Bromeliad Plant Care

Cryptanthus have been crossed with Billbergia and the resulting hybrids are intermediate in habit between the two genera.

One of the most common in cultivation, probably because it is so easy to grow, is X Cryptbergia rubra. It forms a stiff rosette about 9 inches (23cm) across of 20-30 hard, recurving, tapering leaves, glossy mahogany-red on top, silvery grey beneath. The dense stemless flower head in the center of the plant has the yellow and blue flowers of Billbergia nutans and lasts a week in color. Offsets are produced on short stolons and root easily, to flower in one year. It likes peat and sand compost, with regular feeding at every third watering, and very bright light - almost full sun. A temperature of 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) does not trouble this plant at all.

The genus Quesnelia is very similar to Billbergia, forming somewhat stiff, upright rosettes and being just as easy to grow.

However, most Quesnelia have spine-edged and spine-tipped leaves and are less attractive as houseplants for this reason. The species most often seen is Quesnelia have spine-edged and spine-tipped leaves and are less attractive as houseplants for this reason. The species most often seen is Quesnelia liboniana. It is a narrow, few-leaved, upright tube, 1 1/2 ft (45cm) tall, with spine-edged grey-green leaves. The flower spike has a red stem and blue and red flowers in April, sometimes followed by orange-yellow berries. The pups form at the ends of long, very spiny stolons.

An excellent way to grow bromeliads in the greenhouse or conservatory is in a permanent bed specially designed for them.

This is easily constructed with wooden boards about 9 inches (23cm) wide, which are placed on the floor of the greenhouse to make a rectangular frame of the required size. Set a couple of dead tree branches or artificial trees in the middle and then put a layer of broken brick in the bottom of the frame to a depth of about 3 inches (7.5cm). Finally, fill the frame with a mixture of equal volumes of coarse sand and moss peat. The trees may be planted with Tillandsia and other epiphytic plants and the bed below can house the more shade-loving bromeliads. Many other plants, like begonias, geserias and ferns, will also thrive in such a planting.

Many other species of Aechmea are seen in collections and at shows, but being tempted to buy an unknown plant, you should find out its ultimate size; some may grow to 3 ft (90cm) or more in diameter and could become an embarrassment in a small greenhouse or home.

Other plants related to Aechmea are encountered from time to time, such as Hohenbergia, Portea and Streptocalyx. These too tend to be rather large for the average grower and mostly require a winter temperature of 60 degrees F (15 degrees C).