The Wavell Heights Bromeliad Extravaganza will be held on Saturday 9th October (8am to 3pm) & Sunday 10th October (9am to 2pm) 2010.

Buy direct from the growers - lots of varieties of bromeliads for sale. It's also a great place to meet other bromeliad enthusiasts.

Venue: Wavell Heights Community Hall, 175 Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights Brisbane.

There's plenty of off street parking. Refreshments & lunch provided by local girl guides.

For more information phone Nigel  on 07 5485 3800

Next Newsletter & Spring Price List will be out very shortly.

Xmas seems an age ago - well I guess it really is with time marching quickly towards winter. We hope you all had a restful & happy festive season. Our bromeliads have loved the cooler weather of early autumn & look refreshed after the summer heat. The nights are just beginning to get colder, so growth will slow down now till Spring.

WAVELL HEIGHTS SHOW: The Bromeliad Extravaganza was held on 27th & 28th February & was successful & enjoyable. It's a great place to chat to others who are interested in bromeliads. Our next show is Saturday 9th (8am - 3pm) & Sunday 10th (9am - 2pm) October 2010. Venue is Wavell Heights Community Hall, 175 Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights, Brisbane. The local girl guides provide refreshments & there is plenty of off-street parking. Phone Nigel for information 07 5485 3800.

BROMELIAD PUPS: Now is the time to consider leaving the removal of your pups till it warms up again in October. Some people do remove pups in the cooler months - but I support the opinion that these plants can struggle to grow well. This doesn't apply to areas in Australia that remain warm all year round.

FEATURED BROMELIAD:

We now have Robert Dilling's Alcantarea 'Silver Plum' for sale (25cm high) for $20 plus $7 postage. Picture of actual plants for sale - see below. This stunning specimen bromeliad, which develops a lovely silvery purple sheen, does well in full sun but can also be grown in the shade. The flower spike, which can take up to fifteen years to produce, can be as tall as 2.5 metres & the plant itself 1.5 meters wide. Silver Plums have been grown from seed & are a relatively rare collector's plant. As with most bromeliads frosty spots should be avoided & good drainage provided.

Alcantarea 'Silver Plum'

INSTABILITY & NITROGEN: This article has been reproduced with the kind permission of the author, John Catlan, from his booklet 'Bromeliads Under the Mango Tree'. John is a well known hybridist & collector who lives on the Gold Coast, QLD. This booklet (which has gems of information) can be purchased through the Gold Coast Succulent & Bromeliad Society (details on the net).

Over the years we have collected variegated neoregelias & grown some seed. Take Neoregelia 'Perfecta Tricolor' as an example. We have seven forms divided by size & colour. They have the basic characteristics of the original 'Perfecta Tricolor' but are all new plants from seed. At our peak frenzy with vatiegated neoregelias, we held a fraction over 240 different plants, at the present time about 180. Because of the cost of time to maintain these plants & the cost of room, the numbers will be reduced to 100. There were 18 sections with the number of variegated neoregelias approximately 9,000. These plants went through rapid propagation (potting up - new potting mix & fertilizer) & neglect (no new potting up - no new potting mix or fertilizer).

Lesson learned - Variegated neoregelias are more stable with neglect.

When fertilizing variegated neoregelias it is better to err on the side of caution - too little is far better than too much. When we create unstable plants from too much fertilizer, the pup may appear to be ok - but - if the section where the pups are initiated has had the variegation almost destroyed by the release of too much fertilizer when it was formed, it will produce unstable plants.

'To err is human; to blame the plant is even more human'

NEOREGELIAS - PART 1

Neoregelias are tank epiphytes & are the most popular bromeliads for hybridists & collectors. They are also used extensively for landscaping. They are often referred to as 'neos'.

The genus was named in honour of the German horticulturalist & botanist Eduard August von Regal (1815-1892) who was director of the Imperial Botanical Garden of St Petersburg (now Leningrad) in Russia. The first neoregelia was described in 1825, although incorrectly as a Tillandsia. When plants of this genus were originally brought to Europe in the early to mid 19th century, they were classified with the genera names Karatus & Agelia. The genus Regelia was established for these plants in 1890 by Lindman. Since that name had already been given to three species of myrtle, Dr Lyman B. Smith (American taxonomist who died in 1997 at the age of 93) reclassified them as Neoregelia in 1934, adding the Greek word 'neo:new' to distinguish it from the old genus.

Neoregelia belong to the subfamily Bromelioideae which all have berry-like fruit with seeds within the fruit's 'pulp' (Foster 1951). Nearly all have leaves edged with spines of varying sizes. A small number of neos are smooth edged.

SPECIES: Two subgenera of Neoregelia are currently recognised - Neoregelia & Hylaeaicum (high-lee-ai-cum). There are 110 known species (some references list 112. There are 94 listed on the FCBS register) of which 10 belong to the subgenus Hylaeaicum (N. eleutheropetala, leviana, margaretae, mooreana, myrmecophila, pendula, rosea, stolonifera, tarapotoensis, wurdackii).

HYBRIDS: Of all the bromeliad genera, neos are the most popular for hybridising - there are currently 3857 listed on the FCBS register (Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies) & there are many more unregistered. Confusion & debate are commonplace, even among the experts. Many of the hybrids grown today have beautifully marked & coloured foliage throughout their life with the colour intensifying at flowering & the central leaves becoming flushed with intense colours of red, pink, purple & more. The leaves may be green, silver, banded, blotched, variegated, marbled, spotted, albomarginated & many colours. While the actual flowers only last a day, the blushing foliage will stay in colour for months. With their high colour, neos attract as pollinators bees, butterflies etc in habitat. This evolutionary strategy was improved for many green leaved neos when they evolved the ability to turn the inner half of their leaves to bright red, purple, yellow etc as they began to flower.

FORM: Neos are compact & low growing with leaves arranged in a circular pattern (rosette) which ranges from open & flaring (eg N. carolinae) to narrow & tubular (eg N. ampullacea). The tubular neos are small & they clump by sending out new plants on stolons. Neos mostly have broad, relatively flat leaves.

SIZE: They vary from the tiny N. lilliputiana (7 cm high) to the large N. carcharodon & N. johannis which can reach 120cm across. Leaves can be few (5-10) or many. The average is 15-20. Neoregelias in the subgenus Hylaeaicum are mostly small & stoloniferous.

INFLORESCENCE: This does not rise above the leaves but nestles in the central water cup (tank) that is formed by the inner leaves. This is a nidular (meaning nest like) inflorescence. The tank collects water & decaying debris which satisfies the plant's nutritional needs when the leaves absorb the dissolved nutrients.

FLOWERS: These have three sharply pointed petals which are white, lavender, lavender edged, blue or blue edged. They are quite pretty. There are many of them, but only a few open at a time & last for a day. They all gradually open, blooming from the outside into the centre, over an extended period. In the subgenus Neoregelia, the petals are connected to each other in part or for most of their length (connate = joined). In Hylaeaicum, the petals are separate & there is a dense cluster of white petaled flowers in a deeply sunken inflorescence.

HABITAT: The subgenus Neoregelia is confined to coastal southern Brazil with two exceptions - N. cathcartii is found in Northern Venezuela & N. johnsoniae is found in Amazonian Peru. The subgenus Hylaeaicum is entirely Amazonian in parts of Columbia, Venezuela. Peru, Ecuador & Brazil. The climate zone is subtropical & they grow from sea level to 5000 feet. They are found in the lower levels of rainforests where they grow on logs, lower tree branches & even on rocks. Some do grow on coastal rocks & scrub near the ocean.

Next: Cultivation of neoregelias

Happy growing

Bob & True Grant

A warm hello to all our newsletter subscribers. I guess many of us are sweltering in the current heatwave & hoping for cooler weather & rain around the corner.

Be careful of your broms in the midday heat. We find here in Northern NSW that most of our 'full sun' broms are being bleached & burnt when above 35 degrees unless given some protection. Keep up the moisture especially for guzmanias & vrieseas.

PRICE LIST: We have brought out an updated December list of bromeliads available. There are limited numbers of some of the neos & other non tissue culture plants & we do apologise if we have sold out when you place an order.

MINI NEOREGELIAS: We have a collection now of over 100 mini neos & at last have some coming through for sale - see price list.

WAVELL HEIGHTS BROMELIAD SHOW: The Bromeliad Extravaganza held in October was a great success with increasing attendance as it's reputation grows. The next show is Saturday 27th (8am - 3pm) & Sunday 28th (9am - 2pm) February 2010. Address is Wavell Heights Community Hall, 175 Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights, Brisbane. Phone Nigel for more information 07 5485 3800

KIWI VRIESEAS (photo below) : These broms are now maturing & showing beautiful colour - everyone who has bought them has been impressed. At three year's of age they are quite stunning. They need bright indirect light tolerating early am or late pm sun. In Jack Koning's words  - 'they need as much light as possible without burning'. They also like the mix to be kept moist.

GUZMANIAS PART 4

Propagation: As in most bromeliad species, the mother plant slowly dies after flowering, but produces offsets (pups) as it is declining. They usually form after the mother has flowered, though some do produce pups beforehand. Guzmanias readily produce pups which are able to survive independently when they are 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the mother plant. If taken off before this, they may not survive as they still depend on the mother & store little or no nutrient.  If possible, avoid the extremes of hot & cold weather when removing pups - so ideal in Oct / Nov / Feb / Mar - in the tropics in the wet season.

Remove the leaves & potting mix from the base of the pup (you may need to take it out of the pot to do this), then gently remove the pup using a sharp knife & cutting down towards the parent, being sure to preserve the base of the pup, while not injuring the mother. You can also gently twist the pup away from the mother. Guzmania pups form from the leaf axils, are therefore rootless & can be harder to establish.

Some growers leave the pup overnight to 'seal', others dip the base in fungicide (NO COPPER) especially if cool & wet weather. Some also pot into peat/perlite/vermiculite/sand till roots develop. We plant straight into our usual mix. Don't sit the pups in water as they may rot & don't plant too deeply for the same reason. Bury the base no more than 2.5 cm & brace if necessary.

Guzmanias usually produce two batches of pups. Give the mother some slow release fertiliser (if out of date) & continue to apply foliar fertilizer after removing the first lot. A second batch will often then be produced.

The new pup will not benefit from slow release fertilizer till roots have developed, but needs spraying & watering in the cup after potting, plus an occasional weak foliar spray till established. Then pursue the normal fertilizer regime. 

If you want lots of pups, look after the mother while she is maturing; remove the bottom older leaves carefully to allow light into the nodes (developing pups).

Pests & Diseases: Guzmanias have few pests & diseases. Scale can be a problem. Spray with an insecticide such as Folimate (some growers use Rogor). Don't use an insecticide that contains white oil which kills bromeliads. Before treating, empty all water out of the plant, clear out any debris & allow to dry. Spray thoroughly & allow to dry again for 24 hours before watering. Check in 7-10 days as it may need retreatment. Don't scrape off the scale when alive as you will release the eggs into the leaf bases & increase the problem. In cold, wet weather, heart rot & root rot (Phytophthera) is a problem with some hybrids. Treat with a fungicide -  Ridomil (Fongarid) is recommended & is readily available. Copper is the main ingredient in most fungicides & it kills bromeliads - so take care to check.

Next: Neoregelias

Our staff (Larry & Robin) & Bob & I wish you all a very Happy Xmas & send our best wishes for the New Year.

Bob & True Grant

It's great to welcome Spring again, even though we've had an amazingly warm winter. It reached 36 degrees C at our nursery one day in August!

HAWAII: We had a most enjoyable two week trip to Hawaii in August. It was great meeting renowned hybridists Sharon Peterson, David Shiigi & Lisa Vinzant, all of whom were wonderful, friendly, hospitable people. Found some very interesting broms, but it will be several years before they are any available for sale. We visited two islands, Oahu & Hawaii (the Big Island). Loved Waikiki Beach, even though the waves were flat due to it being their Summer. Winter is the time for the big waves. The volcanic activity on the Big Island was fascinating - red hot lava spilling over a cliff into the sea. We drove a four wheel drive to the summit of Maunea Kea, the tallest mountain in the world from the bottom of the sea to the top. We were way up above the clouds, snow was on the ground & did experience a little altitude dizziness & shortness of breath. The sunset was breathtaking.

BROMELIAD WALLS: After the exposure on some of the TV garden shows, bromeliad walls have become very popular. They are a wonderful feature or cover for a blank wall. They can be either in partial shade (neos etc) or shade (guzmanias, vrieseas, canistropsis & other shade lovers). We have recently supplied bromeliads for several walls in Sydney. If you need any information about setting one up, give us a call & we can help you with it.

SHOWS: We will be at the Twin Towns & District Garden Club Annual Flower Show being held at the Civic Centre, Tweed Heads, NSW on Saturday 19th September. Also upcoming is the Bromeliad Extravaganza at the Wavell Heights Community Hall, 175 Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights, Brisbane. Saturday 10th (8am - 3pm) & Sunday 11th October (9am - 2pm). For further information call Nigel on 07 5485 3515.

FEATURE PLANT: Aechmea 'Del Mar'. We now have this beautiful aechmea growing from tissue culture & can supply quantity. This brom grows well in high light, avoiding the midday sun.

GUZMANIAS PART 3 - Potting Medium & Pots

Potting Medium: Needs to be acidic (5.5 not to exceed 6.2), hold moisture, retain fertilisers & yet drain freely. A commercial cymbidium orchid mix is suitable. A recommended potting mix is composted pine bark combined with peat moss or cocopeat (3 parts bark to 1 part peat moss). Dolomite can be added to the mix to achieve a final pH of approx 6.0.

Pots: Bromeliads need to be snugly potted, with the pot just a little larger than the root area, allowing for a year's growth before potting on to the next size pot & fresh potting mix. Repot in warm weather until the plant fills a 150cm (6") pot.

Next: Propagation, pests & diseases.

Happy growing,

Bob & True Grant

A warm welcome to all our new newsletter subscribers.

The Wavell Heights Show in Brisbane on 7th & 8th March was once again a great success. It was good to meet some of our customers there in person. Next one will be held 10th & 11th October this year.

We will also be at the Orchid Show held at the Oasis Centre on the Gold Coast Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th May.

You are very welcome to visit our nursery but do need to make an appointment. We also mail order to all states in Australia except Tasmania & now export our bromeliads overseas.

We only have small numbers of some of our collector plants - & do apologise if we have sold out when you place an order. There will always be more available in the future.

If you have trouble opening up the price list (excel document), please let us know, email your address & we'll post one to you.

Also, if you'd like a copy of the previous newsletter with Guzmanias Part 1 - we're happy to email you a copy.

We're working on getting more photos up on our website. You can access photos of many of our broms on www.fcbs.org/pictures.htm  & we're happy to email photos on request.

Feature Bromeliad: Alcantarea imperialis Rubra

We have available the New Zealand clone of this wonderful specimen bromeliad which develops exceptional colour. 

One of the giants, imperialis is considered the signature species of this genus. This sun loving bromeliad grows to a span of more than 1.5 metres & the thick, red, branching flower spike, which reaches up to 3.5 metres tall, produces hundreds of slightly fragrant white flowers. This inflorescence lasts up to 12 months.

The grey/green broad leaves are quite leathery & tough, with a red underside. In full sun, the leaves of Rubra take on a deep red cast. However it is also suitable for shade where the leaves become greener.

It can withstand very cold temperatures as it's native to mountains near Rio de Janiero at an elevation of 1,500 metres - but it does need to be protected from frost.

It can be planted in the garden as a feature plant or in large containers (300mm - 500mm) & requires little fertiliser or water when established.

Special: 'Sapphire Tower' (Puya alpestris)

Seedlings 15cm high  - $15

This clumping bromeliad from the highlands of Chile, where the days are hot & the nights cool, grows terrestrially & on rocks to a height of approx 1 metre. It has a tall flower spike filled with dark turquoise flowers. Loves full sun & tolerates frosts minus 5 degrees to minus 10 degrees C.

Cultivation Notes - Guzmanias Part 2

Water

Keep potting mix moist but not wet & the central tank filled with water which is changed frequently. One heavy watering a week in winter is sufficient & two in summer. This also helps to leach out any accumulated salts. A daily light watering is beneficial if the temperature is over 30 degrees C. It's preferable to water early am in winter, & early am or late pm in summer.

Water quality is important for guzmanias - if possible avoid hard, alkaline or salty water. Alkaline water causes burning in the central leaves of the cup. Hard water can cause spotting of the leaves.

Fertiliser

Guzmanias benefit from a stronger fertilising regime than do most other bromeliads. Opinions differ - but it is generally agreed they benefit from a higher % Potassium (K) then Nitrogen (N) & low Phosphorus (P). High levels of phosphorus can cause tip burn. European growers advocate a ratio of N:P:K of 1 / .11 - .22  /  1.66 - 2.49. Some in Australia recommend even higher levels of Potassium.

All bromeliads require Magnesium (Mg) which must be in the form of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4). This is usually in the slow release fertiliser. It can be added to a soluble fertiliser, if necessary, as Epsom Salts.

There are 3 micro elements that can be harmful to bromeliads & should be no more than trace elements in the fertiliser: Excess Boron (B) causes tip burn. Zinc (Zn) & Copper (Cu) will kill bromeliads at higher levels & toxic levels have been associated with quilling.

Add a slow release fertiliser (eg Osmocote or Nutricote) to the potting mix. Guzmanias love liquid fertilisers - use a high potassium soluble fertiliser at normal indoor plant strength at least fortnightly, preferably weekly throughout the year. This will give you shiny green leaves &  a large colourful inflorescence.  Examples are Phostrogen (14/10/27), Thrive (15/4/26) & Flourish (16/4/25.7)  -  all readily available commercially.

There is a wealth of information about fertilising bromeliads on the net & in books for those who want to delve further into this complex subject . It comes down to what works for you in your climate & what you have the time to do. We keep our ratio of potassium closer to 1.66 due to our higher levels of light here in Northern NSW. 

Having outlined all of the above, we have some 'guzzies' in a shady area of our garden which are quite neglected - & they don't look too bad!

Next Newsletter: Guzmanias - Potting Mix / Pots

Happy growing, 

Bob & True Grant

Wholesale Bromeliads of Australia
Newsletter No 3
January - February 2009

Belated Happy New Year ! It's been a rather sombre start to 2009 with all the depressing economic news - but at least we have our bromeliads & our families to cheer us up !
We've experienced very humid weather here in Northern NSW, which our broms have loved. For those further down south - we hope the heat wave conditions ease up very soon.
Our next 'Bromeliad Extravaganza' in Brisbane is coming up soon:
Sat 7th March 8am - 3pm Sunday 8th March 9am - 2pm
500 + bromeliad varieties for sale from six collectors & experienced growers. Free admission. Refreshments & lunch available. For more information phone Nigel:07 5485 3800

Featured Plant: Ursulaea macvaughii

This sought after collector's bromeliad has one of the most beautiful flowers in the bromeliad world. A pup recently sold on ebay for $72. As a special for Jan/Feb - we are selling young plants (30cm high & 45cm wide) for $30, postage included throughout Australia. A photo can be seen in the bromeliad gallery under 'Alcantareas & Others').
Ursulaea macvaughii is one of only two species in this genus. It is large growing (will reach aprox 70cm high & 80cm wide) with a stunning pendulous flower. It makes a beautiful specimen plant either in a pot or in the garden. The leaves are mid green with spined edges & the magnificent inflorescence is white & pink & produces purple flowers. It takes 2-3 years to flower – sometimes longer.

Like all bromeliads, it requires a free draining medium, whether in a pot or in the garden. It doesn't tolerate the midday sun when UV rays are highest (11am - 3pm), preferring bright indirect light or dappled sun. However it does enjoy early morning or late afternoon sun.

Don't overwater - keep medium moist but not wet. Feed lightly with a fertiliser equal to or higher in potassium than nitrogen.

*The photo in the bromeliad gallery is used with the kind permission of Kerry Tate (to use her photo of Gloria Dunbar's plant in flower).

Cultivation Notes: Guzmanias

The many hybrids available are very vigorous & easy to grow. Species guzmanias often require more specific conditions that mimic their natural environment.

Light: In their natural habitat, guzmanias are usually found in heavily shaded areas of humid rainforests & can therefore adapt to darker conditions than other bromeliads. Because of these lower light requirements (& their long lasting flower), they are an ideal indoor bromeliad (including air conditioned premises).They require moderate indirect light with no direct sun. Large European growers recommend 18,000 lux (you can buy a light metre at Dick Smiths & other elactronic stores). 70% - 75% shade cloth is ok for most areas for most of the year. Some extra protection may be required during the heat of summer (extra shade cloth or move to a darker area of the shade house). If the leaves look bleached, they are getting too much sun. Guzmanias with reddish leaves (G. zahnii & some lingulata hybrids) do require brighter indirect light to develop good colour.

Temperature: Guzmanias must be protected from frost & many don't like extreme summer heat preferring average to warm year round (16 - 27 degrees centigrade ideal). They grow best in high humidity but do tolerate drier air.

Air: These broms prefer to be well spaced so that the leaves are just touching - this allows good air circulation, which as epiphytes, they prefer. If the lower leaves die off, it's probably because they are grown too close together.

Next Newsletter: Guzmanias - water / fertilising

I've had several newsletters returned - email addresses non valid. So if you have subscribed & not received a newsletter & current plant list, please contact us.

Happy growing,
Bob & True Grant

Wholesale Bromeliads of Australia
Newsletter No 2
November / December 2008

We had a very successful launch of Andrew Maloy's Kiwi vrieseas at our Wavell Heights Show in October. Sales exceeded expectations & continue to do so. 'Sunset', 'Cream' & 'Dusk' are beginning to show their true colours & our stock of two year old plants is diminishing quickly. We will have follow up stock which is six months or more away.

The Show at Wavell Heights, Brisbane, was bigger & better than ever & is now becoming an event on the Brisbane bromeliad calendar. Thanks to all the visitors in the bus from the Gold Coast Bromeliad Society who really made it a day out.

Our bromeliads are loving the warm, humid weather. New release guzmanias coming into flower are 'Etude', 'Yellow Fire' & 'Focus'. Also Vriesea 'Draco' & 'Miranda' are close to flowering. Please contact us for a full list of bromeliads currently available.

Plant of the Month - Alcantarea imperialis Rubra

One of the giants, Alcantarea imperialis Rubra is considered to be the signature species of this genus. This sun loving specimen bromeliad grows to a span of more than 1.5 metres, although it takes up to ten years to get to this size. The thick red flower spike reaches up to 2.5 metres in height, producing hundreds of slightly fragrant white flowers. The leaves are quite leathery & tough & the plant can withstand relatively cool nights as it is native to mountains near Rio de Janiero at an elavation of 1,500 metres. In bright light, the leaves of Rubra take on a deep red cast. This bromeliad will take full sun. The inflorescence can be seen at www.fcbs.org/pictures.htm

Bromeliad Facts – Guzmanias

The genus Guzmania was established by Ruiz & Pavon in 1802 & named in honour of the Spanish pharmacist & naturalist Anastasio Guzman.

Guzmanias are among the most beautiful bromeliads in cultivation. In the last several years, many new & easy to grow hybrids have been produced by Dutch, Belgian & North American nurseries. They are prized for their brightly coloured bracts & long lasting flower spike (inflorescence).

They belong to the subfamily Tillandioides, the tillandsia like bromeliads. They are not as numerous as tillandsias & vrieseas to which they are closely related. There are aprox 185 species & they have entirely spineless leaves.

Habitat

Most guzmanias originate from north - western South America, where they are found in the tropical rainforest, mountainous regions of the Andes in Columbia, Ecuador & northern Peru. The family distribution however extends from Southern Florida through central America (Costa Rica & Panama) & the West Indies down to western Brazil & Bolivia.

Rarely found near sea level, they prefer the moist, cooler, shady conditions from 1000 feet to10,000 feet. The majority are tank type epiphytes growing in the lower areas of the jungle, usually within 25 feet of the ground. The larger species are quite commonly found growing as terrestrials in leaf mould, particularly in forests above 5000 feet. Some species are found growing in 'cloud forest' environments, in which the microclimates include daily periods of fog. In such regions of very high humidity, torrential rains are infrequent, so the plants are watered by condensation on their leaf surface.

Next Newsletter: Growing Guzmanias

Happy growing,

Bob & True Grant

Wholesale Bromeliads of Australia
Newsletter No 1
September 2008
 

It is great that Spring is here & our broms are beginning to grow again after a cold August. Coming out of winter, we are very low on stock, but will have many more broms becoming available in a month or so.

We're excited because we are about to flower some mini guzmanias from Deroose for the first time. These are Mini 'Trisha' (red/yellow), Mini 'Charlene' (light purple) & Mini 'Ilse' (purple).

New release guzmanias also near flowering are 'Etude' (pink) & 'Yellow Fire' (red/yellow) & vrieseas 'Bernice' (purple) & 'Titan' (yellow).

We are Australian agents for Andrew Maloy's amazing pattern leafed vrieseas & will be releasing 'Kiwi Sunset', 'Kiwi Dusk' & 'Kiwi Cream' in the near future - see under vrieseas in our bromeliad gallery. These have been produced from tissue culture for the world market & will be available in limited numbers. We are taking orders now.

Our stock of collector bromeliads is quickly building up. Smaller numbers are currently available & there will be more over the next year or so. We are expanding our collection every week. Please come & see us or request a catalogue.

We will soon have a complete list of our bromeliads on this website - 'Our Collection'.  As an example, we have 68 varieties of guzmanias, 19 of mini guzmanias, 61 of vrieseas, 400 of neoregelias & 54 of mini neoregelias.

The Bromeliad Growers Group sale of bromeliads will be held again on Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th October at the Wavell Heights Community Hall, Wavell Heights, Brisbane. There will be hundreds of varieties of bromeliads for sale. Look forward to seeing you there if you can make it.

You are always welcome to visit our nursery by appointment or contact us.

Happy growing,

Bob & True Grant

Wholesale Bromeliads of Australia

P 02 6684 5374      F 02 6684 5168
email: plants@ausbroms.com.au        www.ausbroms.com.au