Guzmania lingulata, the star of the Guzmania family

There are over a hundred varieties of Guzmania. The most widely marketed in Europe is Guzmania lingulata. This plant, native to South America, captivates with its colorful blooms and rosette of star-shaped leaves.

How to recognize Guzmania lingulata?

An epiphytic perennial with an upright habit, Guzmania lingulata is taller than guzmania monostachia. It measures up to 70 centimetres in height, with a 40-centimetre spread.

The plant has no stem. Leaves grow in a star-shaped basal rosette.

The densely imbricated leaf blades are lanceolate and rigid. They are shiny green.

The inflorescence appears at the heart of the rosette, at the top of a 30-centimeter flower stalk. It consists of triangular, open bracts, also arranged in a star shape, and white or yellow flowers. The color of the bracts varies from cultivar to cultivar. They are most often red or orange. Hybrids with pink, yellow or white bracts are also available.

Guzmania lingulata is not a toxic plant for us or our pets. It presents no danger when handled or ingested.

Our maintenance tips

Guzmania lingulata is a monocapric plant. Even with the best care, it dies after flowering. Consider taking cuttings to propagate it!

Watering

Guzmania lingulata like to keep their potting soil moist, but not soggy. Water the substrate when it has dried on the surface, for about two centimetres. Use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater at room temperature.

In nature, the plant retains water in the heart of its rosette. In summer, you can pour one or two centimetres of fresh water (rainwater or demineralized water) into its reservoir. Keep the water clean at all times. Drain it every two weeks before refilling the tank.

Don't forget to remove stagnant water from the planter. It causes the roots to rot.

Spray

Guzmania lingulata come from tropical regions. They appreciate high humidity. To recreate it, spray the foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Guzmania lingulata, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Add a flowering plant fertilizer to the watering water once a month.

Complete with a foliar fertilizer for bromeliads to be sprayed on the foliage.

Fertilizer stimulates plant growth. But an overdose can damage their leaves. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before fertilizing your Guzmania lingulata.

Prune

When flowering is over, cut off wilted bracts with a clean, sharp tool. This stimulates the production of new shoots.

Cutting

Wait until the end of flowering to propagate your Guzmania lingulata.

Guzmania lingulata flowers only once. The plant dies after flowering. But before it does, it produces shoots. You can repot them to obtain new specimens to grow.

Wait until the offshoots are at least a third of the size of the mother plant. Then detach them by hand or with a sharp knife that you've disinfected beforehand. Your cutting must have its own roots, otherwise it won't be able to grow and cling to its support.

Obtain a pot with a hole five centimetres in diameter. Fill it with potting soil for orchids or bromeliads. Plant your Guzmania lingulata in the center. Press down and water.

Diseases / Threats

Information

Family	Bromeliads - Bromeliaceae
Type	Guzmania - Guzmania
Species	Guzmania lingulata - Guzmania lingulata
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Flowery
Tags	Flowery Fritillary Soiffarde
Origin	South America
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color
Flower colors