Giant Vriesea

Giant Vriesea Care

Vriesea Imperialis

What is the plant

A. imperialis is a tender, rosette-forming, rock-dwelling, evergreen, perennial bromeliad bearing flat to arching, lance-shaped, leathery, red-green leaves with oval, green sheaths. In summer, it bears erect scapes of glossy, maroon to red bracts and branching, pyramidal racemes of tubular, white or yellow flowers with red floral bracts.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

min 10°C

Hardiness zone

9b - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
It enjoys constant moisture from rain or sprinkler and with high local humidity. In summer the plants grow best with high humidity. In summer if the temperatures are over the 18°C, some distilled water can be left in the central cavity formed by the rosette of leaves, renewing it frequently to avoid the formation of a mosquito larvae nest, whilst with lower temperatures and in winter it is better to leave it dry, thus avoiding possible rottenness. In presence of dry air and high temperatures, humidity can be incremented with nebulisations, whilst in winter with low temperatures it is better to leave it quite dry for avoiding possible rottenness.
Pruning
Remove old leaves from plant base and dead ﬂower spikes only. Remove older plant crown when it begins to fade.
Fertilizer
Apply a very weak liquid feed every month or so over the growing season and a mild solutions (one-quartet strength) of foliar fertilizer at 3-month intervals to both garden and container plants. Apply fertilizer to leaves, roots, and reservoir.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
In the garden Vriesea imperialis grow well in full sun with direct mid-day sun in hot summer climates, but will also grows equally well in half sun where it will get morning sun. Full sun produces the best leaf colour and form, even with the green types. In tropical conditions some burning may occur in the middle of summer, but in temperate climates burning is rare, unless the plants have not been acclimatised before planting out. Too much shade will cause leaves to look thin and leggy.
Soil
This bromeliad is typically grown in the ground in virtually any soil, but prefer free draining soil or in containers filled with very aerated, gravel/rock and rich of organic substance substrata. Perfect drainage is a must. It is easily transplanted; however, it can also be grown in a garden bed, where it will form big specimens.
Temperature
It must be grown in a frost-free situation in open air in in the tropical and humid subtropical climates, with temperatures which it is good to keep over the 10° C, best 20-24°C. However its cultivation can be tried also in the warm temperate climates, in sheltered position, as it is surprisingly cold hardy, coping with up to frosts of several degrees. However young plants may be frost burnt. Winter hardy to USDA Zones (9b-)10-11. North of Zone 10 this bromeliad is usually grown in containers that must be overwintered indoors.