Aechmea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- IK-mee-uh
- Description
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This is a genus of over 255 plants that are desired in interiors for the beautiful, long-lasting (months) inflorescence and the nicely marked foliage. Most are epiphytes and require nearly no water at the base, but its central vase must be kept full and the water replaced periodically. In indoor settings, this plant needs high light, dry soil and medium relative humidity. The plant dies after blooming but offsets will appear at the base after the bloom fades and can be removed to start new plants.
If you would like to try to force the plant to flower place a cut apple near the plant and cover with a plastic bag for a few weeks. Keep the plant out of direct sunlight. The ethylene released from the apple should induce flowering.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are purple or green and usually banded
- Leaves are usually toothed
- Inflorescence is scapose and pyramidal
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Problems that occur with most houseplants like mealybug, scale, crown rot and leaf spot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- A. chantinii
White and green banded leaves and an open inflorescence made of bright red bracts and yellow, white or blue flowers - A. fasciata
Silver/green bands, rose pink bracts and blue, purple or red flowers. - A. orlandiana
Dark spines and banding/mottling beneath, red-orange bracts and yellow flowers with white tips.
- A. chantinii
- A. chantinii, A. fasciata, A. orlandiana
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- A. chantinii
White and green banded leaves and an open inflorescence made of bright red bracts and yellow, white or blue flowers - A. fasciata
Silver/green bands, rose pink bracts and blue, purple or red flowers. - A. orlandiana
Dark spines and banding/mottling beneath, red-orange bracts and yellow flowers with white tips.
- A. chantinii
- A. chantinii, A. fasciata, A. orlandiana
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aechmea
- Family:
- Bromeliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Tropical America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Houseplant
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Broad
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small red fruit is rarely formed
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- A dense pyramidal-shaped scapose with showy, long-lasting, bracts with small red-purple flowers tucked in.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Basal rosette, forming funnel-like central 'vase', simple, strap-shaped, generally toothed, generally banded with dark and light shades of green or purple.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
