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
