The exuberance of its flowers with shiny shades, its robustness and the freshness of its spikes, make it a plant that we would like to have at home or in our workplace. Growing heliconia in pots may be very easy; we’ll let you know how here!
Heliconias are large, showy tropical plants characterised by their beautiful and colourful spikes of various shapes and colours. They live in warm, humid climates and have great ornamental value. They’ll even be used to reforest and protect water sources.
This plant is emblematic of the tropical rainforest and is thought for its beauty and enthusiasm. It’s also commonly generally known as platanillo or toucan beak.
Having it at home might be helpful, because it adds an exotic and attractive touch to any space, creating a superb atmosphere within the garden or indoors. In this text, we’re going to let you know the right way to grow it in pots, in order that your private home looks beautiful and vigorous.
The characteristics of the heliconia plant
Native to South America, Central America, the Pacific Islands, and a few regions of Indonesia, most specimens are present in South America and the Caribbean. There are greater than 200 species, so each can vary in size.
There are people who measure around 70 centimeters to the biggest, which reach 10 meters in height. They experience rapid and vigorous growth in warm areas, as that is the climate that favors their development.
One other feature of heliconias is that they’ve large, alternating leaves just like those of banana plants. The stems are thick and rigid, which provides them stability and resistance. They’ve different shapes, reminiscent of clusters or pendants, and are composed of brightly coloured bracts that surround the flowers.
Considered one of the singularities of those plants is their striking and colourful spikes. Heliconia stands out when potted, because it adds color and elegance. It might live as much as 20 years or more, accompanying you for a superb a part of your life.
How one can grow heliconia in pots
Growing heliconia in pots is a superb selection for home decoration. It requires easy care that might be done by any member of the family, in several seasons or periods of the yr. Follow this seven-step guide to make it easier to plant it accurately.
1. Select a superb pot
Select a pot that’s large enough to accommodate the foundation system when growing heliconia. Ensure it has holes in the underside to permit for good water drainage.
2. Get the fitting fertile soil
Ensure to make use of a soil mix wealthy in organic matter to permit your plant to grow and thrive.
Ensure to make use of a soil mix wealthy in organic matter during its growth. Apply a layer of compost across the plant, ensuring it doesn’t touch the stem. You may also add a bit of sand to enhance drainage.
3. Give your plant a perfect position
Place the heliconia within the pot, ensuring the roots are covered with soil. Don’t bury the plant too deep; leave the neck of the rhizome, which is the part where the roots and stem meet, above the soil level.
4. Water your heliconia recurrently
Heliconias prefer moist soils, so water every other day, but be certain that you simply don’t overwater it. It’s preferable to make use of a watering near the stem and never just spray the leaves and flowers.
5. Regulate the lighting and temperature
Place the pot in a spot where it receives indirect sunlight or filtered light. Avoid direct exposure to intense sun. Heliconias prefer warm temperatures, between 20°C and 30°C.
6. Protect it from the cold
In the event you live in a chilly area, consider sheltering the plant in a hotter place. You may also cover it with insulating material, ensuring that this fabric doesn’t touch the leaves and flowers.
7. Perform regular pruning and maintenance
Remove faded leaves and flowers to maintain the plant clean and healthy. If obligatory, you possibly can trim off old or damaged stems. Removing these parts will improve its health.
Suggestions for growing heliconia in a garden
The flowers of those tropical plants may also shine in your garden for his or her beauty and color. As well as, they might be attractive to hummingbirds. The truth is, some botanists have discovered that certain varieties of heliconia only allow themselves to be pollinated by some hummingbirds, but not by all, demonstrating selectivity.
We recommend that you simply locate a visual space where you possibly can plant them and benefit from their beauty. It’s very essential that you simply select your variety in keeping with the climate and conditions of the positioning where the planting might be done.
Remember to depart adequate space between each one in all them, in order that there’s room for growth. It might be between one and two meters.
As they grow, keep the world around them freed from weeds. You may also use a fertilizer for flowering plants to maintain them healthy.
You may have tropical flowers in your private home
By growing heliconias, you possibly can have tropical plants right inside your private home. The’re often noted for his or her showy spikes, variable size, large leaves, and stiff stems. Because they’re long-lived, they’ve turn out to be highly prized ornamental plants.
Following this care guide will mean you can enjoy them for a few years to return. Just watch out for pests. Nematodes, screwworms, and weevils are probably the most frequent aggressors. In the event you let the infestation evolve, the plant could die. So within the presence of an indication of infection, seek the advice of a specialist or your nursery.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to make sure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this text was considered reliable and of educational or scientific accuracy.
- Hernández Meneses, E., López Peralta, M. & Estrada Luna, A. A.(2018). Micropropagation of three heliconia species of economic interest in Mexico via direct organogenesis. Revista Bio Ciencias, 5, 1-16. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/
- Krause, S. (2023). Morphological and molecular characterization of native Heliconia sp. accessions of the Amazon region. Ornam. Hortic. 29 (2). https://www.scielo.br/j/oh/a/cQnLDyKRKzc7GnMCxdD97ym/#
- Krishna, S. S., Jasmine, A. J., Sundar, S. T. B., Rajakumar, D., & Vethamoni, P. I. (2023). Growth Traits of Pendent Heliconia Genotypes in Kanyakumari Conditions. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 35(19), 726–730. https://journalijpss.com/index.php/IJPSS/article/view/3604
- Malakar M., Paiva P., Beruto M., Da Cunha Neto, A.R. (2023). Review of recent advances in post-harvest techniques for tropical cut flowers and future prospects: Heliconia as a case-study. Front Plant Sci. 28(14). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10419226/