Mottled evergreen foliage forms a rosette, and out of it rises a pastel red bloom at the end of winter or in summer: aechmea is a bromeliad from Central and South America, probably the easiest of all to care for. Keep it out of direct sun, mist it often, and it will flower and offer offshoots.
| Name | Aechmea |
|---|---|
| Family | Bromeliaceae |
| Type | indoor plant |
| Height | 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm) |
| Exposure | bright but not direct light |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | end of winter or summer |
Native to Central and South America, this bromeliad has mottled foliage and beautiful pastel red blooming that are very appealing.
Aechmea, like all other Bromeliaceae plants, requires soil that is sufficiently rich and very well-drained to grow well.
Special Bromeliaceae soil mix is the best solution. Luckily, you can also go for flower plant soil mix and layer the bottom of the pot with a thick drainage medium.
If you wish to repot your aechmea, wait for the blooming to end.
The best location for your aechmea is in a spot where there isn’t any direct sun on the plant.
Aechmea requires temperatures that oscillate between 65 and 74°F (18 to 24°C) and never drop below 57°F (-13°C).
The temperature of a house or apartment is thus ideal for growing your aechmea.
Regular but moderate watering is called for because Aechmea doesn’t usually require a lot of water.
Keep the soil mix barely moist and check that water drains properly.
Provide orchid-specific fertilizer more or less once a month to extend the blooming as long as can be.
To retain a certain moisture level, it is best to put the pot atop a bed of clay pebbles or little stones wallowing in water. Evaporation will help recreate the living environment of their native habitat without needing to overwater.
Limit the watering and wait for the soil to be thoroughly dry before watering again.
The plant’s needs swing with the seasons: generous attention while it is growing and flowering, restraint once the days shorten. Use this table to adjust watering and feeding.
| Care task | Spring and summer | Autumn and winter |
|---|---|---|
| Watering frequency | About once a week | Once a fortnight is enough |
| Soil moisture | Barely moist, draining freely | Let the soil dry thoroughly first |
| Fertiliser | Orchid fertiliser about once a month | Stop feeding |
| Misting the leaves | Mist the foliage often | Mist from time to time if the air is dry |
| Centre of the rosette | Fill once a month with soft water | Not required |
In both seasons, a pot standing on wet gravel keeps the air around the plant humid.
Most garden centres sell the silver-banded urn plant, but the genus offers plain green, near-black, wine-red and cream-striped rosettes, with flower heads from soft pink to orange. Use the table to match foliage, bloom colour and eventual size to the spot you have in mind.
| Variety | Foliage | Flower head | Size band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aechmea fulgens var. discolor | Green above, purple beneath | Red stems, blue flowers, red berries | Medium |
| Aechmea fasciata ‘Variegata’ | Cream-striped, silver-banded | Pink bracts, blue flowers | Medium |
| Aechmea caudata ‘Variegata’ | Yellow-edged strap leaves | Upright yellow spike | Medium |
| ‘Foster’s Favorite’ | Glossy, lacquered wine-red | Pendent blue and red flowers | Medium |
| ‘Primera’ | Grey-green, banded silver | Large rose-pink head | Medium |
| ‘Ensign’ | Cream-margined, dark cross-banding | Red bracts, white flowers | Compact |
Diseases that are commonly found on aechmea
Most diseases targeted are commoon indoor plant diseases, red spider mites, scale insects, aphids and also powdery mildew.
Aechmea is a beautiful bromeliad, and it’s also probably the easiest of all to care for. Once you’ve gone through its lifecycle, you’ll enjoy each step of it:
A famous variety is Aechmea fasciata, which is commonly called the “urn plant”.
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Did you know that indoor plants can cleanse the air of pollutants?
A fabulous indoor plant, aechmea is native to tropical forests and is rendered vulnerable by the dry air in our homes.
Spraying the plant regularly and placing the pot atop a bed of wet gravel will help re-create the plant’s natural habitat.
