Afelandra - Home Care

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

Afelandra is a very beautiful shrub that came to modern floriculture from South America. At the moment, different sources speak of a different number of plant varieties - from forty to one hundred and ninety species. However, only a small part of these flowers are suitable for indoor conditions

Inflorescences of Afelandra are very attractive and luxurious, but in conditions of home cultivation, it is not so often possible to find such plants. Florists are very wary of aphelander for a variety of reasons.

In nature, the shrub of this flower can reach one and a half or two meters. But in houses and apartments Afelandra is a rather lush bush with the presence of naked shoots. Of course, the decorative component of the plant in this case becomes not as pronounced as in nature, and a lot of space is needed to grow afelandra. Like all other tropical cousins, Afelandra has a capricious disposition and requires the owner to provide specialized conditions for normal growth and development. The plant also needs a lot of care and attention. Therefore, for beginners in the world of floriculture, it is better not to start growing this crop at home right away. Caring for a demanding plant can only be done by an experienced and knowledgeable person.

Florists are familiar with situations when people from the tropics are poisonous and dangerous to the body. But this circumstance does not apply to the Afelanders at all. Neither botany nor medicine has ever found harmful substances in such a plant.

Types of Afelandra for growing in the room

Orange aphelandra

Under natural conditions, a similar culture can be found in the territories of Central America or Mexico. The Afelandra bush can live in a room setting for several years, delighting the owner with a juicy reddish stem. The leaves of the flower have a slightly oblong shape in the form of an egg. Their length often reaches twenty-five centimeters. The inflorescences of the plant have the appearance of an upper spikelet with a pointed edge. This variety of Afelandra got its name due to the fiery bright flowers, however, their beauty will delight the grower for no more than seven days.

Protruding aphelandra

This variety is most often found in the southern part of the American continent. Like the orange aphelandra, this species has egg-shaped leaves and the same shape of leaves and inflorescences. But the difference from the bulging plant lies in the contrasting pattern near the veins on the leaves, and the flowers of the culture in this situation have a yellow color.

Crested aphelandra

This plant variety differs from others in such a way as green leaves and large bright red flowers that are shaped like ridges.

Coral Afelandra (Panamanian)

You can find this type of afelandra in Honduras or in the forested areas of Panama and Costa Rica. In natural conditions, the size of the bush can reach three meters in height. The shape of the bracts of such an aphelandra differs significantly from other brethren. In this case, the shades of colors can be completely different. Red, pinkish and lilac tones are especially common among indoor florists.

Any variety of Afelandra has a flowering period in the summer season. But this only applies to natural conditions. In a room atmosphere, this period depends only on the efforts made by the owner to develop the plants.

How to grow afelandra in the house?

Having decided to plant an Afelandra at home, the florist must be prepared for the difficulties and necessary efforts to grow a flower. Attention should be paid to the plant as much as possible. The flower culture, which is a guest from the tropics, loves and appreciates warmth, good illumination and high humidity. Temperature regime and its observance are very important for Afelandra. Eighteen degrees at night and twenty-seven degrees during the day are the most comfortable and correct conditions for growing Afelandra. Thirteen degrees or less threaten the plant with the formation of brownish spots on the leaves, and sometimes even the beginning of rotting of the root system. It is also worth avoiding shaded areas for growing Afelandra, as the plant needs bright light to start flowering.