Family: Bromeliacceae
Common Name: Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’
Botanical Name: Dyckia encholirioides x brevifolia ‘Naked Lady’
And now, all eyes on the STAR(fish) looking plant. The Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ can be described as a very attractive plant that as mentioned, resembles a starfish. Its name Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ originates from how the plant is spineless along the leaves. For the best coloring for your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’, we recommend you to plant it in bright shade or morning sun. Although plants in deeper shade are still beautiful, they are known to rarely bloom.
Light
You should plan to plant your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ in bright shade or the morning sun. This will give your plant the best coloring. Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plants like full sun and can also survive in lower light levels, but that could potentially cause the leaves to change colors.
Water
Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plants do not need a lot of water, as they are drought tolerant. This being said, we would recommend that you water your plant every one to two weeks in the warmer months, and then every two to three weeks in the colder months.
Soil
The soil should always be evenly moist and never soggy for a Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plant. You can plant this plant either in soil or a container, however, due to their large root masses, they would do better in a pot that is slightly oversized.
Temperature
In order to thrive, Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plants require full sun and temperatures all the way up to 90°F (32°C). Avoid exposing this plant to freezing temperatures below 40°F, as it is not able to tolerate such cold weather. Be sure that your plant is in a more stable setting even though it could survive in temperature fluctuations. If you are planting this plant outdoors, you should find a spot for it that get full or some sun exposure. However, this will be dependent on where you live.
Humidity
Ensure your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ is placed in a location where it receives humidity of 30% to 50%. Due to this plant originating from South America, it will appreciate low humidity levels the most. It is important that you do not allow your Dyckia 'Naked Lady' to receive too much moisture, as this can lead to root rot and other plant related health concerns. And, always remember that even though this plant will do best in a low humidity setting, it still needs to be watered in order to thrive!
Fertilizer
When fertilizing your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plant, make sure to do so sparingly. During the growing season, we suggest you use a balanced fertilizer once every two to three months. Try to not use fertilizers that contain high nitrogen, as this could interfere with your plants flowering ability.
It is recommended for plants in the bromeliad family, that you mix the fertilizer at ¼ the label strength and use a spray bottle to apply it.
Please note that the plant could burn if you put any type of solid fertilizer, such as powder or pellets, directly into the central cap.
Growth Rate
This type of plant is capable of reaching up too 1 foot tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Be cautious that if your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ gets too dry, their growth will stop – causing them to eventually wilt. Generally, plants in the bromeliad family tend to be slower at growing – potentially taking one to three years prior to maturing into flowering plants.
Pet Friend or Foe
Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plants are NOT pet friendly. FOE!
Pro Tips
1. Be cautious to not over water your Dyckia ‘Naked Lady’ plant.
2. An indication that your plant is getting too much sun is when the leaves appear to have brown tips or spots that are light brown. For the summer months, ensure that it does not receive too much direct sun.
3. Be sure the clean the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and potential pests!