Afelandra

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Afelandra (lat. Aphelandra) - a genus of tropical evergreen plants with fragrant bright flowers and large decorative leaves, belonging to the Acanthaceae family. The humidity of warm air is very important for a plant, and therefore it is not always easy to grow such exotic things in room conditions. However, Afelandra's fans are not deterred by minor difficulties. They find many options for the successful development of the plant, in order to admire the natural miracle.

What's in your name

It is hard to believe that the beautiful feminine name is based on two Greek words, which translated into Russian mean - “simple man”. The plant owes this name to botanists, who discerned one small detail in the structure of the flower - single-celled simple anthers, which, as anyone knows, are the male organ of the plant.

For the striped surface of the leaves of some species of Afelandra, the plant is popularly called "Zebra".

Description

In nature, Afelandra is a multifaceted plant, growing as a herbaceous plant, a semi-shrub or a medium-sized shrub, reaching two meters in height. For her place of residence, she chose humid tropics with fertile soil, which sometimes cannot be repeated by growing Afelandro in an apartment. Unless, if you have a spacious bathroom, the plant can be allocated a place in it, or you can equip it with a miniature shelter in the grow box, which is gaining more and more popularity today.

Large, whole leaves with a shiny surface are adorned with wide silvery veins, which ensure the attractiveness of the plant all year round. The slightly wavy edge of the leaves can be smooth or prickly.

The decorativeness of Afelandra increases when its flowers appear, which, together with bright large bracts, form magnificent spike or pineal inflorescences. Afelandra loves to dress up in bright colors, choosing for herself orange, yellow, lilac or red "clothes".

Cultivated plant varieties

* Afelandra orange (lat. Aphelandra aurantiaca) - pleases the owner of the plant with an orange-scarlet flowering and large leaves with gray veins and a wavy edge.

* Afelandra protruding (lat. Aphelandra squarrosa) is a very attractive plant with large pointed leaves, the surface of which looks like a green valley, cut by a river - the main ivory vein. Streams branch off from the "river" - lateral veins of the same color, but narrower. For this type of leaves, the plant is called "Zebra". Within a month and a half, the plant flaunts a spectacular golden-yellow inflorescence of bracts and flowers.

* Afelandra tetrahedral (Latin Aphelandra tetragona) - blazes with scarlet inflorescences against the background of large green oval-elliptical leaves, the length of which reaches 30 cm.

Growing

Admirers of the spectacular beauty of the "common man" do not have an easy time. After all, the plant is very picky.

- Firstly, Afelandra is thermophilic and photophilous. This does not mean that direct sunlight is good for her. She avoids direct rays. The light should be bright but filtered.

- Secondly, the plant needs fertile and moist, but not damp, soil. The difference between moist and moist soil must be understood with the heart and life experience. Complete drying out of the soil is unacceptable.

- Thirdly, a tropical beauty needs high humidity. This is perhaps the most difficult feasible condition for growing Afelandra in indoor living conditions. Although ardent fans of the plant resort to different tricks, creating an artificial wet fog by spraying; placing the flowerpot in a larger container filled with water …

If these conditions are not met, the plant turns into a leafless long-legged monster.