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Turquoise Puya

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora

Welcome to the strange, wonderful Pearcea hypocyrtiflora from the rain forests of Ecuador.  This showy African Violet relative makes weird, inflated blooms that are bright orange and tipped with magenta, looking like exotic mushrooms.  It also has super-attractive variegated leaves with pink and lime green veins.  The plant is hard to find, but it's easy to grow when given warm, humid conditions.

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora is a low-growing plant that spreads from the base, looking great in a terrarium or a hanging planter.  The leaves grow from 4 to 7 inches long, with a heavily crinkled texture and covered with fine hairs.  A green-veined form of the species exists, but mine has pink veins, which is rare.  Throughout the year, the flowers rise above the foliage atop 4 inch stems.  These fuzzy, balloon-like blooms have a magenta opening that is unusually tiny.  You might be able to cross-breed them with other Pearcea species to create new hybrids.

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora

This is a tropical species that prefers mild to warm conditions all year.  It grows well for me indoors with day temperatures in the mid-70s (24°C) and nights around 65°F (18°C).  I haven't tried it in cooler conditions, but i suspect it will be unhappy below 55-60°F (13-16°C).  It grows well in lower light conditions.  It needs protection from strong, direct sun.  Give it a well-draining soil mix, such as equal parts of potting soil and perlite.  Keep the soil evenly moist, but not constantly soggy.  Over about 60% humidity is best for this rain forest plant.  It might adapt to lower humidity, but it may not flower reliably.

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora

Photo #4 courtesy of KHQ Flower Guide

 

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Turquoise Puya

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