Pineapple

Author: Cai Hong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
(1) Vriesea bituminosa is native to Brazil. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 50–75 cm tall. It has numerous leaves forming a funnel-shaped rosette, 40–50 cm in diameter, which is very attractive. The leaves are broad, with spiny tips; they can reach 70 cm long and 7–8 cm wide. The flowering stalk is upright and strong, 45–60 cm tall. The inflorescence is sword-shaped, up to 50 cm high and 8 cm wide, sometimes with over 40 small flowers. The bracts are ovate and hard. The petals are spreading, yellowish-green, 5.5 cm long.
(2) Vriesea chrysostachys is native to Colombia, Trinidad Island (one of the West Indies), and Peru. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 55–65 cm tall. Numerous leaves form a rosette 50–60 cm in diameter. The leaves are linear, dull green, with a pale purple base. The flowering stalk is upright, 35–40 cm tall. The bracts tightly wrap the stalk, with a brownish-red base and a green tip. The inflorescence is spike-like or compound spike-like (with 2–3 spikes). The bracts are hard and yellow, about 2.5–3.5 cm long, longer than the petals, so the small flowers are hidden inside and not visible.
(3) Vriesea achnodactylon is native to Brazil. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 40–45 cm tall, a medium to small species. The leaves are bright green, forming a rosette 35–45 cm in diameter. The leaves are strap-shaped, 30 cm long and 2.5–3.5 cm wide. The flowering stalk is upright, with green bracts wrapping the stalk. The inflorescence is spike-like, 15 cm long and 7 cm wide. The bracts are red, in two rows, tightly overlapping at the base and diverging at the tip, sickle-shaped. The small flowers are yellow, with stamens extending outside. This species is epiphytic on the treetops of high-altitude forests in its native habitat, pollinated by hummingbirds when flowering.
(4) Vriesea guttata is native to Brazil. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 30 cm tall, a small species. It consists of 10–15 leaves forming a dense, upright, and not very spreading rosette, about 15 cm in diameter. The leaves are broad, with a pointed tip, nearly upright. Green with irregular pale purple or dark red spots. The flowering stalk is slender and arching, with bracts tightly wrapping the stalk, green or pale purple with white powdery scales. The inflorescence is pendulous, loose spike-like, 20 cm long and 4 cm wide, with about 20 flowers. The bracts are in two rows, green with white powdery scales. The petals are yellow, rounded at the tip, with stamens extending from the flower. The vibrant inflorescence leaves a deep impression when the plant blooms.
(5) Vriesa racinae is native to Brazil. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 15 cm tall, a small species. 10–15 leaves form a small rosette, 10–13 cm in diameter. The leaves are tongue-shaped, with the tip curling outward; green with irregular reddish-brown spots. The flowering stalk is slender and upright. The bracts are green with reddish-brown spots, wrapping the stalk. The inflorescence is spike-like, with bracts green and with reddish-brown spots. The small flowers are white, with stamens and pistils extending from the flower. This is a small and beautiful species, suitable for bottle gardening.
(6) Vriesea 'Rex', also known as Vriesea 'King's Staff', is a cultivated variety developed through artificial selection and hybridization. It is 10 cm tall, a small species. The leaves are green, with about 10 strap-shaped leaves, 20 cm long and 3 cm wide. The inflorescence is spike-like, sword-shaped. The bracts are deep red, arranged in two tightly overlapping rows. The small flowers are yellow.
(7) Vriesea Saundersii is native to Brazil. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 60–70 cm tall, with numerous leaves forming a dense rosette, 40 cm in diameter. The leaves are linear and arched, with short spiny tips at the end, 30 cm long and 6 cm wide. The leaf color is grayish-green, with grayish-white scales. The leaves have irregular reddish-brown spots, more noticeable on the back. The flowering stalk is upright, 30–35 cm tall. The bracts have reddish-brown spots and grayish-white scales. The inflorescence is compound spike-like, 20–30 cm long and 15 cm wide. The bracts are ovate, yellowish-green, arranged in two rows. The small flowers are yellow. This is a very worthy species for home cultivation, with beautiful plants, especially the bright leaves, very attractive.
(8) Vriesea scalaris is native to Brazil, epiphytic on large trees, a small species. The plant is 20 cm tall, with 10–15 leaves forming a rosette, 20 cm in diameter. The leaves are broad, 10–15 cm long and green. The flowering stalk is slender and pendulous, green. The inflorescence is spike-like. The bracts are loosely arranged in two rows, with a red base and a yellow tip. The small flowers are green, with petals spreading outward at the tip, with stamens and pistils extending from the petals. The vibrant inflorescence leaves a deep impression when the plant blooms.
6. Cultivation Methods
Vriesea plants are diverse, and in their natural habitats, they grow in various ways. Some grow on the ground; others are epiphytic on other plants; some grow in rock crevices; and some are even exposed directly to the air. Despite this, due to their strong adaptability to the environment, they can almost all be grown in pots. To grow potted Vriesea plants well in home cultivation, the first step is to choose suitable growing media, and then combine the different environmental requirements of various Vriesea varieties to create an appropriate growing environment for them.
6.1 Growing Media
Growing media is the foundation for potted flowers, serving to anchor the roots, support the plant, and provide essential water, nutrients, and air for growth. Most home potted Vriesea require loose, breathable growing media with good drainage. Suitable materials include peat, vermiculite, perlite, lava rock, sphagnum moss, bark, and ceramic granules. Several materials can be mixed in different proportions to create growing media for Vriesea. Below is a brief introduction to these materials:
6.1.1 Peat
Peat is composed of partially decomposed vegetation, with a fine texture, good water retention, and an acidic pH. It can also provide plants with a small amount of nitrogen. However, peat has poor aeration and should not be used alone when growing Vriesea. It can be mixed with perlite, vermiculite, or lava rock to improve aeration.
6.1.2 Vermiculite
Vermiculite is very lightweight, with good aeration and strong water and nutrient retention. It has a neutral or slightly acidic pH and is an excellent growing medium for flowers. Vermiculite is produced by high-temperature firing at 1000°C, thoroughly sterilized, and free from pests and diseases. Mixing vermiculite with peat can improve the texture of peat and enhance its aeration, benefiting Vriesea growth. Vermiculite is available in flower markets, and it is recommended to choose larger particles for better performance.
6.1.3 Perlite
Perlite is a mineral containing silicon, which is screened and fired in a high-temperature furnace at around 1000°C. After expansion, it forms small, pearl-like spherical bodies, hence the name perlite. Perlite has good drainage and aeration, stable chemical properties, and a pH of 7–7.5. It is also clean and hygienic, completely sterile, and can be mixed with peat to grow Vriesea. However, dry perlite can produce dust, which may irritate the throat. It is best to moisten it before use to avoid dust inhalation. Therefore, when using perlite, safety precautions should be taken. Additionally, perlite is lighter than water, so after watering, some perlite particles may float on the surface of the growing media, reducing the actual content of perlite in the substrate.