed shrub-An upright vase shaped exotic. The plant is densely branching at the base producing many stems that are 2 to 3 inches in diameter with 12 to 16 ribs.

Flower: long lasting pink flower with blue inflorescences makes a stunning contrast to the grey/green marbled leaves

Blooming Period: The numerous narrow tubular flowers appear nearly year round.

Leaf: elliptic–oval-shaped leaves that are between 18 and 36 inches long and arranged in a basal rosette pattern.

Usage:

used like a house plant

Care and Handling

Soil: well-drained, but moisture-retentive soil. Add peat moss to an equal volume of general house plant mix for a humus and well drained combination.

Amount of water: Keep water in central cup formed by leafy rosette.

Nutrition: Fertilize every 1-2 months, applied to the soil. Or fill the cup with half-strength dilution of fertilizer every month.

Special handling: It can also be grown epiphytically, as, for example, with moss around its roots and wired to rough bark.

Special feature/remarks:

Most Bromeliads will flower naturally when they reach maturity; they can also be made to flower by supplying the substances which begin bud formation: for example, enclose the entire plant ( with its cup empty of water to prevent excessive humidity buildup) in a plastic bag together with a ripe apple. The apple gives off ethylene gas which stimulates flowering in Bromeliads. Leave plant and apple in the plastic bag for 7-10 days; f lower will appear in 1-2 months. After flowering, Bromeliads produce side shoots (offsets), which may be removed while young and rooted for additional plants.