Aphelandra
Aphelandra (lat. Aphelandra) is a genus of tropical evergreen plants with fragrant bright flowers and large decorative leaves, belonging to the Acanthaceae family (lat. Acanthaceae).
The humidity of warm air is very important for the plant, and therefore it is not always easy to grow such exotic plants in indoor conditions. However, Aphelandra’s fans are not deterred by minor difficulties. They find many options for the successful development of the plant in order to admire the natural miracle.
What’s in your name
It’s hard to believe that the beautiful feminine name is based on two Greek words, which translated into Russian mean “simple man.” The plant owes this name to botanists who saw one small detail in the structure of the flower – single-locular simple anthers, which, as anyone knows, are the male organ of the plant.
Due to the striped surface of the leaves of some Aphelandra species, the plant is popularly called “Zebra”.
Description
In nature, Aphelandra is a plant with many faces, growing as a herbaceous plant, subshrub or medium-sized shrub, reaching a height of two meters. For her place of residence, she chose the humid tropics with fertile soil, which is sometimes impossible to replicate by growing Aphelandra in an apartment. Perhaps, if you have a spacious bathroom, you can allocate a place for the plant in it, or you can arrange a miniature shelter for it in a grow box, which is gaining more and more popularity today.
Large, whole leaves with a shiny surface are decorated with wide silver veins, making the plant attractive all year round. The slightly wavy edge of the leaves can be smooth or spiny.
The decorativeness of Aphelandra increases when its flowers appear, which together with bright large bracts form magnificent spicate or cone-shaped inflorescences. Aphelandra loves to dress up in bright colors, choosing orange, yellow, lilac or red “clothes” for herself.
Cultivated plant varieties
* Orange aphelandra (lat. Aphelandra aurantiaca) – pleases the owner of the plant with orange-scarlet flowers and large leaves with gray veins and a wavy edge.
* Aphelandra protruding (lat. Aphelandra squarrosa) is a very attractive plant with large pointed leaves, the surface of which looks like a green valley, dissected by a river – the main vein is ivory-colored. Streams extend from the “river” – side veins of the same color, but narrower. For this type of leaves, the plant is called “Zebra”. Within a month and a half, the plant displays a spectacular golden-yellow inflorescence of bracts and flowers.
* Aphelandra tetragona (lat. Aphelandra tetragona) – blazes with scarlet inflorescences against the background of large green oval-elliptical leaves, the length of which reaches 30 cm.
Growing
Fans of the spectacular beauty of the “simple man” have a hard time. After all, the plant is very picky.
– Firstly, Aphelandra is thermophilic and light-loving. This does not mean that direct sunlight is good for her. She avoids direct rays. The light should be bright, but filtered.
– Secondly, the plant requires fertile and moist, but not soggy, soil. The difference between wet and soggy soil must be understood with heart and life experience. Complete drying of the soil is unacceptable.
– Thirdly, the tropical beauty needs high air humidity. This is perhaps the most difficult condition for growing Aphelandra in indoor conditions. Although ardent fans of the plant resort to various tricks, creating artificial wet fog by spraying; placing the flower pot in a larger container filled with water..
If the above conditions are not met, the plant turns into a leafless, long-legged monster.
