Scarlet Star
Family
Bromeliaceae
Origin
Brazil
Description
Bromeliad plants provide an exotic touch to the home and bring a sense of the tropics and sun-kissed climates.
Neoregelia is the largest of any bromeliad genus and most superbly colored of all, known for their showy and diverse foliage colors and patterns. The rossettes are usually spreading and flat although some are vase shaped. The flowers barely rise above the water in the central cup. Some neoregelia species and hybrids are green when they start out as pups and almost all rely on bright light to achieve brilliant colors.
Guzmania lingulata, commonly called vase plant, has foliage 18 inches long. The green leaves, sometimes with dark crossbands, form a funnel-shaped rosette. The flower stem is usually shorter than the leaves. The flower head of this plant forms a wide, deep cup with multiple bracts coming out in layers with up to 50 flowers with white petals nestling in a bed of large red to pink bracts. The flowers often last 2 to 4 months.
Bring home this perfect companion for your home or office. This plant will surely create curiosity with its unique form and color!
Environment
Most bromeliads grow best in medium or bright light. Some can take direct sun on their foliage, but others prefer the protection of a sheer curtain or translucent blinds if grown in a sunny window. They are low maintenance & have medium to light water requirements. Make sure not to over water your bromeliad as it can lead to root rot. A drainage hole in your pot will go a long way to ensure drainage of excess water from the pot.
Grow 'Filanda' in a sandy or gritty soil supplemented with sphagnum moss. It can also be mounted onto a tree branch or grown in a container filled with bark nuggets or coarse compost. Keep leaf bases filled with water, especially if plants are exposed to direct sun rays. Bromeliads do well in moist soil.
Like other Bromeliads, Neoregelia too spreads by producing small offsprings or "pups" at the base of the mother plant.After the mature plant has flowered, the mother plant will gradually die back as the pups take over.
Landscape Uses
Suitable for Container, Rock Garden & Xeriscaping