This document provides information about heliconia, a tropical flowering plant native to Central and South America. It discusses the various species of heliconia, their uses as cut flowers, landscaping, and medicinal purposes. The document also covers heliconia cultivation requirements including temperature, light, soil, propagation methods, fertilization, irrigation, pruning, harvesting, and common pests/diseases. There are over 100 heliconia species that can be erect or pendant types and differ in flower and leaf characteristics. Proper care and maintenance are needed for successful heliconia growth.

2.  Its a tropical plants grown for their attractive foliages and
brilliant flower spikes.
 Native to Central & South America,the Caribbean Island &
some of the Islands of South Pacific.
 Also known as ‘lobster’s claws’, ‘parrot’s flower’, ‘parrot
plantain’ & ‘false plantain’.
 Strikingly elegant flower .
 Spikes rise from banana like clumps of oval leaves.

3. IMPORTANT AND USES
 As cut flowers. Used in landscaping in borders.
 Leaves are used as wrappers for foods.
 Leaves are also used as roof thatching in some parts of
Caribbean island and in Mexico.
 In Brazil, roots and seeds of certain species are used for
medicinal purposes.

4.  There are two types of heliconia :- Erect & Pendent.
 The erect types stands straight with bracts pointing up.
 The pendent types hang with bracts pointing down.
 The pollination is by humming bird and bug.
 The plant height ranges from 2 to 20 feet.
ERECT TYPE PENDENT TYPE

6.  GENUS :- Heliconia
 SPECIES:-Spp.
 FAMILY :- Heliconaceae
SPECIES AND CULTIVARS
 There are about 98 to 100 species of Heliconia.
 Some of them along with their characters are as follow:-..
Heliconia stricta Heliconia angusta Heliconia pisttacorum

7. Heliconia bihaiHeliconia rostrata
Suitable cultivars:
i) For home gardenrs:
Tall flowers- Kuwauchi, Richmond Red, Black Cherry
Medium flowers- Eden Pink, Garden of Eden, Red Holiday
Small flowers: Flame, Samara, Crackjack
ii)For landscape purposes:
Best large types: Black Cherry, Waxy Pendula,
Best Medium types: Red Pendula, Mexico Red.
Small types: Samara, Crackjack

8. Black Cherry Samara
FlamePendulaKawauchi
Red Holiday

9.  Temperature:-
 They do well at 21⁰C to 35⁰C.
 Plant grown in full sun produce much more flowers then in
shade.
 Light :-
 It can tolerate light condition from partial sunlight to full
sunlight.
 Soil :-
 Heliconias can thrive in a variety of soils .
 Mostly required soil that are rich in organic material and are
well-drained.
 pH requirement is 5.5 – 6.5.

10. AGRO- TECHNIQUES:
(a)Spacing:-
 Heliconia rhizomes are planted at a distance of 40 cm× 40
cm.
 Largest rhizome 40g and spacing 40cm×40 cm cm resulted in
highest value of girth , number of rhizomes per clump &
rhizome yield per clump.

11. (b) Propagation:-
 Mostly done by rhizome division. Rhizome are divided with
atleast 2 growing nodules.
 It is also carried out by suckers, mature seed and tissue culture.
RHIZOME
SEEDS SUCKER

12. (c) Manures and fertilizer :-
 Well rotted FYM @ 4kg per sq. metre during land preparation.
 Apply 20g each of N, P2 O5 , K 2 O per sq. meter.
 Top dressing with N @ 20g per sq. metre 2 months after
planting.

13. 1. Irrigation:-
 All species of Heliconias require ample and
continuous water to thrive.
 Plants subjected to drought will experience leaf-
browning, especially along the leaf margins.
 During the winter, water frequently
 Maintain a layer of organic mulch around Heliconia
plants serves several purposes.
 Mulch helps to retain moisture around the root zone.
 It also helps to hold fertilizers for slower release to the
plants.
 It also helps to reduce infestation of namatodes.
 It also helps to control weeds.

14.  3. Grooming:-
 Dead leaves and stem should be removed.
 Flowered out stems should be removed by cutting them to the
ground.
 Damaged foliage should be removed.
 Unwanted growth should be controlled by cutting off shoots if
plants become too vigorous.

15.  Flowers are harvested with penduncles of 70cm to 1m length.
 Harvesting of flower is done by cutting the entire stalk at the
ground level.
 Harvesting should be done before 8 a.m.
 Immediately submersed the cut end in water along with re-
cutting every few days.
 Cut flower life is 2 to 3 weeks.

16.  Stem rot : Browning black lesions develop in the basal of
leading to slowly it spreads leading to dead of the plant.
Causal organism : Phythopthora spp.
Control : Dip systemic fungicide before planting.
 Shoot Rots: Occurs at emerging shoots.
Causal organism: Pythium myriotylum
Contol :Avoid water-logging
 Rhizome Rots: Occurs at Pseudostem at ground level.
Causal organism: Cylindrocladium floridanum
Control : Usually attacks weakened plants, so avoid water-logging, which
can cause other root rots.

17.  Mealy bugs: Sucks the cell sap from the plant. Severely infested leaves
and flowers may drop.
Control:
 Washing away with stream of water.
 Application of neem oil.
 Aphids : Both adults and nymphs suck plant sap.
Causing distorted leaves, buds, branch tips, and flowers.
Severely infested leaves and flowers may drop.
Control:
 Drench plants with strong sprays of water from a garden hose to kill aphids.
 Spray aphids with insecticidal soap, summer oil (on tolerant plants),
and homemade garlic spray.