GUZMANIA

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

 By far one of the easiest Indoor flowering plants to keep. A group of bromeliads with 120 species that have long bloom times and are a cinch to care for.The genus name honors Anastasio Guzman, an 18th-century Spanish naturalist. They are related to Pineapples !They are epiphytic plants – these usually grow on trees in the tropical Americas from Mexico to Brazil. Preferring warm and humid conditions they do adapt pretty well to most indoor locations. They tend to be top heavy so put them in a heavy clay or ceramic container in a bright window. Grow them in an orchid mix or use sphagnum moss.Watering is easy but different than most other houseplants. Place the water in the central cup of the plant and replace it monthly to keep it fresh. The plant has a means of absorbing the water from the base of those leaves. The roots in the pot also should be watered as well – frequently enough so they never dry out completely.After a few months, once the flower fades, offsets will appear at the base of the plant. These can be removed and started as new plants. The mother plant itself will soon fade and the off shoots will begin growing larger.Here are Some of the Most Common Species Available:  

Monostachia

Red Paddle

Tiny Star

Conifera

 Red Cone

Lingulata

 Most people are familiar with this one species. It has endless varieties and cultivars that come in a plethora of colors - red, orange, violet, yellow, orange, pale or white and even with stripped leaves ! 

Many colors available !

 They even have a plethora of names too! - Nana yellow, Denise, Patricia, Hasta La Vista, Georgia, Amaretto, Torch Albo, Viola, Scarlet Star, Ice cream, Tropical Delight, Priscilla, Alii, Focus, Gwendolyn, Hilda, Irene, Kapoho Flame, Lilly, Limones, Loja, Luna, Midnight, Neon, Ostara, Passion, Puna Gold, Rana, Snowball, Sunnytime, Tutti Frutti, and Zamora.I can assure you – there are MANY more varieties with equally delightful names ! 

New hybrid Variegated Purple Blush

Looking for some color inside?

Our Indoor Team can get you the right Guzmania for your home !

or office !

Call us - let's talk colors !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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