Hechtia

Hechtia is a Bromeliad genus with only about 50 species and very few hybrids of succulent evergreen terrestrial Bromeliads. They are in the family Pitcairniodeae along with Dyckia, Deuterocohnia, Pitcairnia and Puya.

Native mostly to Mexico, with a few in Guatemala and Honduras, they grow in the more arid rocky regions and often high altitudes. All grow in rosette formation and range in size from a 12" inches to several feet wide. Many form a huge rosette and have stiff pointed leaves with spiny margins along the leaf edges although there are exceptions such as H. caerulea. The 'teeth' along the leaf edge can be short, long, curved, and sharp. Care is needed when handling as they bite! Coloration can be anywhere from lime green to burgundy, but dark green, reddish, orange, silver or a combinination thereof are the norm.

Most Hechtia produce offsets called pups and eventually form large clusters. Unlike other Bromeliads, Guzmania, Aechmea, Noregelia, Vriesia, etc., Hechtia do not die after blooming. In spring and summer they produce long stems, usually from the side and horizontal with a few producing multiple upright stems with many flowers. The flowers are usually small, white to pale gray, with some such as H. caerulea producing lavender flowers and H. rosea reddish flowers.

Plant your Hechtia in well draining gritty soil. A mix of potting soil with hardwood bark, volcanic rock, stones, perlite, or sand, etc, are all suitable. Water moderately from spring to autumn and keep fairly dry in the winter. You can fertilize them once a month with a half strength fertilizer if needed. Hechtia can be grown inside or outside and look great in a container or hanging basket on a sunny patio. Although not recommended, Hechtia can be grown as house plants if placed in a sunny or well lit position and do not require the humidity as many other Bromeliads. Hechtia do well in dry areas such as a rock or cactus garden. If you live in a wet rainy place Hechtia will still do very well in pots or raised beds that drain quickly. Outside give from half day to full sun to achieve the spectacular coloration of the leaves. Most Hechtia are frost tolerant to about 16