The Care for Heliconia Plants

Propagation and Cultivation

• Heliconias grow from a subterranean rhizome that is divided and transplanted to propagate the plant. Each rhizome division should be potted separately to avoid competition for nutrients and water. Young plants are grown in a shaded location until their leaves emerge. They should then be moved to a sunnier location. Most heliconias thrive with full or partial exposure to sunlight.

Soil and Fertilization

• Planting heliconias in a conducive growing medium with plenty of moisture and nutrients is key to cultivating healthy plants. Well-drained soil with a high content of organic material like wood mulch or peat moss is ideal for heliconias, according to Green Culture Singapore. They grow and expand relatively quickly, so they consume a relatively large amount of resources. Tablet fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potash are recommended to supplement the growing soil. Heliconias also require lots of moisture and should be watered daily.

Disease Management

• It's necessary to prevent and manage disease. Various fungal and bacterial species can damage plants, leading to foliage discoloration, diminished flower production and root damage. Gardening tools should be sterilized with heat or a fungicidal solution after they touch infected plant tissue. Maintaining proper soil drainage is critical for preventing root rot, which is one of the most detrimental conditions that can affect heliconias. Superficial diseases like leaf spots can be treated by pruning infected leaves, stems and flowers. Applying fungicide may also be necessary.

Pests

• Although heliconias are relatively resistant to pests that plague some other ornamentals in North America, some insects can cause problems. Sap-suckers such as mealybugs and scales and tiny worm-like organisms called nematodes are among the primary pests that can infest heliconias, according to the University of Guam. Pesticides and other chemicals including horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are used to control these pests. Minor infestations can be treated by examining the plant for individual insects and removing them manually.