(1) When cultivating ornamental pineapples, the most common pests are scale insects. Scale insects are very small, mostly brown and yellow, and some are white. The body is about 1 to 3 mm, and they are egg-shaped or oval in shape. Scale insects suck the sap from leaves, causing chlorosis spots on the leaves, which adversely affects the growth of the leaves. The wounds may be coated with insect mucus, which may cause black mold.
When the eggs of the scale insects hatch, the nymphs can move around, that is, they find places to eat leaves, and then they secrete a protective layer of wax and stop moving. When the eggs have just hatched, the shell has not yet thickened. At this time, spraying has the best control effect. General organophosphorus pesticides such as dichlorvos, malathion, fenitrothion, etc. can be used for control. When the scale insects are fixed, they can only be controlled with systemic pesticides because they are protected by a waxy covering. Common pesticides include dimethoate, omethoate, acephate, etc. A small amount of scale insects can also be scraped off manually with fingernails.
(2) Red spiders belonging to the spider mite family are extremely small, with a body length of less than 0.5 mm. Tiny red dots can be seen with the naked eye. They mainly live on the back of leaves or the base of leaf axils. , the reproduction speed is extremely fast, and young seedlings are more susceptible to damage, especially in the dry season. Spider mites live by piercing the leaf epidermis with their stinging needles and then sucking the sap, causing harm to the growth of the plant. Pale yellow chlorosis spots appear on the affected area, which later turn into brown patches. In addition to the common organophosphorus pesticides such as dimethoate, dimethoate, dimethoate, and dichlorvos, there are also acaricides specifically used to kill red spider mites, such as dicofol, promethate, fenacet, and bromide. Ester etc.
(3) Bag moth has a special characteristic, that is, after the larvae hatch, they spin silk on the leaves and then stick the chewed leaves together to form a protective sac, and the insect body is hidden in the sac. When pineapple leaves are damaged, the mesophyll is usually eaten away, leaving only a layer of transparent lower epidermis. The lower epidermis dries and falls off, becoming holes or gaps or disconnected. There are many pesticides used to control bag moth, such as trichlorfon, dichlorvos, dimethoate, omethoate, malathion, fenitrothion, etc.
(4) The larvae of poisonous moths, often called caterpillars, can harm leaves and flowers, eating them into nicks or pieces. General organophosphorus or pyrethroid insecticides can be used to spray caterpillars.
(5) There is a shell outside the body of the snail. The shell of a larger snail is oblate spherical, and the shell of a smaller snail is oblate. The latter is the most common hazard to ornamental pineapples, which mainly use their radula to scrape and eat the florets. Snails like shade and humidity. If it is rainy, they will be active day and night. In drier times, it lurks during the day and emerges to cause harm at night. Snails move slowly and leave behind slime wherever they crawl.
To prevent and control snails, you can sprinkle quicklime powder on the ground, catch them manually, or use leaves, weeds, vegetable leaves, etc. to make a trap pile first. The snails lurk under the trap pile before dawn, and then gather them together. Capture.
(6) Ornamental pineapple
Ornamental pineapple is a very beautiful indoor potted flower that can be viewed as both flowers and leaves. It has gradually become the "favorite" in the New Year's Eve flower market with its unique rosette-shaped plant shape, bright spikes, and long flowering period. There are many varieties on the market, mainly including Dennis, Geely Red Star, Yingge, Torch, Pinecone, etc. Bromeliads should be placed in a semi-shaded and ventilated place for daily care and maintenance, and cultivated with scattered light. Strong light can easily burn the leaves and cause spots to appear; but be careful not to leave them in the shade for a long time. The beautiful color of the leaves will often become lighter and lighter, causing regrets in viewing. In dry, hot and low temperatures, the leaf edges and tips of pineapples are prone to scorch. Therefore, the pot soil must be kept moist. Water can be sprayed on the leaves 1 to 2 times a day. The shaped part can be filled with water.
The leaf axils at the base of ornamental pineapples will continue to grow small buds. When they grow 5 to 6 leaves, they can be cut and propagated. Roots will grow in about 1 month.
The unique and beautiful ornamental pineapple can be placed on a north windowsill, flower stand, coffee table, dining table, or desk with scattered light. The viewing period is long. Ornamental bromeliads prefer moist soil and high air humidity. During the peak growth season and flowering period, the pot soil should be kept moist, and the leaves and surroundings should be sprayed with water several times a day to increase the air humidity. If the air humidity is insufficient, the leaves will curl easily and lose their luster, affecting growth and viewing.
Since the water and nutrient absorption scales of ornamental pineapples are mainly concentrated on the leaf surface of the inner wall of the leaf tube, the leaf tube should be filled with water when watering. The water stored in the leaf tube should also be replaced every time you water.
Four Season Management:
(1) Ornamental pineapples in early spring can be placed on a windowsill with sufficient light for cultivation, and the management is the same as in winter. In spring, you should pay attention to cover the light at noon or cultivate it in half light. In late spring, you should place it in half light or bright scattered light. Spring is the peak growth season for ornamental pineapples, so attention should be paid to the supply of water and fertilizer.
When the minimum temperature is stable above 15℃ in spring, the pots can be changed and the plants can be divided. Ornamental pineapples only bloom once in their life. After flowering, the leaves of the plant age and the plant shape becomes loose, losing its ornamental value. After the new young plants grow up from the base of the stem, the young plants can be cut and planted, and the old plants can be discarded.
(2) Ornamental pineapples in summer should be placed in a brightly lit place or under half-light for cultivation. Keep the pot soil moist and topdress. At the same time, increase the frequency of spraying water on the leaves and surrounding areas to maintain high air humidity. Plants grown indoors should pay attention to indoor ventilation.
(3) Management in early autumn is the same as in summer, and management in autumn is the same as in spring. Before the temperature drops in late autumn, ornamental pineapples placed outdoors should be moved indoors or to a closed balcony. After the temperature drops in late autumn, pay attention to keeping the indoor temperature at about 15°C, keep the pot soil moist, and gradually move it to a windowsill with better lighting. For cultivation, when the temperature is high at noon, water should be sprayed on the leaves and surroundings several times to increase the air humidity.
If the indoor temperature is low in late autumn (the minimum should be above 8℃, otherwise it will be frozen), ornamental pineapples will go dormant and will not bloom until the temperature rises in spring. The management during dormancy is the same as that in winter when the room temperature is about 10°C, but it should be cultivated in a place with good light.
(4) It can be placed indoors in a sunny or bright place, and the indoor temperature should be kept at about 10℃. It is not suitable to store water in the leaf tube, and keep the pot soil moist and dry. When the temperature is high at noon, spray the leaves and surroundings several times to increase the air humidity. After the flowers lose their ornamental value, they should be placed in a sunny place to facilitate the growth of basal buds.
(5) After the inflorescences of the plant grow, they can be placed indoors where the temperature is slightly lower and there is scattered light. It can be placed indoors in a sunny or bright place. The room temperature should not be high, which will cause the pot soil to be biased, which can extend the viewing time of the flowers and arrows.
After the inflorescence loses its ornamental value, it can be moved to a place with suitable light for cultivation, which is beneficial to the growth of lateral buds.