A heliconia is a plant with more than 100 different species, almost all of them ornamental. Many are highly appreciated for their design, color, shape, etc. and that’s why they are many who are looking for how to reproduce heliconias so as not to lose the beauty of that plant.
If you are one of those who have ended up here looking for the answer to that question, we are going to help you. We will give you the keys to multiply the plant and get it to go ahead to have more of that species. Go for it?
what is a heliconia
First of all, let’s get situated. A heliconia is actually a plant native to tropical areas, specifically from South America, the Pacific Islands, Central America or Indonesia. However, although they are from there, the truth is that now they can be found, provided they are provided with the necessary climate and care, in any part of the world.
Another name by which it is known as Bird of paradise, or platanillo, as well as lobster claw.
We are talking about a herbaceous and rhizomatous plant, the bracts being the most striking of this since they have very bright colors. It can reach 10 meters in height but normally, when it is kept in a pot, it stays at about 70 centimeters.
There are many heliconias, as we have said before, but not all of them are known and marketed with them. The most common ones you find in stores are rostrata, psittacorum and Bihai.
How to reproduce heliconias
Now that you have a little idea about these plants, you should know that heliconias have two ways of multiplying: by seeds or by the “offspring” of the mother plant.
Of course, we warn you that it is a slow process, especially in terms of seeds and that many times it may not come to fruition, that is, the seeds do not finish germinating or the shoots do not come out ahead. Therefore, arm yourself with patience.
Reproduce heliconias by seeds
If you want to reproduce heliconias by seeds, the first thing you should know is that they have a low germination percentage. In addition, they can take between two weeks and three years to germinate (you can plant, think that nothing comes out and suddenly a year or two years later you find the plant).
To get it to work, What many experts do is the following:
- Look for a seedbed in which the base is filled with a mulch mixed with 30% perlite.
- Next, two seeds are placed in each hole, even if it may be only one better.
- Then it is covered with a layer of substrate and with a spray, water is poured on it so that the soil is wet. You have to keep it that way.
- Finally, you have to take that seedbed outside. Here there are those who say that it should be placed directly in the sun, while others opt for semi-shade. Our recommendation is that, depending on the climate in which you live, you place it in an area where it has sun but it does not burn too much to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.
As for its germination, depending on how the seed is, it could come out sooner or later. The important thing is to keep taking care of her. Some They choose to put the seed in water 24 hours before planting it, in order to have more possibilities of germination. It can be an option, although it is not what is normally done.
Reproduce heliconias by suckers
If you want to switch to a time-saving method, then you can do it through suckers or cuttings from the mother plant.
In this case you will count with plants that will be exactly the same as this one, there will be no changes. This can be a good thing if the plant is very pretty, or not so good if you like change and having different plants.
Be that as it may, the cuttings you can not cut them until they are at least 10-15 centimeters high. In this way, they will be more viable and will have more opportunities to get out.
When you see that they have reached that height, you have to remove a little soil from the base where what you want to cut is located and, with a serrated knife, separate it from the mother plant. It is important that you treat both the plant and the cutting. Be careful not to damage the mother plant too much so that it does not suffer.
As for the cutting, you will have to throw it in the rooting base to have greater possibilities that the plant grabs. In addition, you must plant it individually in a pot and keep the soil moist.
As for the land, we recommend that it be quite fertile and drained. Heliconias like acidic soils, so if you mix mulch with perlite and worm castings, you will have a greater chance that the plant will settle and develop roots.
Other heliconia care
Apart from the sowing and the type of soil that you should use to plant, be it the seed or the cutting or sucker, there are more cares that you must take into account with the heliconias. Specifically, we summarize them below.
- Location and temperature. You have to place it in a bright area. Some put them in full sun, and there is no problem, the only thing is that you should water it more often. Others place them in partial shade to avoid this problem. Depending on where you live (if it’s very cold or not) we recommend that you put them in semi-shade or in the sun (but not directly).
- Irrigation. Abundant and constant watering is necessary. You have to make sure that the soil is not caked or that it does not drain well to avoid that the water does not reach the roots or that it goes away too quickly. The trick is to keep the soil moist. In general, it is watered every 2 days in summer and every 4-5 in winter. What will tell you that it needs watering is that you notice the drier soil.
- Plagues and diseases. The truth is that heliconias have many. They are affected, among others, by thrips, aphids, nematodes, red spider… In terms of diseases, the most common is Botrytis, but they are also affected by Micrococcus, pseudomonas and Achromobacter.
Have you reproduced heliconias? How has it been? You were lucky? Tell us your experience.
