The following steps should be taken from early autumn until the end of winter.īe sure to provide a bright location with little to no direct sunlight. New juvenile stems will develop from late winter and could produce a bloom within the next summer if it reaches maturity. Each individual stem will only flower once, so if you only have already-flowered foliage, you'll have to wait until the following year for a new offset to appear. Blooms will generally appear in the summer, during the active growth season. Keep the roots pot-bound to add further stress onto the specimen, which in turn will significantly heighten the chance of flowering. If, however, yours is current flowerless, you must provide a cool autumn and winter period around 15℃ (59℉) to reinforce its dormancy. Follow the care tips provided above until your specimen enters the following autumnal months, before re-reading this section on winter care. (Have a look at the image below for visual reference).įor those in bloom, keep a reliable and consistent environment with a bright, indirect location with regard waters never allow the soil to become dry. Although the individual inflorescence isn't long-living, its bract that'll house the flowers will stay in colour for many weeks or months. The striking contrast between the flowers and variegationsĪphelandra will naturally flower across the summer months, lasting only a few days. Although an 'All-Purpose' fertiliser will still do the job, we'd recommend using a specific 'Houseplant' labelled fertiliser as it'll support the vital thirteen nutrients that this species will need to grow. Gently hose the foliage down from time to time to hydrate the leaves and keep the dust levels down.įertilise every four waters during the growing period before reducing this to every six in the autumn & winter. If the surrounding saturation is too low or the heat too high, its leaf-tips may start to brown over and curl, especially in direct sunlight. Click here to learn more about root rot and how to address it!Ĭreate a humidity tray to provide a moist and stable environment for your plant. Over-watering symptoms include a weakened or rotten stem, no new growth, yellowing lower leaves and eventual plant death. Remember, the brighter the location, the more watering you'll need to do. These issues are usually caused by too much light/heat or forgetfulness. Under-watering symptoms include a shrivelled stem, yellowing leaves, stunted inflorescences, little to no growth and dry, crispy patches forming on the leaf edges. Allow the compost's top third to dry out in between waters in the growing period, reducing this further in the autumn and winter. Remember - acute exposure to the sunlight during the spring or summer of more than an hour will negatively affect the plant.Īphelandra are best kept in reliably moist soil, as inconsistent moisture levels may result in stunted growth and an unhappy plant. Once the autumn kicks in, be sure to include an hour or two of direct light per day to get it through the dormancy period, lasting until the following spring. As you'll have to keep the soil relatively moist, the risk of soil mould and over-watering is considerably increased when maintaining too little light. In the 'Dormancy Period & Achieving Flowers' section, familiarise yourself with the terms, 'bracts' and 'flowers' that make up the specimen's blooms.Īphelandra prefer to be sat in medium light with the absence of deep shade.This is one of the reasons why finding them in garden centres is difficult, as the eventual death results in disappointment. Unfortunately, Aphelandra usually only last a few years due to the species' tendency to die shortly (a year or two) after flowering.Keep an eye out for Spider Mites & Mealybugs that'll hide in the plant's cubbyholes and underneath the leaves.Fertilise using a 'Houseplant' labelled feed every four waters in the spring and summer, reducing this to every six in the colder months.Supplement at monthly intervals all year round, using a houseplant-labelled fertiliser to ensure quality foliage and flower development.Reduce irrigations slightly further in the height of winter. Provide near-constant moist soil, allowing the soil's top third to dry out in between waters.Although an hour or two of direct sunlight in the early morning is accepted, be sure not to fall in the trap of sun-scorch and dehydration. Aphelandra like bright, indirect light away from excessively dark situations.Need the answer to a specific plant query? Book a 1-to-1 video call with Joe Bagley, the website's friendly author to overcome and address your niggling problem! Available on iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger & more. Origins, Temperature, Propagation, Repotting & Toxicity.Location, Water, Humidity & Fertilisation.Aphelandra squarrosa - Copyright: Gardeners' Dream
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