Puya RAIMONDII

Puya RAIMONDII - Queen of the Andes, Raimondi's Puya, Puya raimondii.

Puya is a genus of perennial terrestrial bromeliad plants in the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), distributed from Costa Rica to South America. Most members of the genus are associated with open mountainous, rocky, and dry habitats, especially with the Andes and adjacent regions, where plants endure bright sun, winds, temperature fluctuations, and rapid soil drying.

Plants form dense or loose rosettes of long, stiff leaves, often with prickly or serrated margins. Unlike many tropical bromeliads, puyas are predominantly terrestrial xerophytic plants adapted not to standing water in the rosette, but to life in well-drained mineral soil. The sizes of members of the genus vary from compact species to very large rosette plants.

The flowers are gathered on sturdy peduncles in spike-like, racemose, or paniculate inflorescences. The flower coloration in different species can be greenish, yellow, blue, violet, red, or almost black. After flowering, fruits with numerous seeds are formed, in many species light and winged, capable of being dispersed by the wind.

Queen of the Andes is a very rare, very ancient, and colossal-sized plant living today in wild conditions only in the Andes. In some protected areas of Peru and Bolivia, one can encounter its giant panicle inflorescences over 10 m (33 ft) high and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in diameter. Thanks to such impressive dimensions, this species is recognized as the plant with the world's largest inflorescence. Up to ten thousand simple flowers are counted on a single panicle.

In order to grow such a grandiose inflorescence, the puya accumulates strength throughout its entire life, which is very long. On average, the maturity of a puya begins at the age of 50 years. However, there have been specimens that began flowering only at 150 years. The plant is pollinated by bats and large insects.

Immediately after the giant "candle" finishes flowering and seeds mature on it, the aboveground part of the plant dies off. Today, the population of these "candles" amounts to no more than several hundred thousand specimens; in wild conditions, it occurs approximately once per square kilometer of its habitat range.

Puya seeds are small, light, flat or slightly winged, brown, and adapted to wind dispersal.

Sowing is carried out on the surface, without soaking. A sterile loose seed-starting substrate based on fine peat, sifted leaf mold, washed sand, and fine perlite is used. Seeds are distributed over the surface, lightly pressed into the moist soil, and either left uncovered or dusted with a barely noticeable layer of sifted sand. The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or biofungicide, if necessary with the addition of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon.

The container is covered with a transparent lid or placed in a propagator. Germination is carried out under bright diffuse lighting, without direct sun or overheating, at a temperature of 18-24 °C (64-75 °F). A slight difference between day and night temperatures can be beneficial, but constant dampness is undesirable. Sowings are ventilated daily, condensation is removed, and the surface of the substrate is kept slightly moist.

Seedlings may appear after 2-6 weeks, but germination in puya is often extended and depends on temperature and humidity. After emergence, the cover is gradually opened, and seedlings are kept under bright diffuse lighting and careful watering. Pricking out is carried out after the rosettes strengthen, when young plants can already be conveniently transferred with a small clod of substrate.

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For puya, the brightest possible location with several hours of direct morning or evening sun is used. South, southeast, and southwest windows are suitable, and in summer, keeping it on a balcony, terrace, or greenhouse with protection from prolonged rains is possible. After winter or keeping in partial shade, the plant is accustomed to direct sun gradually. With insufficient light, the rosette becomes loose, the leaves stretch out, and flowering is delayed.

During the period of active growth, a temperature of 18-28 °C (64-82 °F) is maintained; with good ventilation, the plant tolerates short-term heat. A bright and cool overwintering at 8-14 °C (46-57 °F) with infrequent watering is preferred. During the cool period, it is especially important that the roots are not in wet soil. When kept in a container, the root system cools faster and suffers from waterlogging, so cold dampness is more dangerous for puya than short-term dryness.

Watering is carried out moderately, only after the top part of the soil dries out well. In the warm season, the root ball is soaked but not left wet for long, and excess water from the drip tray must be drained after 15-20 minutes. During the cool dormancy period, watering is greatly reduced. There is no need to keep water constantly in the center of the rosette: for puya, a dry ventilated rosette and healthy roots are more important than the funnel regime typical of many tropical bromeliads.

A loose, mineral, breathable, and fast-drying soil is used: leaf mold, a small amount of turf soil, coarse sand, fine gravel, pumice, zeolite, perlite, and a little charcoal. A drainage layer must be placed on the bottom. Pots are chosen to be stable, not too deep, and with drainage holes, as the rosette becomes stiff and prickly over time.

Repotting is carried out in spring, usually once every 2-3 years or after the pot is completely filled with roots. Heavy gloves are used when working with the plant, as the edges of the leaves can catch and scratch the skin. After repotting, the plant is kept for several days without watering. Fertilizer is applied during active growth once every 4-6 weeks with a weak solution of fertilizer for bromeliads, cacti, or succulents. Excess nitrogen is undesirable, as it causes loose, soft growth and reduces drought resistance.

Propagation in cultivation is possible by seeds and lateral offsets. Offsets are separated only after forming their own roots or reaching sufficient size, cuts are dried, and planting is carried out into a loose mineral substrate. The first waterings after separation are performed carefully, without constant dampness.