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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.

Hechtia属于凤梨科中的一类，大约只有五十多个种和非常少的杂交。它们和Dyckia, Deuterocohnia, Pitcairnia 以及 Puya 一起属于Pitcairniodeae家族。

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.
Hechtia主要原产于墨西哥，危地马拉和洪都拉斯也有少量发现。

一般生长在相对干旱的岩石地区，并分布在海拔较高的地带。所有的Hechtia都是莲座形态，大小从12英寸到几英尺不等。尽管有类似H. caerulea这样的特例，但绝大多数Hechtia都以莲座形态生长，叶片坚硬，边缘带刺。不同品种的Hechtia的刺形状多样，长短曲直不一。但这些刺往往非常扎手，因此种植的时候一定要小心。Hechtia 的色彩较丰富，从石灰绿到深紫红色都有，但墨绿、微红、橘色、银色或这些色彩的混合体是最常见的状态

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.

绝大多数Hechtia都会从根部萌发侧芽，并最终形成一个大的群生。而且与其他凤梨属不同，Hechtia属开花后不会死掉，而Guzmania， Aechmea， Noregelia， Vriesia等则会在开会后母株消亡。春夏季节，Hechtia生出长长的花穗，位置常常在植株侧面和平行的方向。部分品种生出多根直立的花穗，穗上开出一连串的花朵。Hechtia的花一般较小，花色往往呈现白色或浅灰色。个别品种如H. caerulea开出淡紫色的花朵，而H. rosea则开出淡红色的花朵。

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 16ºF but of course prefer milder temperatures.

Hechtia属凤梨的种植介质最好选择排水性良好、掺有适量沙砾的腐殖土。硬树皮、火山岩、石头、珍珠岩和沙石的混合也可作为介质使用。春季、秋季可以少量浇水，冬季低温环境应保持土壤干燥以防冻害。如有必要，每月可以用半熟肥施肥一次。Hechtia可在室内、外环境种植：在阳光充足的露台上，盆植或者吊植Hechtia属凤梨均具有较强的观赏性。Hechtia属凤梨也可作为室内观赏植物种植在阳光充足或光线足够的室内，并且与其它属凤梨相比较，Hechtia属凤梨对于湿度要求较低。Hechtia在岩石或仙人掌园子这类干燥的地方也能良好生长。如果需要在潮湿多雨的地区种植Hechtia属凤梨，可将其种入排水性良好的盆中，植物的生长状态会同样不错。户外的半日或全日光照能给Hechtia的叶片带来炫目的色彩。很多Hechtia可耐受华氏16度以上的霜冻，但显然更喜欢相对温和的温度，因此尽量让它们避免霜冻为好。