Aphelandra: characteristics, care, fertilization and multiplication

Today we are going to talk about a tropical bush-type plant that is native to Brazil. It’s about the Aphelandra. It is known by the popular name of afelandra, a zebra and indigo plant. Its natural habitat is the humid understory of areas with a large number of plants and whose tree density is greater. It needs certain care that simulates the stay in its natural habitat so that it can develop in good conditions.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you all the characteristics and care that the Aphelandra needs.

Key features

Aphelandra leaves

It is a plant quite known for the beauty of its leaves, which is why it is in demand. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family in which there are more than 200 different species. They are all native to the tropical areas of Central and South America, especially in the areas of southern Mexico, southern Argentina and northern Brazil.

It is an erect, compact evergreen shrub that can exceed 2 meters in height in its natural state. When they are plants grown in pots, it is not capable of growing so high. It is usually 50 centimeters tall and rarely exceeds it. Its stems are fleshy and it has simple leaves of the opposite type. The shape of the leaves is oblong-elliptical and they have the entire margin. They are quite long, measuring 20-30 centimeters in length and 8-10 centimeters wide. The color is what attracts the most since it is dark green and has ivory-white ribs. They are leathery and shiny on top.

What is most attractive about the Aphelandra is the contrast that the leaves have in terms of the intense and bright green color and the white veins of the nerves. It is more pronounced on the upper surface of the leaf and a lighter green color on the underside. The flowering of the Aphelandra takes place in late spring and early summer as long as the temperatures are higher and it has a good degree of humidity. The flowers are showy inflorescences that have a length of 6-15 centimeters and are accompanied by two slightly shorter lateral spikes. The main spike is made up of a bract that has a paper-like texture. They are yellow inflorescences and usually last about two months. The bracts are responsible for supporting the flowers.

As for its fruits, they are dehiscent capsules that are only 0.8 centimeters long and contain 4 seeds inside.

Aphelandra care

Aphelandra

As we have mentioned before, in order to take good care of it, it needs its environment to resemble its natural habitat as much as possible. In its natural habitat it has a high degree of humidity throughout the year since tropical ecosystems stand out for having high rainfall and a high density of plants. These plants can conserve the humidity of the environment very well. The Aphelandra needs the location to be in a very bright place but that does not receive direct sun. It is recommended that you place it in a place where it is protected from wind currents. And it is that in its natural habitat it is protected from both direct sun and wind. This is because the leafiness of the plants gives them protection and retains moisture.

If it is continuously exposed to direct sun and wind action, its leaves may fall and prevent flowering. Regarding temperatures, average temperatures above 18 degrees are required. The ideal range of temperatures for the plant to develop correctly is between 21-27 degrees. After flowering it usually has a short period of rest with somewhat cooler temperatures but never below 14 degrees. This makes the limitation of this plant higher since we must continuously have tropical-type temperatures. If this plant is not in the mentioned temperature range, it will not be able to flower in the spring and summer time. If it is persistent, exposure to lower temperatures can lead to death.

Aphelandra Requirements

wildebeest

We are going to see now what are the requirements that the Aphelandra needs to be able to develop in good conditions. The first thing we have to take into account once we have chosen the location is the type of soil. The soil must be acidic or neutral and constantly moist. The key in this soil is that it must maintain humidity but without getting waterlogged. Therefore, we need the soil to have good drainage. Soil drainage is the ability to absorb irrigation or rain water.

The Aphelandra must be watered frequently but with non-calcareous water and at room temperature. You don’t have to wait for the substrate to dry before watering again. Nor should we overwater so that the soil does not get waterlogged. The key is that the soil always remains moist but without runoff water. During the flowering season it is advisable to increase the frequency of watering and use a water diffuser to wet the leaves from time to time. Thanks to the use of the diffuser, we can maintain more humidity in the plant when the ambient temperature is somewhat higher. Environmental humidity and regular watering are the most important care for this plant of tropical origin.

The leaves of the Aphelandra can be cleaned from time to time with a soft, damp cloth to allow it to photosynthesize well. You do not have to use products that are offered to be able to polish the sheets. The Aphelandra already has the shiny leaves on their own. We can keep the plant moist by placing a pot on a wide plate filled with expanded clay. Thanks to this clay, a greater amount of moisture can be stored for a longer time. The clay should not be in direct contact with the bottom of the pot as it will cause the roots to rot.

Fertilizer and multiplication

Compost is an aspect that can help us to have a proportionate plant with well-developed leaves. It is advisable to pay in the spring time approximately every two weeks. For it, we use a liquid fertilizer diluted in the irrigation water. When the flower spike begins to form, the fertilizer should be increased to once a week. Once the flowering season is over and with the arrival of autumn, it can be paid every two weeks if temperatures remain high. If this is not the case, it is better to suspend the compost.

This plant reproduces by seeds and by cuttings. It is important that temperatures stay in a range of 22-24 degrees.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Aphelandra and its characteristics.

Aphelandra: characteristics, care, fertilization and multiplication

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